YOUNG athletes hoping to make the CARIFT Games shortlist remained consistent on Sunday when the Athletics Association ran off its third Developmental Meet at the GDF Ground, Camp Ayanganna.Among those to put in good performances on the wet track – Carifta Gold medalist Cassie George, Compton Caesar, Onassha Rogers, Kenisha Phillips, Brian Roman and Natrina Hooper.
More than two hours were lost to rain but when the action began, athletes were eager to get in their final competition before the March 7-8 Trials.
The National Sports Commission Junior and Senior Sportswoman of the year George, of the Christianburg Wismar Secondary School Track Club (CWSS), opened her day with the 1500m in the U-17 class. She’d be unstoppable.
Andrea Foster of Running Braves would try to pull off an upset, but after the first 600m, the race was all George’s. With a cool grace, the Lindener moved away and never looked back, completing victory in 4 minutes 45.6 seconds. Foster came in 2nd in 4 minutes 59.2 seconds.
Foster would again seek to upset George when they met in the 800m later in the day. From the whistle, Foster went out, egged on by her coaches and club mates but she’d be left behind before the first 400m was up. George was comfortable with about a 10m lead entering the home straight.
To her credit, Foster found some gas and tried to close the gap, but it was a foregone conclusion; George crossed the line in 2 mins 19.9 seconds. Foster clocked 2 mins 21.4 seconds.
Also impressing from the CWSS club – Compton Caesar. He’s been unstoppable over the past three developmental meets in the 100m and 200m sprints in the Boys U-20 division.
Running off the U-20 and Open 100m events together because of a limited number of athletes – Caesar came 2nd to the GDF’s Open athlete Patrick King (10.5 secs), but he was the first in his class across the line in 10.8 seconds.
In the 200m – Caesar clocked 21.5 seconds for the win ahead of Linton Mentic (Police) in 21.9 seconds and Quacy Clemenson of Running Braves 22.1 seconds.
Caesar’s club-mate Onassha Rogers also put in a good performance. She won the 100m in 12.1 secs ahead of South American Youth 400m Silver medalist Natrena Hooper of Running Braves with Tiranna Mitchell in 3rd from Super Upcoming Runners (SUR). Rogers would be relegated to 2nd in the 200m Finals by time, since there were 10 athletes registered.
Avon Samuels took the win with a 25.2 seconds run. Rogers clocked 25.6.
Kenisha Phillips has also been undefeated in the 100m and 200m over the last three meets. Victory in the 100m was in 12.2 secs and in the 200m 25.1 seconds.
Natrina Hooper in her pet event the 400m in the U-20 division got around the track in 56.7 seconds for the win ahead of Avon Samuels (57.7secs). Her coach Julian Edmonds said she shaved off more than a second from the same time last year. They were the only two to run below one minute in the event.
Brian Roman also has been consistent 11.6 in the 100m for the win and in the 200m – 23:00, but lost out to Daniel Williams in the 400m.
In selected results, there were victories for Alika Morgan (12: 27.26) in the Open 3000m, Cleveland Forde was a runaway victor in the 5000m, his first on track race for the season in 15 mins 41 seconds and Shaquille Smartt ran a great 800m U-20 race to take victory in 2 minutes 05.41 seconds.

(By Leeron Brumell)