Several of the nations’s teen athletes made hay in the brilliant sunshine this weekend during the inaugural edition of the National Sports Commission (NSC) Junior League.
Eight of them however, recorded the standout performances as they surpassed the qualifying standards set by the Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG) for the prestigious Games which will be staged in the Bahamas from April 7-10. They were sprinters, Ezekiel Newton,Tianna Springer, Malachai Austin and Athaley Hinckson. Middle distance maestros, and medalists at last year’s CARIFTA Games in Jamaica, Attoya Harvey and Javon Roberts along with jumpers, Tamera Harvey and Ezekiel Saul.
Newton, the fastest man on show this weekend, rocketed to first place finishes in the blue riband 100m and 200m races.
The 18 year-old representing Bladen Hall, clocked 10.47s in the 100m dash on Saturday and then completed the sprint double yesterday in 21.46s in the half lap event. He is set to make his second appearance at the annual Regional athletic showpiece.
Springer also recorded a sprint double, but in the Girls U-17 200m and 400m races, clocking 24.33s and 55.45s. Based on her timing, she will be among the favourites to medal in those event in the 242.
Hinckson with a winning time of 12.06s in the Girls U-17 100m heat, went under the 12.10s standard set by the AAG while Austin was also a shade under the 50-second standard in the Boys U-17 400m event. The tall and technically sound sprinter crossed the tape in brisk 49.76s. Harvey and Roberts will return to the Games after bettering the standards set in their respective 3000m and 800m events.
Harvey who won a set of medals (gold, silver and bronze) last year, clocked 10:42.56s in the seven and a half-lap race whole Roberts finished his two-lap pet event in 1:58.04s.
Tamera disturbed the sand in 5.55m to win the Girls U-17 long jump event, while Saul hopped, skipped and jumped to 13.61m to win the Boys age group version of the triple jump.
They would both be making their Games debuts in the Bahamas. According to President of the AAG, Aubrey Hutson, another CARIFTA Games trials will be staged in the next two weeks at the same venue. The trials, will be used to select Guyana’s team to the 50th edition of the event.
