ON day five of the National Schools Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships at the National Track and Field Centre (NTFC), Leonora, West Coast Demerara, U-18 sprinters Deshana Skeete (District 10) and Deron Roberts (District 13) completed the sprint double by copping their 200m events respectively.

Roberts, who won the 100m (10.94s) in the Boys’ U-18 category on Wednesday, held off stiff competition from District 11’s Daniel Benjamin and District 5’s Godwin Humphrey.
Benjamin pipped Humphrey to claim silver while the latter had to settle for bronze.
Deshana Skeete comprehensively beat her opposition by at least 6 metres in a time of 25.29s to cop gold in the 200m Girls’ U-18 and closed off the double.

With Skeete’s dominance, the race was on for silver and Aaliyah Kellman (District 14) fended off District 3’s Binka Joseph for silver.
Earlier in the Boys’ U-20 200m event, Shane Haynes (District 10) copped gold ahead of Alwyn Prince (District 4) who claimed silver while District 11’s Anthony Prince had to settle for bronze.

Tonya Rawlins (District 3) easily claimed the 200m Girls’ U-20 event to seal the double, winning emphatically ahead of District 13’s Annalisa Redmond (silver) and District 10’s Leona James (bronze).

In the 1500m events, Ronell Newton (District 10) copped his second gold medal of this year’s Nationals, when he convincingly won the U-20 race. The outspoken Newton said that he was pleased with his performance noting that he always had the confidence that he would win the event. Newton will once again compete in the 5 000m today where he hopes to make it three out of three.

District 13’s Leyanna Charles also showed her pedigree by winning the 1500m Girls’ U-20 race by some distance.
After making a clean sweep of the distance events in the U-16 category last year, Murphy Nash avenged his 800m loss by convincingly winning the 1500m U-16 Boys’ race, District 6’s Darel Davis managed to hold off District 9’s Garvin Stephen for the silver.

Another Lindener, Tia Azore (District 10), claimed the Female U-16 1500m event ahead of District 4’s Aaliyah Headley while Tatiana Andrew (District 9) settled for the bronze medal.

POINTS UPDATE
The points standings thus far have defending champions District 10 (Upper Demerara/Kwakwani) leading on 416 points while District 3 (West Demerara) are trailing on 290.5 points, with District 4 (East Coast Demerara) third on 280.5 points. District 5 (West Coast Berbice) are currently fourth on 269 points and District 15 fifth with 260 points.

The final day of action is today with the 400m finals and Relay events.