IMPRESSIVE wins by Running Brave athletic club’s male and female 4x400m teams gave a fitting close to a hyped day that included wins by Natrena Hooper, Rupert Perry and Devon Barrington, as the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) National Senior Championships concluded on Sunday at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.Rupert Perry’s win in the men’s 200m to complete a sprint double was the climax of the day. Saving the best for last, Perry, who was second to his Guyana Defence Force club mate Davin Fraser in the heats, relegated Fraser to second place when the final came around clocking a time of 21.1 seconds while Fraser whizzed in behind in 21.4 seconds. Third place went to Linden’s Compton Caesar who clocked 21.7 seconds.
Perry, who is still getting a feel of things after returning to track from an injury that took him out for two years, continued to let those to come know that he is still in the game and looking to get to the top.
“It was a good comeback for me, knowing that I was injured for two years to be able to come back and win both of my races. This is really good. It took great focus, because I had a lot of critics. People were saying that I can’t come back and that I’m done with track and field, so I had to focus real hard and train real hard. I’m not up to top shape due to the weather but I’m getting there,” the 25-year-old said.
Natrena Hooper won the women’s 200m in fine style as she clocked 24 seconds flat, ahead of Avon Samuels who finished in 25.1s for second and 100m winner Aniqah Powley who clocked 25.5s.
Hooper also walked away with silver off her performance in the triple jump, with the gold going to 400m champion and Hooper’s sister, Natricia. Women’s long jump gold medallist Cindy Fraser took third spot in the triple jump.
Devon Barrington, who brought home Running Brave’s win in the men’s 4x400m, took gold in the 800m where he ousted GDF’s Ornesto Thomas with his time of 1:54.2s while Ernesto clocked 1:55.0s and Mikhail Nelson took third.
Winning the women’s 1500m in a stunning upset over Cassey George on Saturday, Andrea Foster returned and continued her dominance as she clearly took home the women’s 800m clocking 2:19.3s to beat Shantel Hinds.
Yoel Benjamin won the men’s triple jump and Julio Sinclair the men’s discus. Benjamin recorded 13.95m as his best attempt, while Sinclair covered 38.81m as his best throw. Second place in the discus went to Police SC athlete Kleon Spellen who threw 32.37m.
Cleveland Thomas, another pillar in the Running Brave’s powerhouse 4x400m team, took the men’s 5000m stopping the clock a 15:48.4s while Winston Missigher was second (16:13.3s) and Matthew McKenzie was third.
The other two pivotal athletes to Running Brave’s win were two-time CARIFTA Games bronze medallist Jason Yaw and Quacy Clementson. The team won the event in a time of 3:21.0s just ahead of the Police athletics club which comprised Winston Dummett, Arinze Chance, Tevin Garraway and Kareem Purch.
Well-known distance athlete Alika Morgan was also in the winners’ circle as she took the women’s 5000m in just over 19 minutes.
Athletes were presented with the prizes by AAG president Aubrey Hutson in a simple presentation ceremony at the close of the event.

By Tamica Garnett