MOE/GTU 57th National Schools Cycling, Swimming & Track & Field Championships
In the first event of the 57th National Schools Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships on Sunday; the 10K Road Race, Rickie Williams of District 11 (North Georgetown) and Margaret Augusto of District 9 (Rupununi) struck gold.
Williams dominated the males race beating his nearest rival (Matthew McKenzie) by atleast 500 metres while 16-year-old Augusto participating in her first “Nationals” dispatched her competition also by a large gap.
Rickie Williams reacts as he wins the 10K Road Race on Sunday (Michelangelo Jacobus Photo)
Williams burst the tape in a time of 35 minutes 32 seconds and was followed by District 10’s (Upper Demerara/Kwakwani) McKenzie who clocked 36 minutes 20 seconds. Closing out the top three was Garvin Stephen of District 9 (Rupununi) who finished with a time of 36 minute 49 seconds.
Augusto sprinted on her way across the line in a time of 42 minutes 57 seconds to claim gold. She was followed by District 10’s Sheama Tyrell who stopped the clock at 44 minutes 27 seconds. Takng bronze was Leyanna Charles (District 13) who crossed the finish line in 50 minutes 22 seconds.
The athletes started at Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara on the public road and made their way to the Synthetic Track at Leonora where they had to make lap before crossing the finish line.
The championships continues today with the cycling events at the inner circuit of the National Park from 07:00h while swimming will be hosted at the National Aquatic Center in Liliendaal from 09:00h.
The track and field events will continue on a daily basis from Tuesday for the remainder of the week at the Leonora venue with action starting at 09:00hrs. (Michelangelo Jacobus)
