Police race to third Boyce and Jefford Classic title

The Police Progressive Youth Club (PPYC) handcuffed a hat trick of titles yesterday, prevailing over rivals Guyana Defence Force (GDF) when the curtains came down on the seventh annual Boyce and Jefford Track and Field Classic.

Wins for Olympian, Winston George and his teammate, Alita Moore, who the Police used as their trump cards in the sprint events as they made a clean sweep of the Men’s and Women’s 100m, 200m and 400m sprints, respectively, helping the PPYC retain their title at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground, Linden.

Entering the second day of competition with a marginal lead ahead of GDF, Police tightened their grip throughout the day amassing 395 points to win. GDF was second with 329 points while Linden was third with 189 points. Mercury Fast Laners rounded out the top four with 92 points.

Police ran away with the $1 million first place club prize, becoming the first club to take three consecutive titles at the event in its seven-year history. GDF will take home $500, 000, Linden $300,000 and Mercury Fast Laners (MFL) $200, 000. Trophies were also handed out along with those cash prizes.

Kevin Bayley talks to the media after defending his 800m title
Kevin Bayley talks to the media after defending his 800m title
Digicel’s Sponsorship and Events Executive Louanna Abrams, along with Ulex Smith, hands over the Championships Trophy to Police Games Officer Tiffany Williams in the company of the PPYC Team and Coordinators Colin Boyce (left) and Edison Jefford (right)
Digicel’s Sponsorship and Events Executive Louanna Abrams, along with Ulex Smith, hands over the Championships Trophy to Police Games Officer Tiffany Williams in the company of the PPYC Team and Coordinators Colin Boyce (left) and Edison Jefford (right)

Of the remaining teams, the overseas team finished fifth with 49 points, while Super Upcoming Runners collected 35 points to finish in the cellar position.

George was crowned Male Champion Athlete after racking up 30 points from his sprint sweep while Moore followed suite with the Female Champion Athlete award.

George, who had won the 200m on Saturday when the competition first began, returned to stamp his authority on the men’s 100m finals in a record time of 10.3 seconds, erasing Rupert Perry’s 10.4 seconds record back in 2011.

Linden’s Compton Ceasar clocked 10.6s, while Police’s Kevin Abbensetts clinched third place with 10.7s. US based Kevin Bayley retained the 800m title, relegating rival, Trinidadian Ashton Gill to third place in the race.

George, the national men’s 400m record holder, almost seamed in for another easy win in the 400m, until Winston Dummett challenged him on the final straight for a close finish with George prevailing in the in 49.2s, while Dummett ran 49.6s.

Moore clocked 12.02s in the 100m and 59.1s in the 400m. In the 100m, Linden’s Onasha Rogers was second (12.03s) and MFL’s Cassie Small took third (12.05s).

Earlier, the day started with the International Women’s 1500m where Grenada’s Kenisha Pascal dominated in a time of 5 minutes 03 seconds, while second place was picked up by Police’s Joanna Archer in a time of 5 minutes 12 seconds and Trinidad’s Joanna Rogers came in third.

Cleveland Forde then claimed the men’s 1500m in a time of 4 minutes 10 seconds. GDF also ended third in the race after Odwin Tudor clocked 4 minutes 14 seconds, second place went to Police’s Quacy Morian (4 minutes 13 seconds).

Forde and Tudor also contributed to GDF’s win of the men’s sprint medley relay. GDF also won the women’s sprint medley.

In the Women’s triple jump, GDF’s Natrena Hooper defeated Linden’s double CARIFTA Games silver medallist, Chantoba Bright after she leaped to 11.85m. Bright, who broke the long jump record on day one with a 5.72m leap (and not 5.27m as was previously reported) was second with 11.53m.