GDF, Running Brave sweep electrifying relays

4th Independence Classic…

An exhilarating Men’s 18+ 200m race and the Open 4x400m race were highlights of the day as the Independence Classic track and field event concluded on Sunday in front of a fair sized but boisterous crowd.
Organized by the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) and the Guyana Overseas Based Sports Association (GOBSA), the event featured athletes from as young as 6 years old.
As promised by the Club before the meet, the Hopetown Flames out of Berbice figuratively set the track on fire, and the biggest upset was when Loneil Marks put a toe on the finish line just before popular sprinter Daniel Williams did, to take the Men’s 18+ 200m gold. Marks clocked a time of 21.36s, while Williams, of Upper Demerara Schools, clocked 21.37s. Third place was taken by Stephon Boodie of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) with a time of 22.69s.
Williams, however, could not be stopped in the 400m race, wherein he took gold with a time of 48.97s. Brian Roman of the Guyana Defence Force and Courtly Bobb of Hopetown Flames made up the podium with times of 49.02s and 50.39s respectively.
The female versions of those races were swept by Running Brave’s Kenisha Phillips, who clocked 24.90s in the 100m dash and 58.99s in the 400m race. Alita Moore of the GPF placed second in both races with a time of 25.42s in the 100m and 1:00.05s in the 400m.
Kenisha Phillips completed her sprint triple with another win in the 100m race, wherein she clocked 11.94s. She was followed once again by Alita Moore, who ran 12.18s for second.
The men’s 3000m Steeplechase saw a record breaking performance from Odwin Tudor of the GDF, who placed first with a time of 9:54.91s. The previous record, which was set in the 1950s, stood at 10 minutes 2 seconds. Royston Fordyce of the GDF clocked 10:01.25s for the second position, while renowned distance athlete Cleveland Thomas of Running Brave took third with 10:09.12s.
Track fans, parents, athletes, officials and other spectators were moved to their feet when the marquee races were ready to sound off.
The Guyana Defence Force was the team to beat in both the Male 4x100m and 4x400m races, wherein they swept gold. The team clocked 41.09s in the 4x100m race, while the 4x400m team clocked 3:19.63s for the win.
The Hopetown Flames’ teams took home silver in both races, with 41.65s in the 4x100m and 3:20.40s in the 4x400m. The University of Guyana crossed the line third in the 4x100m race with 43.48s, while the Guyana Police Force took third in the 4×4 race with a time of 3:27.71s.
In the female 4x100m event, Running Brave ‘A’ took top honours with a time of 48.82s. Running Brave ‘B’ crossed the line second with 49.38s, while 51.89s was the time for the third-placed GDF.
The 4x400m saw a similar result, with Running Brave ‘A’ taking the gold with a time of 3:55.32s. The GPF ‘A’ team was second, clocking a time of 4:02.85s; while Running Brave ‘B’ clocked 4:16.06s for third place.