President’s College captures crown

National Inter-Secondary Schools Athletics

By Michelangelo Jacobus

Joy and celebration erupted at the National Track and Field Centre in Leonora last night as President’s College (PC) secured victory at the inaugural National Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships.

After three days of intense competition, they emerged as the top-performing school, amassing a total of 257 points to make history as the first school to lift the new-look ‘Nationals’ title. Their triumph came in a thrilling battle that saw McKenzie High School finish a close second with 253.50 points, while Christianburg Wismar Secondary rounded off the podium with 197.33 points. 

The championships showcased some of the best young athletic talents in Guyana, with several outstanding individual performances on the final day.

In the girls’ under-20 200m final, Mackenzie High’s Kenetha Fraser blazed across the finish line in 26.42 seconds, securing gold ahead of Leanna Fraser of Mahaicony Technical Institute and Shellyan Sampson of Tutorial Academy.

The boys’ equivalent saw Skylar Charles of Vreed-En-Hoop Secondary claim victory with an impressive time of 21.63 seconds, narrowly beating Onesi Dunn of East Ruimveldt Secondary and Kaidon Persaud of Linden Foundation, who both clocked 22.10 seconds.

Shania Thompson of The Bishops’ High dominated the girl’s under-15 200m, powering to victory in 26.21 seconds, while Freeburg Secondary’s Lenesha Headly and De Willem Secondary’s Anelle Cameron followed in second and third place, respectively. Meanwhile, in the boy’s under-20 800m, Linden Technical Foundation’s Kaidon Persaud showcased his endurance and speed, winning the event in 1:58.33. Richard Ishmael’s Jonathan Bristol and President’s College’s Mikael Antigua completed the podium.

The field events were just as exciting, with Joey Ghanie delivering a stellar performance to win the boy’s under-20 javelin event with a throw of 48.03m. He edged out Berbice High School’s Emmon Goodluck and Hosororo’s Samuel Ramitt, who settled for second and third place.

In the middle-distance races, De Willem Secondary’s Deshawn Europe claimed the boy’s under-15 800m title, clocking 2:20.27, while Mackenzie High’s Donnel Fraser earned her second gold medal of the championships, winning the girl’s event in 2:35.65.

One of the most heartwarming moments of the championships came in the girl’s under-15 800m, where Stewartville Secondary’s Areanna Bart celebrated her birthday in style with a well-earned victory. She navigated the rainy conditions expertly, clocking 2:36.10 to secure the win ahead of Bladen Hall’s Anya Rose and Mahaicony Secondary’s Malia Young.