Former Inter-Services Athletics Championships (ISAC) 400 metres champion Patrick King is poised to earn a sprint triple crown today after blazing his way to top qualifying times in two 100 metres heats and the 400 metres tack event yesterday.
King clocked a fast time of 10.4s to qualify for the final in the 100 metres while Winston Hughes came in second with 10.9s, at the Camp Ayanganna sports ground, setting the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) championships off to an exciting start.
In the second heats for the 100 metres, stout Akeem Stewart shot off the blocks to victory recording the same time as King – 10.4s – and setting up a much anticipated final on Friday. In the final track event, King ran away comfortably with the second heats of the men’s 400 metres, clocking a time of 51.5s while Leslain Baird and Derwin Henry battled it out in the first heats. Henry emerged victorious with a time of 49.6s while Baird clocked 49.9s.
King who is expected to race in the 200 metres today along with Baird and Stewart believes that it will take a good start to win the 100 metres final on Friday while indicating that his 400 metres fitness is under par. “Well in the 100 its all about the start and once get it I could win….Its shaping up pretty okay for now but the 400 is a race I haven’t ran in a while. I felt a little tight in it but I’ll just have to see how it goes on Friday,” he said.
On the distaff side Letitia Myles and Tiffany Smith will compete for top honours in the women’s 100 metres as both won their respective preliminary heats in 12.4s. The women’s 400 metres will be a final race as only seven competitors have registered for the event.
In the field event, Pablino Cupiolo recorded a distance of 11.32 meters beating his competitors in the javelin event. Ann Doris delivered a 9.10 metres throw to win the women’s competition.
The second day of the championships will continue from 10.30 am today with the 200 and 800 preliminaries. No scores were tabulated yesterday to indicate which division is leading.
