As action on day one of the Athletics Association of Guyana’s (AAG) Junior National Championships unfurled, it was Ezekiel Newton and Nalicia Glen who took top honours in the Boys and Girls 100m events respectively.
The National Juniors which got underway yesterday at the National Track and Field (NTFC), Edinburgh, West Coast Demerara, will see Guyana’s top junior athletes in action today as well.
However, yesterday was all about the 100m action, beginning with Newton who blazed his way to qualify for the finals with 10.42s in the heats. While his qualifying time was much faster, he barely managed to stave off the threat of Jaheel Cornette in a photo finish in the 100m final, beating the latter by a mere .1 second in easily the most exciting event of the day.
Newton had to rely on every ounce of power he had left to finish in 10.61s ahead of Cornette, who had to settle for silver with 10.62s. Marcus Roberts was a distant third, clocking 10.77s.
On the distaff side of the U-20 100m event, Glen eased to victory in 12.22s, some way ahead of second placed Sheneka Campbell (12.71s), while the third podium spot went to Tiffany Springer, who came in at 13.12s.
The Boys U-18 100m was another close affair, as Skylar Charles did just enough to clinch victory in a time of 11.09s, just ahead of Dequan Farrell (11.18s) and Ezekiel Millington (11.23s).
Meanwhile, Kenatha Fraser fended off competition from her Upper Demerara club mate Adassa Albert to win gold in the Girls U-18 100m final. Fraser punched her ticket to the Gold Medal with a time of 12.49s while Albert crossed the finish line in 12.75s. Tamara Harvey took the bronze in 12.93s.
It was an all Police Progressive Youths affair in the Girls U-18 400m race, as Leandre Bennette outshone her club-mates Marissa Thomas and Ayanna Thomas to collect the Gold Medal with a winning time of 1 min 01.16s.
Marissa, on the other hand, clocked 1 min 01.26s, while Ayanna was a distant third in 1 min 08.01s.
Another Upper Demerara athlete, Kaidon Persaud. Was impressive in his U-18 Boys 400m final, dispatching all comers in a time of 49.35s. Tisha Easton, on the other hand, clocked 50.23s while Jomal Kesney (51.19s) came in third.
Police athlete Dhneilson Gill helped himself to the Boys U-20 400m Gold with an impressive run of 49.02s, with his club mates Enoch Monroe (49.28s) and Afi Blair (49.32s) occupying the other two podium spots in that exact order.
In the field events, Tamara Harvey did just enough to jump her way to gold in the Girls U-18 Triple Jump. She had a best attempt of 10.04m, while Lashanna Aaron (9.84m) and Angel Jeffrey (9.73m) were her closest competitors.
Deuel Europe, on the other hand, had much fiercer competition in the Boys U-18 Triple Jump, holding off Jaden Sutherland. Europe had a best jump of 13.56m, while Sutherland covered 13.37m for his silver medal. Ezekiel Charles leaped 12.24m for his bronze.
