National javelin record holder Leslain Baird recorded a new personal best performance of 65m 32cm despite a second place finish to Shakiel Waithe at last weekend’s NAAA Sagicor/NGC Senior Champs at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
The competition was between Baird, a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) athlete and Waithe, of the Zenith Track and Field Club. Waithe won the event on his third throw when he hurled the spear to 65m 32cm.
The winning throw eventually ruled out Baird’s measurement by .31cm. Third and fourth place finishers were Precious George and Tesfa Edwards whose throw measured 49m 90cm and 47m 32cm respectively.
Although Guyana had mixed fortunes at the event, the team which fielded local club athletes from Running Brave Athletics Club, GDF and University of Guyana Track and Field Club won a total of five medals; four individuals and one team event in the Men’s 4x400m relay.
The Men’s 4x400m relay team: Wayne Harlequin, Elton Bollers, Cleveland Thomas and Stephan James came second to Abilene Wildcats’ 3:09.70 seconds. Barcelona, Spain U-23 bronze medallist James anchored the team to a second place finish in a time of 3:15.57 seconds. The Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force clocked 3:15.57 seconds.
Despite lingering injury concerns, Natrena Hooper bounded to a silver medal in the Women’s Triple Jump with her best jump of 11m 94cm. Ayana Alexander won the event with measurements 13m 72cm.
CARIFTA Games gold medallist Jevina Straker, and Boyce and Jefford Track and Field Classic medallist, Cleveland Thomas finished third in the Women’s 1500m and Men’s 1500m finals in 5:11.72 seconds and 4:03.28 seconds, respectively.
Straker missed the podium in the Women’s 800m after a fourth place finish in 2:12.79 seconds while James was unable to break the 21 seconds and 46 seconds barriers in Men’s 200m and 400m finals. However he ran a new personal best of 21.17 seconds in the Men’s 200m finals.
