FOUR NEW marks were set in athletics after day two in the 54th Annual National Schools Track and Field Championships at the Camp Ayanganna ground yesterday, two of which were set under lights, with sprint sensation Tevin Garraway speeding off with the Boys Under-20 100m title record. The West Demerara athlete stopped the clock on a wet outfield at 10.5 seconds, erasing the old mark of 10.6 seconds that was first set by Julian Edmonds of North Georgetown 22 years ago in 1992, when the meet was held in Linden and one that was equalled by North Georgetown’s Kevin Abbensetts last year.
Abbensetts finished third in this year’s final behind Quincy Simpson of North Georgetown who finished second, but it was a dream race for Garraway who got out the blocks well and was fast in command and too fast to catch, with Simpson stopping the clock at 10.7 and Abbensetts .2 seconds behind.
There was also a new mark set in the Girls Under-16 100m, with Upper Demerara’s Onassha Rogers winning same in a time of 12.2secs, erasing Deja Smart’s 2012 record of 12.3 that was also equalled by Jevina Sampson last year.
In the Under-18 sprints – Upper Demerara’s Compton Caesar added his name to the records – equalling the 10.7 records, first set by Chavez Ageday in 2010 and equalled by Keon Lynch (2011) and Jason Yaw 2013 – all of East Coast Demerara.
The Girls Under-18 100m time of 12.3 seconds was also mirrored by Sampson who joins Tirana Mitchell, who first set the mark in 2012, running for South Georgetown at Providence, while West Demerara’s Binka Joseph equalled Ianna Graham’s 2006 record of 13.3secs.
In field events, specifically the jumps – Upper Demerara’s Donovan Francis stole not only the gold but broke the record on his third and final attempt in the Boys U-20 triple Jump.
The 18-year-old Francis snatched victory from North Georgetown’s Kareem Purch when he put together, a hop, step and jump for a distance of 13.67m, beating Curtis Gravesande’s 11 year old record of 13.54 that was set in 2003.
Purch, who also held records in the Under-16 and 18 divisions, had to settle for the silver, doing so with his final attempt that measured 13.28m with Corentyne’s Paul Williams taking the bronze.
In the Girls Under-18 class, East Georgetown’s Natricia Hooper shattered the old 10.60m record landing in the pit 11.95m, while Upper Demerara’s Kelanie Griffith with 10.72m also broke the mark but her efforts were deserving of the silver, followed by Tyiann Garnett with 9.91m for third.
Griffith returned in the Long Jump to take gold on her final leap – 5.18m to boot Freeman who led from the first round, from the gold medal position with her 5.12 with Javina Sampson (4.92m) in third.
In other selected results in the Jumps on the day, Upper Demerara’s Chantoba Bright won the Girls Under—16 Triple Jump (10.65m), Jemeica Scott took the Discus on her final throw upstaging Upper Demerara’s Shaquida Johnson.
Johnson led with her 19.10 final attempt, but saw her smiles and gold medal waltzing away, when Scott released the circular plate at a distance of 19.62m, with District 12’s Deslyn Leitch (18.52m) finishing third.
Back on the track – the 800m, run under cool, but chilly conditions and on a water-logged track saw some exciting action, wherein Carifta Games gold medalist Cassie George was an easy winner in the Girls Under-16, stopping the clock at 2:20.4, unchallenged as she crossed the line.
The Girls U-20 saw an upset as a cool and little known Rupununi athlete by the name of Mary Leandrew stayed back in the pack, made her move on the back stretch to eventually overhaul Sasha James and won the event in a time of 2m:37.9secs, with Cassie Kirton third.
Shaquille Smartt of Upper Demerara won the Boys Under-20 in a time of 2mins 01.7 secs, Kwesi Blair won the Boys U-18 2m: 03.5secs and Andrea Foster (ECD) the female crown in 2m: 22secs, even as Donovan Washington clocked 2m: 07.1secs to take the Male Teachers Under-31 800m.
The action continues today from 09:00hrswith the heats and 200m finals, 1500m and medley relays and the 4x100m male and female sprint relays.