Girl power must have been the theme on night two of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) Nationals Schools Track and Field, Cycling and Swimming Championships as four phenomenally talented girls stole the show on the track last night at the Guyana National Stadium.
Leading the way in the ‘girl-power’ unbelievable sprinting display in the 100m final was District 10 Upper Demerara’s Onassha Rogers. Rogers, who attends Mackenzie High School, won the girls Under 14 in 12.4 seconds which was the second fastest female time of the meet. North Georgetown talented junior quarter miler Avon Samuels (13.2) placed second while Keona George (13.4) Keisha Gilkes (13.4) of District Two placed third.
Rogers’ form was impeccable, executing her drive phase excellently before she separated herself from her challengers. Rogers’ 12.4s win erased Jevina Sampson’s record which was established just last year at the same venue.
Deje Smart tied with the Tirana Mitchell for the fastest time of the meet with 12.3 seconds in their respective 100m races and which they both ran in record time.
Smart, who is coached by Ruralities track club coach Raymond Daw,stunned defendingchampion and former record holder Shannon Griffith to win the Girls Under 18 100m. Smart’s time shattered Griffith’s previous record while Griffith clocked 12.6s to place second ahead of District 11’s Shoquan Daniels (12.9s).
Mitchell of District 13 broke Rhondell Alleyne’s seven-year old record in the Girls’ U16 100m where she defeated North Georgetown’s Jevina Sampson (12.8s), and Keisha Gilkes (13.3s) of District Two. Mitchell trains at the Mercury Fast-Laners Track club and is coached by Christopher Gaskin. Another one of Gaskin’s athletes, Ebony Nelson (12.6s), completed the upset of the night by defeating junior national 100m champion Tiffany Carto (12.9s) in the girls Under 20 100m.
Nelson (District 12 East Georgetown) said that he was surprised that she was able to beat Carto because Carto is such an experience and well-travelled athlete. Nevertheless, Nelson said that the win served as a major confidence booster as she hopes to return to her club and train even harder than she had been at that club for the past 12 months or so.
St Agnes student Yesenia Andrews also ran her way into the records books after breaking Melinda Gordon’s seven year old record in the girls under 10 100m. Andrews, who is coached by Sham Johnny at the Running Brave Track club posted a new record on 14.1s in that event.District Two Amerie Marks leaped 119cm to shatter the girls under 10 high jump record. Marks won the event ahead of Ashanti Duggan of District 14 and Serena McKenzie of District 11.
South American Junior and Under 23 400m bronze medallist Stephan James (10.8s)of District 11 began his final year at Nationals with an impressive win in the Under 20 100m.Rennick Bernette (11.1s) of District Five and Selwyn Foster (11.2s) of District 13 placed second and third respectively in that event.
Kevin Abbensetts also from North Zone, clocked 10.9s to win the boys under 18 100m ahead of Samuel Doris (11.0s) of District Four and Dante Thom (11.4s) of District 13. District Four’s Jason Yaw prevailed in the Boys Under 14 100m, winning in 11.1s to defeat District Six’s Carlos Trinidad (11.4) and Allister Bentick (11.52). Israel Yaw (13.1s) narrowly defeated 2010 GTU champion athlete Daniel Benjamin (13.2s) to win the Boys under 12 100m, while Malicia Moore clocked 14s flat to win the girls under 12 100m. District 11’s Kadeem Blackman clocked 12.2s to win the Boys Under 14 100m while Dequan Liverpool of District Four placed second and Tyrell Peters of District 15 placed third.
