Guyana Defence Force (GDF) lance corporal Rupert Perry made the capacity crowd at the 2012 Inter Services Annual Athletic Championships (ISAAC) at the GDF ground Ayangana witnesses to one of the greatest sprinting displays on local soil.
The 23-year-old Perry powered to an unbelievable performance of 9.90 seconds to win men’s open 100m yesterday for the second straight year. Former athletes and reputable track officials stated that 9.90s might be the fastest that a Guyanese has ever run over 100m. Perry’s race was timed using the hand-timed system and there was not equipment in place to measure wind speed.
It took a pulsating performance from Perry to shatter his previous record of 10.1s which he clocked to win last year’s race. Chief timekeeper Cornell Rose stated that three time keepers stopped their watches at a sub-ten second performance. Rose also stated that the track was very fast and the conditions were ideal for sprinting.
“The race was good I wasn’t expecting such a fast timings but I’m very pleased with this 9.90 seconds after coming back from a very serious ankle injury earlier this year. I got a slow start but executed a perfect drive phase to run fast down to the finish,” Perry said.
Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) Terry Easton (10.2s) stole second place from former ISAAC champion Quinse Clarke (10.4s) who limped off the track, as he may have irritated a pervious injury. Guyana’s 400m representative at the 2012 Olympic Games Winston George was thrown out of the race after false starting.
“I always dreamt about running below ten seconds in Guyana and I would like to dedicate that time to my mother Carol Clarke,” Perry added.
GPF’s George returned in the men’s 200m and gave a valiant effort in hopes of avoiding the eventual Perry win. George sought to take advance of his lane five assignment, as Perry who is known for running a fast bend was placed in lane four below him. George shot off around the turn and led for about 150m but Perry powered by him and out dipped him at the line for a finished reminiscent of the ISAAC 2010 200m. Officials stopped their watches at 20 seconds flat for Perry while, George was credited with a second place performance of 20.2 seconds. Patrick King clocked 20.9 seconds for third while Shawn Semple placed fourth.
Even though Perry broke the ten second barrier in the 100m, he preferred his 200m performance and stated that he plans to devote most of his training for the 200m.
“The 200m is what I’m really focussed on now because earlier this year I was even thinking of stop competing in the 100m,” Perry added.
