By Tamica Garnett
THE Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) held its second Developmental Meet yesterday, where Andrea Foster, Avon Samuels, and Cleveland Thomas were among those who picked up wins at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary.
Foster won the girls’ open 800m in an easy 2:24.8s, taking victory ahead of Mercury Fast Laners’ Sasha James who touched down in 2:40.7. Running Brave’s Avon Samuels continued her dominance over Natricia Hooper in the Girls’ open 400m. Samuels clocked 57 seconds, to overcome the 58.7 seconds clocked by Hooper, while Tirana Mitchell took third in 1:05.0s.
Samuels was at it again in the 200m, where this time she took on Natrena Hooper, finishing in 25 seconds flat. Natrena came in just behind in 25.4 seconds and Police Kezia Bess finished third in 26.8 seconds.
Natrena had her chance to shine in the Girls’ open 100m clocking 12.3 seconds, to take down Guyana Defence Force’s Aniquah Powley, who had a time of 12.6 seconds. Bess was third again in 12.8 seconds.
The sprints on the male side formed part of an action-packed event with several heats running finals by time. In the end Police Linton Mentis emerged the fastest with a time of 10.5 seconds. The entire race was led by Police athletes with Stephon Boodie coming second with 10.9 seconds and Dwight Smith coming in third at 11 seconds.
The men’s open 400m went to Eon Rodney in a time of 49.7 seconds, while Police’s Kareem Purch came in for second with 50.2 seconds.
Thomas took down Winston Messenger for the Men’s open 5000m, clocking 16:31.8s. Messenger was over a minute behind clocking 17.54.5s.
It took Matthew McKenzie 4:20.2 seconds to finish for a win in the Men’s open 1500m.
In the field events results of the day national record holder Leslain Baird covered 55.85m to take the win of the Men’s javelin, while University of Guyana’s Emanuel Archibald won the long jump after leaping 6.75m.
Natrena (12.53m) outdid Natricia (11.69m) for the win the triple jump. Chantoba Bright, who was third in the triple jump (11.55m), went on to win the long jump (5.61m) ahead of UG’s Feona Mentis (4.13m).