– Guyana cop 2 Gold, 4 Silver & 5 Bronze medals on day 1
By Michelangelo Jacobus
History was made on Saturday morning as athletes from over 10 countries participated in 17 finals on day one of the South American U-20 Championships, which kicked off at the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora, West Coast Demerara with the10,000 Metres’ Walk race.
Compton Caesar powers over the finish line to claim Gold ahead of his Brazilian counterpart
Guyana was well represented through athletes such as Compton Caesar, Chantoba Bright, Avon Samuels, Daniel Williams, Anfernee Headecker, Kenisha Phillips, Ruth Sanmoogan and Onasha Rogers, all of whom medalled in their respective events.
CARIFTA gold medallist Compton Caesar enhanced his growing reputation by powering his way to a personal best of 10.37s in the 100 Metres event, running against a wind of -3.1 to take gold. Brazilian Derick De Souza Silva was second in 10.45s, and Argentine Daniel Londero third in 10.70s.
Speaking to the media after his dominant run, Caesar credited his near perfect start for his excellent finish, but pointed out that he needs to work on the last quarter of this race, as he is a bit weak in that stage.
Guyana’s first medal came earlier in the morning through Anfernee Headecker who, despite a brilliant run in the Male 1500 Metres final, burned out to finish third and take bronze behind Jefferson Dos Santos and Jose Zabala in that order.
The host nation’s second medal came in the Females 400 Metres’ event, when Avon Samuels clocked 55.45s on her way to silver. Her Brazilian counterpart, Beatriz Marinho, easily won gold in a time of 54.25s, while Colombian Karen Segura Ocampo) took bronze in 57.56s.
In the Males’ 400 Metres event, experienced South American U-20 athlete Daniel Williams took Guyana’s second silver of the day in a time of 48.24s, running behind Suriname’s Miguel Shepper (47.90s) but ahead of Uruguay’s only male, Mateo Pascual, who claimed bronze in 48.30s.
As the afternoon session began, Guyana’s diminutive long jumper Chantoba Bright won Guyana’s first gold medal with a personal best jump of 6.30m to outjump Brazilian Vitoria Alves (6.12m), while Guyana’s Ruth Sanmoogan also claimed bronze with her effort of 5.59m.
The dynamic duo of Onasha Rogers and Kenisha Phillips took Silver and Bronze respectively in their 100 Metre final, coming in behind Brazilian powerhouse Lorraine Martins, who dominated the race in a time of 11.56s.
Rogers, who continued her winning streak against Phillips, clocked a time of 11.71s to claim silver, while her teammate took bronze in 11.78s. As the evening wore on, Samuel Lynch, affectionately known as “Sammy” to his Guyanese fans, ran a well composed 800 Metre race to upstage teammate Anfernee Headecker. However, Lynch’s effort was found wanting, as he placed second, behind Jeferson Dos Santos of Brazil.
Headecker kept pace with Dos Santos up to the final 200 metres, while Lynch, who was hanging back, came alive in the final lap to run past Headecker — who finished with bronze yet again — and claim Silver behind the Brazilian. In an interview with Guyana Times Sport, Headecker noted that his ending was not strong, so he advised Lynch to take the inside.
Claudrice McKoy also added to Guyana’s medal tally — in the gripping 1500m race which brought the crowd to its feet. McKoy (4m:39.96s) used every joule of energy in her diminutive frame to finish third, behind Brazil’s Pietra Da Silva (4m:31.82s) and Colombia’s Jarly Marin Zipa (4m:33.83s). McKoy was lauded for her efforts, after being as much as 60m off the lead and in fifth place during the final lap.
Action will resume today with the feature events being the relays and the 200 metres’ finals. Tickets can still be purchased at the Leonora Synthetic Track, White Castle Fish Shop, the GOA Head Office, and the LOC office on Light Street.
