Fifteen-year-old Mercury Fast Laners’ sprinter Tirana Mitchell is hoping to excel at her first overseas competition, the XLII CARIFTA Games which will be held in Bahamas March 28- April 1.
Mitchell clocked 11.9s and 24.5s early this month at the CARIFTA Trials at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ground to gain her place on this year’s CARIFTA team. The qualifying standards set the by Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) this year for the girls’ under 17 100m and 200m were 11.9 and 25 seconds respectively. Having achieved those standards in both events, Mitchell and her coach Christopher Gaskin are very confident about Mitchell chances of medalling at CARIFTA this year.
“We expect that she will do well at this competition and in terms of the performance, we are looking forward to seeing improvements in her personal best times and we hope that she will be a medallist,” Gaskin said.
Mitchell will join eight other members of the team to compete at the CARIFTA Games this Easter weekend including world junior 400m silver medallist Kadecia Baird. Coincidentally, Mitchell placed third in the girls’ Under 14 100m at the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU)event two-years ago to CARIFTA teammate Ashley Tasher who won that event in record time. A year later, Mitchell also broke a record at Nationals.
It was then Mitchell started turning heads after completing that exciting record breaking run in the girls’ under 16 100m to defeat pre race favourite Jevina Sampson at the 2012 GTU National track and field championships at the National Stadium. Mitchell clocked 12.3s to lower former national junior sprint champion Rhondell Alleyne’s previous record of 12.5s.
Following that win, Mitchell has been winning consistently in her age group and is now eager to take flight her first track and field competition out of Guyana.
“I’ve never ran outside of Guyana before, I never ran on a track before in my life either so I’m excited and can’t wait to go out there and do my best,” Mitchell said.
Although she prefers competing in the 100m, Gaskin said that Mitchell runs both events impressively for her age. Gaskin said that she is equally capable in excelling in both events.
“In the 200m she runs an impressive bend and in the 100m, she is aggressive,” Gaskin said. Gaskin also told Stabroek Sports that Mitchell’s training regimen will be centred on speed endurance training, starts and drills for Mitchell to effectively finish her events. The final preparation according to Gaskin will include work on her acceleration and drive phase.
Mitchell, who is currently as fourth form student at East Ruimveldt Secondary school, said that apart from gaining exposure, she hopes to use CARIFTA as a platform to elevate her running career.
“I would like to win a gold medal in either the 100m or 200m at CARIFTA. This would probably impress the coaches there and hopefully I can get an athletic scholarship,” Mitchell said
