Juniors impress at AAG Senior Championships

Apr 28, 2009 Sports

---

– Saul, Harlequin, Scotland among top performers

By Edison Jefford
Triston Joseph continued his impressive season on Sunday at the Police Sports Club with his blistering performance in the 200m when the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) staged its 2009 National Senior Championships.

The national junior sprinter came off his double gold medal showing at the Inter–Guiana Games the previous day to win the senior 200m race in 22.00, which was unofficially his personal best time in the marquee half lap event.
He shaved 40 split seconds off his 22.40 seconds Guiana Games win, helping junior rival, Chavez Ageday to second with 22.20.
Franken Mercurius was third in 22.50 as the junior athletes completely dominated the senior race.
Guiana Games 200m bronze medallist, Dellon DeAbreu finished fourth in a sub-standard 23.00. Michael Saul, who had won the 100m earlier, eased his advance toward the front of the race with approximately 50m remaining.

Kaieteur Sport learnt afterward that Saul was not too keen on entering the event.
He won the 100m in 10.60 seconds. Kenneth ‘Beast’ Semple was second in that event with 10.70 while Joseph finished third in a time of 10.80.
Junior athletes with their under–20 years winding down continued their impressive show when Mercedes Forde, Neisa Allen and Nadine Rodrigues battled for supremacy after the veteran Alisha Fortune comfortably won the 100m.
Fortune allowed her track shoes to do all the talking with her usual dominant run in 12.00 leaving senior debutant, Leota Babb, who had known fantasies of dethroning Fortune on Sunday, in second with 12.30. Allen was third in 12.80.

With Fortune opting out of the 200m race, the junior female sprinters amused enthusiasts in a closely fought race even though their talented counterpart, Roxanna Rigby could not participate because of her aggravated ankle injury.
Forde and Allen raced out of their blocks ahead of the field with no sign of regression on a damp track after intermittent light showers had caused a brief lull. Rodrigues joined the two frontrunners as final hustle intensified.
However, at the end of the race, Forde had a 25.10 seconds time for first place. Rodrigues had to settle for second after her Guiana Games gold medal in the event, with 25.30 while emerging talent, Allen placed third in a 25.70 time.
Forde had previously won the women’s 400m in 1:01.40 with Tiffany Smith second with 1:02.10; Delie Williams was third in 1:06.30. Wayne Harlequin (49.90), Trevor Scotland (50.80) and Phillip Drayton (51.40) finished in that order in the men’s race.
In one of the most anticipated races of the day, Harlequin, Scotland and a junior luminary Ricardo Martin braced the start line for the men’s 800m race. The pre–race chat was that Martin had enough momentum to beat the seniors.
The junior middle distance star entered the race against the background of Carifta Games silver medal, Guiana Games double gold medal and qualification for the World Youth Championships to be staged in Italy in July.
However, Scotland and Harlequin had their own ‘beef’ and were not prepared to allow the junior athlete to intervene.
The race started with a heated pace but after the first lap of the now considered ‘sprint distance’ the leaders emerged.
Scotland rushed to the front with Harlequin in second and Martin third. Ironically, by the end of the race the positions of the three athletes were the same. Scotland won in 1:58.80 while Harlequin ran 2:01.20 and Martin 2:02.90.
Ashanti Scott won the women’s version of the race in 2:30.90 as a loner since there was not other competitor in the event. Stacey Wilson had started the event but dropped out after the first lap leaving Scott to run alone.
Guyana’s current and most successful distance athlete, Cleveland Forde also impressed a fair sized crowd with his 5000m run.
Forde seemed compact and precise throughout the event that he completely dominated on Sunday.
He ran 15:15.20 while Kelvin Johnson completed the course in 16:27.30 for second and junior, Jonathan Fagundes 16:44.40 for third. Lionel D’Andrade was noticeably absent from the race though he had entered to compete.
Field Events Results
Men Javelin Throw: Terrence Johnson (44.73m), Larry Josiah (39.74m) and Royston Ross (38.23m).
Women Javelin Throw: Stacey Wilson (31.30m) and Phillycia Burke (23.28m); there were only two competitors in that event.
Men Long Jump: Leon Bishop (6.38m), Japheth Hackett (6.35m) and Marlon Moshette (6.02m).
Women Shot Put: Anneisa DeAbreu (10.00m) and Lawanda Whaul (7.89m); there were only two competitors in this event.
Men Shot Put: Ronald Payne (14.24m), Ross (13.20m) and Johnson (12.92m).
Women Discus Throw: Lashauna Benjamin (26.60m), Burke (26.07m) and Whaul (25.63m).

---

---