Boyce & Jefford Track & Field Classic…Thousands watch Running Brave dethrone Police

Aug 20, 2013 Sports

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– James, Moore cop Outstanding Athletes prizes

By Rawle Welch
Many knowledgeables intimately associated with the sport of athletics would readily agree that the Boyce & Jefford Track & Field Classic is still someway off being mentioned in the same breath with the highly regarded Inter-Secondary Schools Boys and Girls Championships of Jamaica (commonly referred to as Champs) at this point, but what they are in agreement with is that if managed astutely the event in the next few years could mirror that of the Jamaica spectacle.
This is in terms of regional popularity even though the Champs

have now taken on an elevated international dimension that now attracts a large cadre of scouts and sponsors from around the world, all eager to spot the next generation of track stars.
On Sunday, the final day of the Boyce & Jefford Classic at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground, the large turnout that included persons of influence who trekked all the way from Georgetown and further, emphatically underlined the irrefutable proof of the Classic’s progression in four short years.
Not only did the thousands of fans witness the erasure of quite a few previous Meet records, but they also had the opportunity to see some of the future stars emerge from the shadows of a few veterans, producing some stirring performances in the process.
At the end of competition after two days, a feature that the Organisers has had to adopt to keep in accordance with the IAAF mandate, Running Brave Athletic Club with a total of 448.50 points managed to dethrone defending champions Police Sports Club that finished with 422 followed by Christianburg / Wismar on 172, Mercury Fast Lane on 160, Guyana Defence Force with 134, Upper Demerara Schools on 115.50, Grenada AAA on 20, Rising Stars Track Club on 16, Trinidad and Tobago AAA with 10 and Suriname Athletic Bond in the cellar on 6.
Rising junior sprint sensation Alita Moore of Police SC was voted the Most Valuable Female Athlete after capturing the 100 and 400 metres and placing second in the 200 metres, losing to veteran Alisha Fortune.
However, she managed to establish new records in the 100 and 400 metres, clocking 12.00 and 58.10 respectively to erase the old marks of 12.20 set by Letitia Myles and 58.70 posted by Shanna Thornhill.
The men’s equivalent went to Running Brave Stephan James, who swept the field in the 100, 200 and 400 metres, registering times of 10.70, 21.90 and 49.60 respectively.
Other impressive performances came from two-time Junior Carifta gold medallist Jevina Straker, who dominated a strong field en route to smashing her own records in the 800 and 1500 metres events.

The long striding Straker first reduced the existing 800 metres record of 2:22.80 by clocking 2:21.40 to relegate into second place Andrea Foster, while Jenella Jonas ended third before returing to obliterate the previous 1500 metres record which stood at 5:02.00 by registering a crushing 4:56.40, leaving Grenada’s Kenisha Pascal (5:00.40) and Alika Morgan 5:10.10 in that order in her wake.
Morgan claimed the 3000 metres in 11:25.30 with Pascal seond in 11:27.10 and Straker in the final podium spot in 11:41.60.
Trinidad and Tobago double Junior Carifta gold medallist Mark London proved too strong for the locals, winning the 800 metres in 1:57.40 ahead of Police Kevin Bayley, who clocked 1:57.90 and Running Brave Cleveland Thomas in 1:59.40.
Thomas, however, won the 1500 metres in 4:13.20 from Bayley (4:14.60) and Devon Barrington of Running Brave, who was timed at 4:15.40.
Julio Sinclair of Police captured the Shot Put and Discus events, while GDF’s Leslain Baird took the Javelin for Men.
Lisa Bowman (Running Brave) won the Women’s Shot Put, Latoya Rodney (Police) the Discus and Natasha Alder (Police) the Javelin.
Running Brave dominated the relays and medley relays as well.
Meanwhile, Co-organiser Colin Boyce in brief remarks reminded the Lindeners that the event as promised will stay in the community and expressed thanks to them for their support, while all the officials also came in for special praise.
Both Boyce and co-organiser Edison Jefford conveyed gratitude to the all the sponsors for their continued support of the event and the sport by extension, adding that they hope that the organisation of the Meet had met the desired standards and expectations of them all.
Regional Chairman of Region 10 Sharma Solomon, Digicel’s Events & Sponsorship Manager Gavin Hope and Y.K Investments Harry Yenkana were among those making presentations to the winners.
Among the sponsors that came on board were: Digicel, Ansa McAl, E-Networks Inc, Y.K Investments & Pawn Shop, Courts, Star Party Rentals, Lifetime Realty, Brainstreet, Wartsila, Giftland Office Max under its Asics brand, Johil Commercial, K&D Mining, Mark Interior Communications and all the others that contributed in making the event possible.
Also, distance star Alika Morgan presented a trophy to Junior Carifta gold medallist Cassie George for her outstanding perforamnce at the regional Games.

 

 

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