AAG National Senior Championships
– Police Progressive Youth Club leads points table
Guyana’s top male sprinter, Emmanuel Archibald, blazed to victory in the Men’s 100m dash yesterday to win in 10.09s and, in the process, reset the decade-long record previously held by Adam Harris, which was set in 2014.
That was the highlight of day one of the Athletics Association of Guyana’s (AAG) Senior National Championships at the National Track and Field Centre (NTFC) at Edinburgh, West Coast Demerara.
Archibald, who has stepped up his game over the last few years, eased to victory, with his closest challenger being his Police Progressive Youth Club mate Noelex Holder, who settled for silver in 10.23s. Meanwhile, Revon Williams and Akeem Stewart tussled for third place, with the former securing the bronze medal position in 10.40s, just .03s ahead of Stewart.
On the distaff side of the 100m event, Jasmine Abrams ran a dominant 11.18s for first place, easily ahead of second and third-placed Juvona Cornette and Athalyah Hinckson, who clocked 11.32s and 11.49s, respectively.
In the Men’s 400m event, Malachi Austin continued his dominance in that race, storming to a 47.70s win to capture gold. Simeon Adams (48.90s) and Lennox Douglas (49.09s) came in distant second and third places, respectively.
Aaliyah Abrams, much like Austin in his race, had a comfortable win in the Women’s 400m event. She stopped the clock in 52.04s, ahead of overseas-based college athletes Kenisha Phillips (52.51s) and Deshana Skeete (52.81s). While the latter two took the silver and bronze medals, young and upcoming athlete Tianna Springer showed her class to finish fourth in a commendable time of 53.73s.
In the distance events, Royston Fordyce held off Cleveland Thomas in an impressive Men’s 10,000m, clinching the gold medal in 34 minutes, 45.41 seconds. Thomas settled for silver, while Odida Parkinson took the bronze medal.
Attoya Harvey left her competition in the dust to take first place in the Women’s 5000m, clocking 20 minutes, 25.89 seconds, well over a minute ahead of second-placed Donnel Fraser. Jelesa Wright, meanwhile, had to settle for third place.
In the 1500m Men’s race, Matthew Gordon secured gold in 4 minutes, 06.17 seconds, consigning crowd favourite Devaun Barrington to second place while Marlon Nicholson took the third position.
On the distaff side of that event, Attoya Harvey once again took the gold medal, stopping the clock at 5 minutes, 09.14 seconds, while Alikla Blucher and Delicia Tinnis came in second and third place, respectively.
In the field events, the national record holder in the Men’s Javelin, Leslain Baird, was head and shoulders above the competition despite being slightly off his best. He threw a distance of 70.20m, well ahead of second-placed Tremaine Beckles (60.54) and third-placed Jemaine Simmons (58.87m).
Prudence Codrington (36.72m) took the gold in the Women’s Javelin, ahead of Lesleyana Payne and Stacy Wilson, who took the other two top spots in that order.
Meanwhile, Jemaine Simmons was the top dog in the Men’s Shotput, throwing 14.47m, just ahead of Okonoka Pascal, who had a best throw of 14.14m. Osafo Dos Santos closed out the podium spots with 13.08m.
Jumper Natrena Hooper continued her stranglehold on the Women’s Triple Jump crown, leaping 12.05m to clinch the gold medal. Leoni Adams was the closest competitor, securing silver in 11,90m while the bronze went to Amrist Hector (11.18m).
The National Championships will continue today at the same venue with the 800m races, long jump events, and relays. Currently, the Police Progressive Youth Club leads the standings in the team competition with 145 points in the men’s category as well as 116 points in the women’s segment.
The Guyana Defence Force trails behind with 125 and 87 points in the men’s and women’s categories, respectively.
The Running Braves are a distant third with 20 and 30 points in the men’s and women’s categories as well. (Michelangelo Jacobus)
