Despite intermittent showers, the Smalta National Youth and Junior Track and Field Championships had some scintillating performances.
A few athletes that the inclement weather failed to dampen yesterday at National Track and Field Centre at Leonora included Compton Caesar, Arinze Chance, Kenisha Phillips and Andrea Foster.
All four athletes recorded sprint or middle distance doubles.
Here are the highlights:
100m and 200m-17 and under (male)
Caesar-Apart from the clock and the gust of wind blowing across the track, the Lindener had little opposition from the start of the pistol and powered through to win the 100m dash in 10.8s. He then returned to mirror his performance in the half lap event in 21.8s.
100m and 200m-17 and under (female)
Just as she did at the CARIFTA trials in March, the ever improving Phillips made running against more celebrated athletes look easy.
The 14-year-old breezed past Avon Samuels and Natricia Hooper on the turn on her way to clocking an eye popping 24.4s in the 200m final. Before that she blasted out of the blocks to take the top honors in the 100m dash ahead of Cassie Small (12.0s) and Amanda Murray (12.8s) in an impressive 11.7s.
Note: According to the time sheet, Phillips 100m and 200m timing were superior to the corresponding events in the 19 and under category.
Aniqa Powley won the 19 and under 100m event in 11.9s while Tirana Mitchell sprinted to victory in the 200m a second slower than Phillips (25.4s) 200m and 400m-19 and under (male)
After easily winning the 400m in 49.40s ahead of Quacy Clementson (50.40s) and Delmar Stoby (51.60s), Chance returned to outclass the field in the half lap event. He made his rivals look like they were back pedaling when he shifted gears in the final 50m to win the event in 21.6s. His club mate, Linton Mentis (22.0s) and Clementson (22.4s) finished second and third respectively.
800m and 1500m- 19 and under (female)
Ever since returning from the Hampton Games, Fortune’s confidence has been through the roof.
Fortune underlined her class in a another superb display of speed and stamina, winning in excess of 100m in both events in which she led from the smoke of the pistol. The daughter of Alicia Fortune clocked 2m:12.30s in the 800m and 4m:57.60s in the 1500m.
Meanwhile, other winners yesterday included: Cassey George (800m and 1500m-17 and under), Ornesto Thomas (800m-19 and under), Aniqa Powley (100m-19 and under), Tiranna Mitchell (200m-19 and under), Natricia Hooper (400m-17 and under), Aldon Henry (400m-17 and under) and Matthew McKenzie (1500m-17 and under).
At the championship, the premier 19 and under and 17 and under athletes were competing for selection to the IAAF World Youth Championship in Colombia, July 15-19; the Pan American Junior Champion in Edmonton, Canada, July 31-August 2; and the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, July 18-19. (Emmerson Campbell)
