CARIFTA Games athletes, Matthew Gordon, Adriel Austin, Anisha Gibbons, Deshanna Skeete and Daniel Melville played the starring roles when the two-day Youth and Junior Championships concluded yesterday at the National Track and Field Centre.
Gordon, gold medalist at the CARIFTA Games which was held during the Easter weekend in the Cayman Islands showed that he still has the winning formula.
In less than ideal conditions for racing, Gordon took the top honors in the Boys 14-17 3000m in 9m: 38.42s.
The Hopetown Flames standout easily won his pet event ahead of fellow podium dwellers, Cordell Charles (10m: 25.52s) and Trimel Bishop (10m: 34.42s) under the dark grey sky.
Gibbons, who was also a gold medalist in the Cayman Islands, threw 37.18m to finish way ahead of Tennisha Bruce (18.62m) in the Girls 17 and under javelin event.
Austin, who finished with a bronze medal at the Games in the U-17 800m event, earned gold yesterday in 2m: 24.97s. It was not a cake walk however, as the Running Brave product had Shaquka Tyrell (2m: 25.51s) and club mate, Kissanna Glen (2m: 25.73s) breathing down her neck at the finish line.
Skeete powered off the turn and then changed gear again on the homestretch, winning the Girls 17 and under 200m event in a brisk 24.46s. The CARIFTA Games bronze medalist in 2018 finished ahead of the Running Brave duo, Brianna Charles (24.97s) and the multi-talented Keliza Smith (25.12s) who won the Girls 17 and under long jump.
Smith disturbed the sand 5.49m to take the gold ahead of Princess Browne (5.43m) who earned a bronze medal at the Games this year in the triple jump event. Sasha Lyken was third with a best leap of 5.04m.
One day after impressively winning the 400m, Melville returned to the track for the 800m and ran away with the spoils in a respectable 1m: 59.75s. He was pushed to the hilt up until the final turn by Jevon Harris (2m: 00.86s) and Shamar Alleyne (2m: 02.14s).
Other standout performers yesterday included: Aaliyah Moore – (Girls 18-19 800m), Sheama Tyrell – (Girls 19 and under 3000m), Whiddon Antigua – (Boys 17 and under 800m) and Devon Giles – (Boys 19 and under 5000m).
Next up on the calendar of events for the Athletic Association of Guyana will be the Guyana Grand Prix. That event will be held on May 10 at the National Track and Field Centre.
