By Marlon Munroe
Trevor Scotland rolled back the years to win the men’s 800m final at the Eve Leary ground on the second day of the 56th edition of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Track & Field Championships yesterday.
In characteristic fashion Scotland led from the sound of the gun and paced his race well, running a fast 400m split first lap. His final lap was slower and he had to dig deep to stave off a late surge from Dennis Horatio, who had earlier won the 5000m final in convincing fashion.
The crowd was on its feet and they got a glimpse into what can be expected on the final day of competition tomorrow.
Scotland, representing Headquarters (which is in the lead for the local competition) clocked 1:58.0 for the top position.
His teammate Horatio surged over the line in a time of 1:59.02 for second while Edward Da Silva of `B’ Division was third with a time of 2:01.1.
The women’s side of things provided the same excitement but the second place Samantha Williams of `A’ Division was not able to maintain the pressure she applied on winner from HQ Dellie Williams, who ran a time of 2:38.0. The `A’ Division athlete registered a time of 2:44.07s while third place Shyann Boyer finished with 2:52.07s.
By the end of the day the momentum had not shifted from the Guyanese law enforcers who maintained their first day lead. Guyana closed yesterday with 133 points while Trinidad & Tobago and Barbados were still second and third respectively with 54 and 33 points.
For the local competition HQ increased its lead to maintain the stranglehold with 283 points over `A’ Division with 136 points, `B’ Division on 43 and Country Division on 41 points.
Today will be the rest day for the competitors to recuperate for tomorrow’s opening ceremony and finals subsequently.
The men’s 5000m final was a tactical affair between eventual winner Horatio (HQ) and Larry Josiah (HQ) for the first eight laps before Horatio upped the tempo a notch. It was a notch too much for Josiah and more particularly for the rest of the field.
Horatio continued with the pace and lapped four runners before putting down a blistering pace down the homestretch to end the race in a time of 17:19.01. Josiah finished second with a time of 17:44.07 while Desmond Chin of `A’ Division rounded out the podium positions with a time of 18:36.07.
Up to press time yesterday national athlete Natasha Alder had turned away from her third place finish in the discus yesterday to set a new unofficial record in the javelin. She avenged her loss to Trinidadians Euphemia and Joycelyn Huggins with a throw of 39.20 metres; Euphemia was second with a distance of 32.83 metres and Joycelyn was third with a throw of 29.51m.
In the men’s triple jump Cordell Mentore ran, hopped, skipped and leapt his way to the triple jump title. He measured 13.37 metres while Jason Critchlow and Troy Williams were second and third respectively with a distance of 13.04 and 12.68 metres respectively.
On the distaff side Alder registered a distance of 9.73 metres while her compatriot Donna Ferguson, who won the long jump the previous day, jumped 9.22m and Sophie Reece of Barbados settled for third with 9.11 metres.
Continuing in the field events Andre Miller walked away the winner in the javelin event over his Guyanese competitors with a throw of 44.44 metres. Ronald Payne was beaten into the second spot with his throw of 41.42, while Michael Pollydore’s best attempt was 40.36 metres.
In the men’s `B’ class category Cordel English (HQ) won with an attempt of 43.19 and Adrian Massiah (43.03m) and Dirk Glasgow (37.47) were second and third respectively.
