Linden’s Deshanna Skeete (U-18) and Shane Haynes (U-20) along with District 3’s Tonya Rollins (U-20) recorded sprint doubles yesterday to spotlight the penultimate day of the Nationals Schools Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships.
Performing under the floodlights of the National Track and Field Centre, the trio followed up their 100m wins with 200m victories in their respective age groups.
The emphatic victories for Skeete and Haynes ensures the Linden track and field outfit heads into today’s finale with a firm grip on the trophy for this year’s ‘Nationals’.
Skeete who owns the Girls U-18 200m record (24.97s) set last year, exploded out of the blocks, ran a sublime curve and stormed further ahead on the home straight to finish in 25.29s for the half-lap event.
She led Aaliyah Kellman (District 14) and Binka Joseph (District 3) onto the podium.
After blowing away her rivals in the less favoured 100 and 200m events, Skeete, the 2018 CARIFTA Games 400m bronze medalist is poised to complete a sprint treble today when she contests her 400m ‘pet’ event.
Like Skeete, Haynes, the fastest man at the championships, ran out from lane four and dominated his rivals to earn his second gold medal of the meet.
District 4’s Alwyn Prince and District 11’s Anthony Griffith earned the silver and bronze medals.
Rollins earned her second gold in as many days after turning back the challenges of fellow podium dwellers Ana Lisa Redmond (District 13) and District 10’s Leona James.
While the sprinters, Skeete and Haynes dominated their 200m events, some of their middle distance mates made hay in the sunshine in their 1500m races.
Ronell Newton (U-20) and Murphy Nash (U-18) both lads of the Mining Town, mined gold in their races.
Meanwhile, following the completion of most of the events yesterday, Upper Demerara/Kwakwani (District 10) are the runaway leaders 416 with points. District Four trails in second on 280.5 points. District Five sits in third on 269 points.
The final day of the championships will be highlighted by the 400m individual races, the 4x100m and the prize giving ceremony. Action is set to start at 09:00hrs. (Emmerson Campbell)
