By Tamica Garnett

IT WAS sprint double wins for young sprinting sensations Kenisha Phillips, and Compton Caesar, while Andrea Foster, Claudrice McKoy and Mathew McKenzie copped wins in the distance races when the Smalta National Youth and Junior Championships concluded last weekend at the Leonora National Track and Field Centre.

The two-day event started off last Saturday with the 100m and 1500m finals, where Guyana Defence Force’s Kenisha Phillips was in fine form as she took on the Under-18 Girls in 100m, clocking a gaping 11.97 seconds win ahead of De Challengers’ Toyan Raymond who ran 12.61 seconds.
Phillips was back at it again on Sunday clearing the 200m in 24.82s, to overcome the Girls’ Under-18 400m winner Avon Samuels. Samuels’ 25.44s finish relegated Raymond to third place in the 200m after she clocked 26.04s.
Caesar laid claim to the 100m and 200m of the Boys’ Under-20 events. The Lindener, who enjoyed a comfortable 10.62s win of the 100m on Saturday, followed up with a 21.51s win of the 200m.
Meanwhile, the Boys’ Under-18 400m winner Daniel Williams put a stop to Tyrell Peters’ hopes of taking the 100m/200m win in the Boys’ Under-18. Peters overcame Running Brave’s Umkosi Beaton to win the boys Under- 18 100m in 10.80 seconds, but was taken down by Williams’ 21.77s finish in the 200m. Peters was just behind with 21.82s, while Beaton placed third in 22.48s.
Foster won the Girls’ Under-20 1500m and 800m. Virtually unchallenged in the Girls’ Under-20 1500m, Foster ran a blistering 4:50.81 to win the event. Foster was one of only two persons in the race
“It’s kind of hard running practically by yourself, you have the clock and you’re thinking of the time so you have to push, so today was just basically me just pushing towards getting the time. The good thing is me coming here today and doing it by myself, but it’s sad that every time you come to run, especially, the 1500m in the Under-20 there’s like 3 persons only,” Foster said.
However, Foster received competition for the 800m, where she came up against Jevina Sampson. It was nonetheless an effortless 2:14.58s win for Foster, as Sampson clocked 2:27.43s behind her. The Girls’ Under-18 800m went to Joanna Archer, who ran 2:21.50s to win ahead of Kezra Murray (2:27.4) and Maria Urquhart (2:34.21).
Claudice McKoy won the Girls’ Under-18 1500m (4:57.55s) and 3000m (11:00.32s), while McKenzie won the Boys’ Under-20 1500m (4:12.81s) and 5000m
In the Girls’ Under-20 200m Natricia Hooper avenged her loss to Tirana Mitchell in the 100m by winning the race in 25.67s, while Mitchell finished second in 25.97s.