Perry runs 10.40 at National rs Championships

BY RENE STOBY

The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) National Seniors Championships got under way yesterday at the

National Track and Field Centre in Leonora with some scintillating performances.

In the marquee race of the day, Rupert Perry came from behind to tip training partner Akeem Stewarte (10.46) to the line to be declared the fastest man in Guyana when he won the Men’s 100m in a personal best (PB) time of 10.40 using the Fully Automatic Time (FAT) system. After the race the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) athlete said “I was very confident, my main threat was my teammate Akeem Stewart and he was really explosive in the start of the race.” Kevin Abbensetts was third in 10.63.

Winston Missinger also continued his dominance in running by winning the men’s 1500 meters in a very fast time of 4 minutes and 1 second; he was closely followed by the young Anfernee Headecker in an impressive time of 4:02.10. Cleveland Thomas (4:06.40) rounded off the top three to make it a clean sweep for the Running Brave Athletic Club.

The most impressive performance of the day would however come from 16 year old Lindener, Chantoba Bright. The Mackenzie High School student broke the 6 meters barrier with a remarkable leap of 6.09 meters to capture the Women’s Long Jump. When quizzed about her PB the Victory Valley resident told Guyana Times Sport, “I’m proud of myself but there is still room for improvement and I’m going to train harder and go the extra distance to get the distance I want (6.50 meters and beyond)”. The successful Carifta Games athlete credits her performances to her mom, her coach and God for giving her health and strength. Natricia Hooper (5.58m) made the second longest jump followed by Cindy Fraser (5.37m).

Andrea Foster was another athlete to maintain her dominance in middle distance running. Fresh from successes at the Hampton Games in Trinidad the GDF athlete comfortably won the women’s 1500m in 4:57. 16 year old Claudrice McKoy was second in 5:00.80 followed by Ashanti Scott (5:24.01).

GDF athlete Aniquah Powley held off teammate Natrena Hooper (12.07) to win the women’s 100m dash in a very quick time of 11.99. Toyan Raymod came in third in 12.52.

Guyana Police Force (GPF) runner Winston Dummette (48.02) held off teammates Arenze Chance (48.24) and Kareem Punch (49.47) to win the Men’s 400m.

Lindener, Emmanuel Archibald (7.53m) leapt farthest to claim the Men’s long jump ahead of Doman Williams (6.89m) and Lloyd McCurdy (6.58m) while Leslain Baird (57.12m) won the Men’s Javelin Throw followed by Clarence Greene (53.14m) and Tramaine Beckles (52.24m).

Running Brave’s Avon Samuels was in great form when she strategically won the women’s 400m in a time of 58.54. Alissa Grant crossed the line second in 1:00.42 followed by Assata Eastman (1:02.09).

The Championships will continue today from 09:00 Hrs, with two sessions. The morning session will feature the triple jumps, the women’s high jump, men’s shot put, the discus events, 200m heats, and the 800m finals.

The event concludes in the afternoon with the 200m finals, 3000m for women, 5000m for men, men’s high jump and 4x400m relays.