Holders, District 10 (Upper Demerara/Kwakwani) seem well poised to retain their championship following Day Three of this year’s National Schools Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships.
Yesterday at the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora, the gold and black clad athletes from Linden helped their District to an early14-point lead following 17 completed finals.
The champs are in the lead on 87 points followed by District Six (Corentyne) on 73 then District 13 on 66.
South American U-20 Long Jump Gold medalist Chantoba Bright, was one of the highlights of Day Three, smashing the previous U-18 long jump record with a leap of 5.89m. She broke her previous record which was set at 5.47m last year.
Bright (1m: 01.29s) also placed second in the U-18 400m heat which was won by middle distance standout, Joanna Archer of West Demerara in 59.63s. Placing third was Tandika Haynes (New Amsterdam) who crossed the finish line at 1:02.76s.
District Six (Corentyne) continued their impressive start to this year’s “Nationals” by going toe to toe with the defending Champs.
In a record breaking performance, Corentyne’s Putrina Sullivan won the Girls U-12 400m after clocking an eye popping 1:05.75s to win gold and write her name in the history book. Toyan Raymond was the next athlete to set a new record, this time in the Girls U-20 long jump. Raymond recorded a best leap of 5.7m on her way to gold.
In the Boys U-14 400m Wesley Tyndall erased Daniel Williams’ four year old record of 54.95s when he clocked 54.50s.
Carl Williams broke a 26 year old Men’s U-20 Long Jump record when he covered a distance of 7.11m; the previous record holder was Rickford Dean who jumped 6.90m in 1991.
South American Youth Games 400m Gold medalist Deshana Skeete pulled no punches as she dominated her Girls U-16 heat to progress with 58.11s, she was chased by West Demerara’s Keliza Smith who finished at 59.61s while Princess Browne out of East Georgetown came in third with the clock at 1:01.60s.
Meanwhile, World Youth 400m silver medalist, Daniel Williams (Upper Demerara/ Kwakwani) cruised to first place to win his qualifying Boy’s U-18 heat in a time of 51.08s while Jermain King (New Amsterdam/ Canje) impressed to finish second with 51.29s. East Georgetown’s Daniel Melville came in just behind at 51.80s to finish third.
Williams has signaled his intentions to break the U-18 record on Friday. The championships continues today at 09:00hrs.
