Latest update January 30th, 2025 6:10 AM
Latest News
CARIFTA medallists among top athletes on show
National Youth, Junior C/ships on this weekend
By Edison Jefford
The nation’s top youth, which are athletes Under-18 years, and juniors, athletes Under-20 years, including the outstanding 2013 CARIFTA Games medallists, will go on show this weekend at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary.
Headlining today’s and tomorrow’s events are the locally-based athletes who helped Guyana earn its largest single medal haul at the Caribbean’s most prestigious junior meet in the Bahamas.
Those athletes include, Alita Moore, who is expected to compete in the U-20 Girls’ 100m and 200m races; Avon Samuels, who will compete in the U-18 Girls’ 200m and 400m; triple CARIFTA Games gold medallist, Jevina Straker in the U-20 Girls’ 800m and 1500m; gold and silver medallist, Linden’s Cassey George in the U-18 Girls’ 800m and 1500m; bronze medallists, Tirana Mitchell in the U-18 Girls’ 200m and Jason Yaw in the U-18 Boys’ 400m.
Anyone with intentions of beating Moore, must be prepared to run somewhere in the vicinity of 11.7 seconds, which is considerably quick for local standards on grass. Moore has consistently turned in times around 11.7 and 11.8 seconds and has become the junior female sprinter to beat since her sudden ascendancy last year.
Her primary challenge is expected to come from her Police Progressive Youth Club team-mate, Tiffany Carto, a well-decorated schools’ champion as well as the Guyana Defence Force’s Letitia Myles. Mercury Fast Laners’, Ebony Nelson and Linden’s, Shannon Griffith could also make the junior girls sprint races interesting. If all these quality athletes are on top of their game this weekend, the U-20 sprints will be both fast and tremendously competitive. Moore, who also favours the jumps, will be pushed to her limits.
Both Samuels and Straker are expected to have comfortable victories in their races, but with an upsurge in junior rivalries, they cannot take their favourite tags for granted. George is also in this category of overwhelming favourites after her dominant debut CARIFTA Games performance in a 1500m youth time that was faster than the juniors.
Explosive youth sprinter, Mitchell with a recent close victory against her senior counterpart, Moore at the Police Relay Fair, is expected to single out her excellent form. If Running Braves’ youth phenom, Jevina Sampson, runs the 100m and 200m, both events will become marquee races with the two top youth sprinters clashing. Linden’s Kelani Griffith, Shannon’s sister, could also be among the reckoning in those events.
Jason Yaw’s 400m youth prowess is usually unmatched while junior sprinter Tevin Garraway could faceoff with schools’ champion, Kevin Abbensetts in the 100m and 200m races. At middle distance, Ornesto Thomas and Devaugn ‘Scooby’ Barrington will continue their long-standing battles over 800m and 1500m.
Four of the eight CARIFTA Games representatives made the qualification marks for the 2013 World Youth Championships, July 14-18, Ukraine. Those athletes include George (800m, 1500m), Samuels (400m), Yaw (200m, 400m) and Mitchell (100m, 200m). However, the 14-year-old George and Samuels are under the 16-year old age requirement for the Championships.
It means that other athletes will have the opportunity this weekend to put their names up for serious consideration for the World Youth Championships.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
The third parties will not survive this year’s elections
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- The fate of third parties in this year’s general and regional elections is as predictable... more
OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus
Antiguan Barbudan Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The upcoming election... more
Weekend Cartoon
