Perry wins men’s 100; Bright continues to shine in long jump

By Tamica Garnett
ANOTHER great men’s 100m win for Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) Rupert Perry, a men’s 400m battle between Guyana Police Force’s Winston Dummett and Arinze Chance, and CARIFTA Games gold medalist Chantoba Bright’s women’s long jump win were just some of the crowning moments of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) National Seniors Championships which got underway yesterday at the National Track and Field Centre in Leonora.

Wins by Aniquah Powley, Avon Samuels and CARIFTA Games bronze medalist, Andrea Foster were also some of the highlights of the day’s activities.

Perry, who is yet to lose a local 100m since the Joint Services Championships last year, put on a fitting show in the final track race of the day, as he fought it out against a determined Akeem Stewart. Though slow out of the blocks, Perry recuperated to make his way to the front of the pack.
Perry caught up to Stewart, and pipped him at the finish line with a time of 10.40 seconds. For his effort, Stewart clocked 10.46 seconds to take second place, while Police’s Kevin Abbensettes was third with a 10.63 seconds timings.

In the men’s 400m, Dummett refused to be outdone, despite a stern effort from Chance. One of the crowd favourites, Chance took advantage of the turns, but try as he may he could not muster up enough to get past Dummett, who lead the race from the word go. Dummett clocked 48.02 seconds, to outdo the 48.24 seconds timings that Chance had.

Linden’s Chantoba Bright covered an impressive 6.09m to win the women’s long jump. Hooper took second (5.58m) and Cindy Fraser was third (5.37m). Bright’s jump was just two feet inside of the 6.70m Olympic qualifying standard for this event.

In the women’s 100m, an injured Powley dug deep to overcome Running Brave’s Natricia Hooper. Powley took down the lanky Hooper in a time of 11.99 seconds, while Hooper touched down at the finishing line in a time of 12.07 seconds. Suffering from a back injury that was further agitated by yesterday’s race, Powley’s scheduled performance in today’s women’s 200m remains tentative.

“I’m not feeling well, I have a serious back injury, it’s really paining a lot, but I’m hoping to win the 200m tomorrow. I’m not sure [about tomorrow], I’m hoping it doesn’t [affect me]. Tonight when I get in I’m going to get iced down and hopefully tomorrow I can compete in the 200m.” Powley said.

Avon Samuels took a commanding win in the women’s 400m with a time of 58.54 seconds. Finishing ahead of Flames athletic club’s Alissa Grant, who crossed the finishing line in 1:00.42s.

Fresh off her recent gold medal performances at Trinidad’s Hampton International Games, Andrea Foster clocked 4:57.00s to take the women’s 1500m win, ahead of Running Brave’s Claudrice McKoy.
McKoy was second in a time of 5:00.80s, while GDF’s Ashanti Scott was third (5:24.01s). Winston Missengher won the men’s 1500m in 4:01.30s.

National record holder Leslain Baird continued to dominate the men’s javelin throw, covering 57.12m for first place.