The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) male seniors and the youths of the Police Progressive Youth Club (PPYC) swept the podium positions on Sunday when Guyana’s 50th Republic Anniversary Relay Festival was held at the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora, West Coast Demerara.
The Running Brave women’s team
With the powerhouse youth club Running Brave having no representation in the under-16 and under-20 categories, athletes of the Police Progressive Youth Club were virtually unbeatable in events run therein. However, Running Brave was well represented in the Open division.
The PPYC walked away with gold medals in the male and female under-19 and under-15 4x100M, distance medleys, and 4x200M races. The highlight of this domination came when the Police female U15 team comprising of Donna Lowe, Makeela Trim, Odessa France and Roseamon Solomon finished the 4X200M race in one minute, 52 seconds – two whole seconds ahead of their opponents, De Challengers.
Leslain Baird celebrates as he crosses the line for another GDF victory
A collective effort from Qweiasha Sealey, Marissa Thomas, Tamara Harvey and Charissa December ensured that De Challengers finish second; while New Amsterdam United, comprising of Amrist Hector, Jennifer Byass, Niaomi Paddy and Shelena Semple, finished third in 2 minutes, 8 seconds.
The Open division had all the fireworks, with the ladies of Running Brave and the men of the GDF dominating the field of competitors.
With their powerhouse female team comprising of Shaquane Daniels, Shequita Marcus, Ruth Sanmoogan and Alisha Fortune, Running Brave took home gold in the 4X100M and 4x200M events, crossing the line in 48.80s and in 1 minute, 44s in the 4x100M and 4x200M races respectively.
The GDF men’s team
In the 4x100M race, with efforts from Cassie Small, Cassie Tixie, Alita Moore and Kenesha Halley, the PPYC came second in 49.64s. The GDF women were third, with Eureka Williams, Nikita Joseph, Aniquah Powley and Tonya Rawlins crossing the line in 49.67s.
In the 4x200M race, GDF bettered their position, clocking 1.45.66 with Maria Urquhart hitting the track instead of Aniquah Powley. Tandika Haynes, Alita Moore, Cassie Tixie and Cassie Small made up the Police team that took third.
Running Brave also took gold in the 800M medley relay, clocking a time of 1.48.77, while PPYC was second with 1.49.68.
In the men’s 4x100M and 4x200M races, the GDF team comprising of Yannick Williams, Brian Roman, Leslain Baird and Akeem Stewart bagged the double gold. GDF clocked 41.46s in the 4x100M event, finishing ahead of PPYC who crossed the line in 41.57s through combined efforts from Stephon Boodie, Titus Webster, Linyon Mentis and Davin Fraser.
Hopetown Flames completed the podium in this event, their team of Troydon Moore, Dishon Daniels, Jonathan Fraser and Paul Mc Donald clocking 44.38s.
Michael James replaced Yannick Williams in the winning GDF 4X200M team, and they clocked 1.27.86 for the gold, while PPYC’s team clocked 1.28.37 for second place, and the University of Guyana team comprising of Noelex Holder, Javon Johnson, Christopher Darry and Shimar Velloza clocked 1.33.21 for third position.
