-Perry, King and George impress in 200m heat
National 5000m and 1500m record holder Cleveland Forde eased to a comfortable victory in the men’s 5000m in record time on day two of the 2012 edition of the Inter Services Annual Athletics Championships (ISAAC) at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ground Camp Ayangana yesterday.
Forde, who won the 5000m last year, lowered another one of his records with a strategic win in the men’s 5000m.
The 27-year-old Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games bronze medallist won the race in 16 minutes, seven seconds (16:07.4s). Placing second was 2010 ISAAC 5000m champion Dennis Horatio (16:10.0s) of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) who held his own to withstand a challenge from GDF’s Tyshon Bentick (16.10.3s) during the last 300m of the race. Forde upped his pace for his sudden separation move from the pack with just over 420m to go in the race and extended his lead from about five metres to 50m. The former South
American Under 23 gold medallist also anchored GDF’s 1500m medley relay team to an emphatic win ahead of GPF. In that race, Forde tucked in behind GPF’s Trevor Scotland for about 620m of the 800m leg before making his lethal move to steal 10 points for GDF. In the women’s 800m medley the GPF team went head-to-head with GDF (which was the only other team) and did what the GPF male team failed to do; win. GDF also managed to sweep the top two spots in the women’s 3000m which was won by GDF’s defending champion Ashanti Scott. Carlissa Atkinson, a former school ‘Nationals’ champion, placed second in the 1500m on day one and, clocked 12:22.1s and placed second once again. GPF Eva Harry finished in distant third in 12.58.9s.
Reigning ISAAC sprint champion and record holder Rupert Perry overcame a tough lane assignment and powered to a commanding win in heat one of the men’s 200m.
Running in lane seven, Perry separated himself for the field early and eased down the final straight as officials stopped the clock in 21.1s. Two-time ISAAC long jump champion Patrick King closed the gap on Perry on the home straight and finished in 21.4s while GPF’s Shawn Semple placed third in 21.8s.
Winston George, who competed at the London 2012 Olympic Games in the 400, ran a swift bend in heat two on the 200m but virtually jogged the final straight. George (GPF) posted 21.6 seconds to beat teammate Terry Easton (22.1s) and GDF’s Akeem Stewart (22.3). Since they were only seven competitors registered in the call room, the women’s 200m advanced to the finals. The competitors registered for the finals areLeotaBobb (GPF), Alita Moore(GPF), Cynthia Richardson (GFS), Russhel Coates (GDF), Tiffany Smith (GDF), Letitia Myles (GDF) and Akeila Alves.
