Latest update April 7th, 2025 12:08 AM
Police extend lead over Soldiers
-GDF unfazed with 46-point deficit
By Edison Jefford
The Police arrested their chances to secure the first title defence of the Inter-Services Track and Field Championships in the New Millennium yesterday when they effectively extended their lead with continued dominance at the Base Camp Ayanganna Ground.
The defending champions, Guyana Police Force (GPF), extended their Day I 14-point lead to 46 points on Day II of the competition, placing them on the path to become the first team to win the title back-to-back since the event was restarted three years ago.
Owed to dominant performances in the Male Shot Putt and Women’s Triple Jump events, Police amassed 220 points to lead the Guyana Defence Force’s 174 points. The Guyana Fire Service has compiled 48 points for third with the Prison Service on 21 points.
Julio Sinclair won the male Shot Putt for the Police with a 13.97m throw, while Ronald Payne got the second best throw with 13.05 and Michael Pollydore third with 12.67m to complete the clean sweep for the police, handing them all the top points in the event.
Guyana Defence Force’s, Quincy Clarke, comfortably wins his 200m heats ahead of Police rivals, Winston George and Keith Roberts at the Base Camp Ayanganna Ground yesterday.
Before the Shot Putt, the police had swept the Women’s Triple Jump with Natasha Alder leaping to the best attempt with 10.75m. Cindy Fraser was second with 9.97m with Tenisha Punch on the podium as well with 9.66m to complete another dominant performance.
Troy Williams from the Police Force jumped to 13.43m to win the male Triple Jump as Defence Force, Kareem Aaron finished second in 13.26m and the Fire Service’s, Ryan Scott (13.19) third in another of seven of the completed Day II finals at Camp Ayanganna.
In the Women’s Shot Putt, Joan King-Brown took the gold medal with 9.70m with Stacy Wilson of the Police Force second with 9.20m, and Defence Force, Ashanti Carrington third with 8.67m in the event as the Police maintained a firm grip on the field events.
Earlier, the Defence Force had chopped the police Day I lead with Cleveland Forde stomping his authority in the male 5000m race. Dennis Horatio was second, but the soldiers took third through Wilbert Mingo to give them valuable points in chasing the police.
The Defence Force raced to victory in the female ranks relay yesterday ahead of the police, while their male team messed up on the third leg after Rupert Perry had given them a solid lead. It was an unfortunate mishap for the soldiers who desperately needed the points.
The dropped baton in the third leg exchange allowed the police back into the race after they were totally outclassed. It became clear that the final day will be intriguing with the soldiers getting an extremely impressive sojourn qualifying in the 200m heats.
The competition will continue on Friday with the final day where the soldiers will try to overhaul the lead the police have amassed. Defence Force Coach, Robert Chisholm told Kaieteur Sport that he will not allow the police to intimidate his team with their lead.
“We’re going to catch the police; their strength was in the field events, and our strength is on the track. We are going to close that lead on Friday (tomorrow), but what I know is that it is going to be close. I am not worried with the police lead,” Chisholm indicated.
The Defence Force last won the title in 2009 at home at the Base Camp Ayanganna Ground. They will be looking to maximise their home turf advantage again. However, to do so they will have to topple one of the teams that has emerged as the best in Guyana this year.
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