The curtain came down on the Inter Services Annual Athletics Championship (ISAAC) yesterday at the National Track and Field Centre and once again the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) marched away with the coveted champions’ trophy.
Thanks to many record breaking performances by its athletes, the GDF outfit amassed 652 points during the four days of track and field activities.
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) finished second with 521 points. Third and fourth places went to the Guyana Fire Service (117) and the Guyana Prison Service (80).
Several praiseworthy feats were achieved by the Army’s athletes during the championships. Among them was a sprint triple by Keliza Smith, a sweep of the podium in the men’s and women’s discus and 5000m, the meet javelin record by Leslain Baird and emphatic wins in most of the relay and field events.
GDF also won the mixed road relay last Sunday.
Smith, enjoying sublime form even though it is late in the season, proved once again that she is the best female sprinter in Guyana.
The 19-year-old won the women’s 100m, 200m and 400m and aided GDF in climbing the top podium step in the sprint relays.
Her teammate, Marlon Nicholson, led Odwin Tudor and Matthew Gordon in crowding the podium following the men’s 5000m.
The burly GDF trio of Joshua Jones, Jermaine Simmons and Troy Lewis also brought the broom out on the podium in the men’s discus.
Jones’ throw (47.57m) was in record breaking fashion, erasing the previous one (42.09m) held by Julio Sinclair.
Jones also won the shot put event with a throw of 14.31m.
Other winners for GDF during the championships included: Tia Azore (women’s 3000m), Natrena Hooper (women’s high and triple jump), Ruth Sanmoogan (women’s long jump), Tiffany Pilgrim (women’s shot put), Aneka Eastman (women’s discus), Tenisha Cort (women’s javelin), Simeon Adams (men’s 400m), Devaun Barrington (men’s 800m) and Mark Jhalu in the men’s high jump.
