Star athletes Athaleyha Hinckson, Tianna Springer, and Javon Roberts continued their amazing, record-breaking runs at this year’s National Swimming, Cycling, and Track and Field Championships yesterday.
A day after setting a new ‘Nationals’ record in their respective races, the standout trio returned to the National Track and Field Centre and once again demolished their competitors, the clock, and previous meet records.
On the penultimate day of the 61st edition of the meet, Hinckson of District 13 smashed the half-lap girls U-16 record en route to completing her sprint double.
Over the duration of the meet, Hinckson has shone among the brightest of the teen track stars of the 592. She has established herself as the fastest local student-athlete of all time after rocketing to 11.28s in the marquee 100m on Wednesday.
Blasting out of lane seven yesterday, the 15-year-old took control of the 200-metre race straight out of the drive phase. She navigated the bend expertly and barreled down the straights all alone.
Hinckson went on to clock 24.50s to erase the six-year record of 24.97s set by Deshanna Skeete, who is now on a full scholarship in the USA.
Berbice’s Leandre Bennett (25.54s) and Linden’s Kenetha Fraser (26.15s) finished second and third, about 10 metres behind, in another dominant showing by Hinckson.
Another record breaker in the 200m was Springer of District 11, who clocked an eye-popping 24.30s to easily win the Girls U-18 race, shattering the previous mark of 25.05s set in 2017 by Tiffauna Garnett.
The track star of Chase’s Academy has been making hay in the brilliant sunshine. She won the gold in the 100m and the 800m on Wednesday and is poised to win the 400m also. She was also part of District 11’s gold medal-breaking run in the Girls Open 4x400m final last night.
Springer, who is all but assured of earning the female champion athlete award, could potentially earn six gold medals since she will be a part of the 4x100m relay quartet for her district tonight. The versatile sportswoman will be aiming to achieve her fourth individual gold medal of this year’s championship when she also competes in the 400-metre final tonight.
Hinckson’s district mate, Tessianna Harris, also placed her name in the record books in the Girls U-12 200m event. Harris powered to a statement win in a blistering 26.35s, obliterating the previous mark of 27.88s set by Springer in 2018.
Meanwhile, yesterday, Springer’s district mate, Roberts, recorded an emphatic win, soloing to victory in his 1500-metre race.
The middle distance maestro, Roberts, a gold medalist at this year’s CARIFTA Games in the Bahamas, provided a reminder of his pedigree a day after running against the clock in his 800-metre gold medal-setting run.
In the Boys U-8 150m final, Jadon Bristol bested his budding rivals Akaziah Semple and Kester De Sousa to claim gold. Bristol stopped the clock at 21 seconds, while Semple recorded 22.2 seconds for silver and De Souza registered a time of 22.3 seconds for bronze.
Today, the curtains will come down on the event, which has seen several records tumble. For the second time since 2019, the coveted Champions’ Trophy will be presented to the winning district.
District 10, which placed second overall in the cycling and swimming segments of the event, is chasing its 20th overall title.
The individual 400m, 3000m, 5000m, the triple jump, the relays, and the crowning of this year’s champs are set to be the day’s highlights. Action starts at 10:00am.
