Sprint ace, Rupert Perry completed an impressive double as he captured the 200 metres on yesterday’s final day of the Athletic Association of Guyana’s National Senior Championships held over at the National Track and Field Centre.
Perry posted a season-best 21.1 seconds despite the inclement weather to take the event ahead of silver medalist, Davin Fraser (21.4s). Youth athlete, Compton Caesar rebounded from his fourth place in the 100m to place third in 21.7 seconds.
“It’s a good comeback for me” said Perry who was sidelined for two years due to a gruesome knee injury.
The GDF product who took the 100m title in 10.2s on Saturday said “I was off the track for two years and this is great knowing that I was able to bounce back from the injury and succeed in both of my races.
It took great focus because there were a lot of critics and people were saying that I couldn’t come back and that I should be done with track and field but here I am.”
Women’s 200m
Natrena Hooper totally outclassed the field to take the female equivalent in 24.4s. Her Running Brave club mate Avon Samuels, finished second in 25.1s, while 100m winner Aniqah Powley was third in 25.5s.
800m
Andrea Foster served up another surprise of the two-day meet, as she literally stopped the more celebrated competitor Cassey George in the two-lap event. On Saturday, Foster defeated George in the 1500m but yesterday George only ran 500m, quitting the race in frustration after unsuccessfully trying to kick clear of the ever-improving Foster who completed the event in 2m: 19.30s.
Chontelle Hinds and Alicia Pereira placed second and third respectively.
The male version of the race which was won by Devon Barrington also featured some theatrics. Following his win in a commendable 1m: 54:22s, Barrington ran up to second place finisher Ornesto Thomas (1m: 55.0s) and gestured in his face which prompted a shove from Thomas and a coach’s intervention to prevent the volatile situation from escalating.
Mikhail Nelson (2m: 06.8s) was a distant third in the event.
5000m
The 5000m races were void of any controversy as Cleveland Thomas and Alika Morgan recorded commanding victories. So dominant were their victories, it looked like speed boats pulling water skiers.
Athletes from the Running Brave Athletic Club underlined their class in the final events of the meet by winning both the male and female 4x400m events.
Triple jumpers, Yoel Benjamin (13:95m) and Natrena Hooper (12:33m) along with discus thrower Sophina Vanderstoop (27.81m) and high jumper, Tandica Burgess (135cm) were some of the winners in the field events
