– James impressive
By Emmerson Campbell
On a day when numerous records were shattered at the Providence National Stadium, Stephan James’ performance was the most outstanding.
Yesterday, James, the 2012 Under-23 South America Championships 400-metre bronze medallist, shattered former national sprinter, Keith Roberts’ 10-year-old 200-metre, under-20 record, en route to winning his second gold medal at this year’s 52nd National Schools Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships.
James, a District 11 (North Georgetown) athlete, followed up his gold medal performance in the 100-metre race two days ago by blitzing the field in the 200-metre event in a time of 21.7 seconds, lowering the previous record by three hundredths of a second (22.0), which Roberts set at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground in 2002.
Running two turns on the 300-metre track proved a simple task for the tall muscular Running Brave Athletic Club product, as he stormed out of the blocks and took command of the race. By the 100-metre mark, James had already established himself as the clear leader and was only competing for a place in the record books, which he secured.
On the distaff side, national sprinter, Tiffany Carto, District 13 (South Georgetown) ran away with the gold medal for the girls 200-metre under-20 event, in a time of 25.3 seconds. She equalled the record in the process of avenging her under-20, 100-metre upset loss by turning the tables on Ebony Nelson of District 12 (East Georgetown) who had to settle for the silver in a time of 25.8 seconds.
Shomane Daniels of District 11 was the second runner-up, one second slower than Nelson.
In the under-16 girls 200-metre race, Tirana Mitchell of District 13 won the gold medal and set a new meet record (25.6 seconds) leaving Kelanie Griffith of District 10 (Upper Demerara Kwakwani) and Natrina Hooper of District 12 who placed second and third respectively, in her wake.
Shannon Griffith of District 10, joined the record-breaking party in the girl’s under-18 event as she stormed to victory in a record time of 25.7 seconds ahead of Shaquan Daniels of District 11 and Deja Smartt of District Four (East Coast Demerara).
The males were not to be outdone. District Four’s Samuel Doris (22.5 seconds) rewrote the record books by taking a second off last year’s under-18 200-metre record and the gold medal. Kevin Abbensetts (22.7 seconds) placed second, while Tyrell Cummings ran in third.
Jason Yaw also of District Four also rewrote the record books en route to winning the 200-metre under-16 boys event. Yaw clocked 22.6 seconds to take one hundredth of a second off the previous record, which was set by Carlwyn Collins five years ago. Carlos Trinidad and Daquan Vancooten were the first and second runners-up respectively.
Meanwhile, in the 1,500-metre finals, two-time Carifta Games 1,500-metre gold medallist Jevina Straker of District 11, easily won the under-20 girls’ event after winning the 800-metre race in record time two days ago. Straker who stopped the clock at five minutes and 12 seconds, lapped many of the starters and won the event some 200 metres ahead of second place finisher, Viola Edwards. Amanda Jones was third.
Devaun Barrington of District 11 also followed up his under-20 boys 800-metre victory by placing first in the 1500-metre event.
Barrington who won the event in four minutes and 22 seconds, took control of the race from the second lap and easily won ahead of District 10’s Nathaniel Giddings (four minutes, 26 seconds) and District Nine’s Samuel Kaitan (from the Rupununi) (four minutes, 29 seconds) respectively.
Ornesto Thomas of District Four, was dominant in his under-18 1500-metre final as was Melissa Byass in her under-18 final. Samuel Domingo and Andrea Foster also recorded victories in their respective under-16 1500-metre events.
Cycling
This year’s Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships bronze medalist, Raynauth Jeffrey of District Four, lapped the entire field in the boys 3,000-metre event to win the gold medal as did fellow national cyclist, Raul Leal,(District 13) in the under-16, 3000-metre event.
Delangilo Dick of District Six rode off with the under-14 3,000-metre boys gold medal ahead of Keon Harris of District 13 (South Georgetown) and Mervin Deleon of District Five (West Coast Berbice)
Today is the final day and it will see signature events such as 400-metres and the relays as well as the grand closing ceremony. Action starts at 09:00 hrs.
