Seasoned track stars shine at Nationals

Nov 24, 2013 Sports

By Edison Jefford
Seasoned junior track and field athletes made a strong claim for more national recognition Friday night at the National Stadium when they clearly separated their crafts, some with record-breaking performances,

DOMINANCE! Jevina Sampson completes her sprint treble with a comfortable win in the U-16 Girls 400m Friday at the National Stadium.

from others at the National Schools’ Championships.
North Georgetown’s, Jevina Sampson continued her dominance at this level with a sprint treble after she romped yet to another victory in the 400m Girls’ Under-16 race in 59.7 seconds. East Georgetown’s, Natricia Hooper (1:02.0) was third, while Corentyne’s, Dennlie Gray (1:02.1) was third.
In the boys’ race, Upper Demerara’s, Compton Caesar, who was one of the rising stars in the competition, won in 54.5 seconds while New Amsterdam’s, Ryan Bramble finished second in 54.9 seconds and East Coast’s, Lennox Douglas (55.1) ended third.
North Georgetown’s, Shomane Daniels won the U-20 Girls 400m in 1:02.3, while Upper Dem’s Shenika Chapman (1:06.1) and Corentyne’s Funeta Crandon (1:08.7) finished second and third respectively.
After playing second fiddle for quite some time, South Georgetown’s, Selwin Foster won the Boys’ U-20 race in 50.7 seconds, leaving North Georgetown’s, Quacy Simpson (51.2) and East Georgetown’s, Janno Jacobs with 51.4 second and third.
North Georgetown’s, Avon Samuels then ran 1:00.2 erasing Melissa Byass’ 1:00.4 mark done last year at the same venue to win the U-18 Girls 400m. New Amsterdam’s, Byass (1:02.1) and East Georgetown’s, Mearisha Carter (1:02.5) finished in that order.
East Coast’s, Jason Yaw blistered the field in 49.9 seconds that also erased Shaquille Smartt’s 51.3 seconds last year for new record; his third of the 2013 competition. Upper Demerara’s, Smartt (51.5) was second and East Bank’s, Kwesi Blair (52.1) third.
The seasoned junior stars continued to exhort their dominance when Ornesto Thomas won the Boys’ Open 5000m in16:35.8 for East Coast. Corentyne’s, Denzil Leitch was second in 16:42.4 while West Coast Berbice’s, Marlon Nicholson (16:53.3) trailed in third.
Upper Demerara/Kwakwani, Jomal Johnson won the Boys U-16 3000 in 9:54.3 with Rupununi’s, Cleveland Pugsley (9:57.3) second and East Coast’s, Joshua Walcott (10.00.9) third.

SUBLIME! Cassey George finishes more than 50metres ahead in the 3000m Girls’ U-16 Final Friday evening at the National Stadium.

Upper Demerara’s, Cassey George then showed Guyanese why she won two CARIFTA gold medals with a blistering 3000m U-16 race. George set the pace early and never looked back for a an 11:06.5 win; West Coast Berbice’s, Delicia Harper (11:18.9) was second while North West’s, Sharmin Worrick (12:08.7) finished third in the distance event.