YOUNG upcoming track star Emmanuel Archibald dismissed veterans Winston George and Rupert Perry in the Men’s 100m to become the sprint champion of Guyana yesterday, at the National Track and Field Centre (NTFC), Leonora, while Barbados-based Guyanese Jovanna Gustave outclassed Junior champion Kenisha Phillips to become the 2019 female 100m champion in an action-packed day one of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) National Senior Championships.

Archibald produced one of the finest runs of his career so far with an explosive start, a smooth cruise through the middle and a powerful finish down the back stretch, to cross the finish line ahead of Olympian Winston George in a time of 10.26 seconds to establish his dominance on the national scene.

Meanwhile, George had to settle for silver with a time of 10.36 secs, while GDFG athlete Rupert Perry made a welcome return to the podium grabbing bronze with a time of 10.45 secs.

On the distaff side, guest athlete Gustave showed her class and power to finish with the gold medal in a time of 11.61 secs ahead of junior champion Phillips who had to settle for second this time around in 11.73 secs. GDF’s Tonya Rawlins claimed bronze in a pedestrian time of 12.02 secs to round out the podium spots.

In the field, there was an unusual upset as University of Guyana student-athlete Ruth Sanmoogan beat last year’s female long jump champion Chantoba Bright; Sanmoogan had a best leap of 6.02m to cop gold ahead of Bright, who recorded a best try of 5.86m, with Keliza Smith claiming third place with a best effort of 5.59m.

Bright had her second silver of the day when Natrena Hooper outjumped her in the women’s high jump event by some height; Hooper’s gold came courtesy of a 1.75m best effort while Bright had 1.65m with Shantel Browne settling for bronze with 1.60m.

Meanwhile, in the middle distance events, the Men’s 1500m Police athlete Anfernee Headecker reigned supreme with a gold medal time of 4 minutes 01.7 secs with Marlon Nicholson coming in second in 4 minutes 09.81 secs while Ronell Newton copped bronze in 4 minutes 22.53 secs.

In the females 1500m, Aaliyah Moore grabbed gold in 4 minutes 56.45 secs as Kissana Glen finished second (5 minutes 02.88 secs) and Tia Azore (5 mins 34.10 secs) claimed third place.

Action continues today at the same venue from 10:00hrs with the 200m events timed to run off from 14:00hrs. Admission is just $300 per person.