Williams bags sprint double, Sanmoogan close to Olympic mark

…as AAG completes 2nd developmental meet

The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) has been able to host its second Track and Field Developmental Meet of the year on Sunday last, even as a number of regional and international events are billed for the latter half of 2021, such as CARIFTA and the Tokyo Olympics.
However, many improved performances were recorded as local athletes focused on achieving qualifying times and maintaining consistency.
The 100M sprint events were the first off for the day, and a number of scintillating performances were recorded by the locals. Queiwsha Sealey (DeChallengers), Queanna Taylor (Tytans Athletic) and Akala Hall (Running Brave) clocked 12.71s, 12.96s and 13.22s respectively to complete the top three in the Girls 14-16 category.
Over in the 17-19 category, the three lone competitors had no qualms about podium finishes. Juvonna Cornette (Tytans Athletic) was first in a time of 12.07, while Karese Lloyd (Running Brave) and Kyasha Thomas (Mercury Fast Laners) were second and third with respective times of 12.21s and 14.36s.
In the Open race, Police Progressive Youth Club’s Cassy Small was first to cross the line, doing so in a time of 11.99s while Ruth Sanmoogan (GDF) followed closely behind, clocking a time of 12.01s and Shaquan Daniels (RB) placed third in a time of 12.29s.
Queanna Taylor improved her 200M performance with a first-place finish of 26.71s, while Lakeisha Wilson (RB) and Tamara Harvey (DC) were second and third with respective times of 27.51s and 27.57s.
Juvonna Cornette made it a sprint double with a 200M gold, clocking 25.62s while Karese Lloyd repeated her 2nd place finish with a time of 25.99s. Shantae George (Hopetown Flames) was third, in a time of 27.03s.
Keliza Smith (RB) outran Natrena Hooper (GDF) and Shaquan Daniels (RB) in the Open 200M, clocking a time of 25.67s while Her competitors clocked 26.20s and 26.60s respectively.
Over in the male division, David Higgins (Upper Demerara Schools) clocked 11.05s and 22.91s in the 100M and 200M races to take first place in both.
In the 100M sprint, Shaquan Nelson (RB) and Jaheel Cornette (TA) were second and third with respective times of 11.35s and 11.64s.
Nelson was also second in the 200M with a time of 23.65s, while Jonathan Seedath was third with a time of 23.79s.
D’Quan Williams of Tytans Athletic likewise prevailed in the sprint races, clocking 10.95s in the 100M and 22.54s in the 200M. Wesley Tyndall (RB) occupied second place in the 100M with a time of 10.97s while Shamar Horatio finished third with a time of 10.98s.
Richard Blake (RB) and Sean Johnson (UDS) crossed the line in second and third in the 200M event with respective times of 22.68s and 22.70s.
Emmanuel Archibald (UDS), Nolex Holder (PPYC) and Deron Roberts (RB) were the fastest men on the day, clocking 10.21s, 10.39s and 10.59s for the podium finishes in the 100M Open event.
GDF’s Akeem Stewart finally came to the party in the Open 200M race, clocking 21.36s for a win. His GDF teammates Brian Roman and Michael James took the other two top podium spots with times of 22.08s and 22.18s.
Despite picking up a possible injury, Leslain Baird’s (GDF) lone throw of 75M was the best in the Open Javelin circuit. the next best competitor was Timothy Sealey (GDF), who threw a distance of 52.61M, and Shemar Carter (MFL) who threw a distance of 36.96M.
Anisha Gibbons (Rurallites) was the lone female in the Open category. She threw a distance of 45.32M.
Emmanuel Archibald again commanded the Long Jump scene with a leap of 8.07M, while Micaiah Washington (GDF) leapt 7.26M and Vibert Dummett (Super Upcoming Runners) leapt 6.50M.
In other notable performances, Ruth Sanmoogan (GDF) was not too far away from the Olympic qualifying mark in the long Jump event (6.70M), as she leapt a distance of 6.05M for first place. Devaun Barrington (GDF) clocked 49.80s in the 400M Open, while Anfernee Headecker (PPYC) clocked 4.14.55s in the 1500M Open.
Sheama Tyrell won the female version of that event in 5.03.38s. Cleveland Thomas expectedly commanded the Open 5000M races with a time of 16.39.70s.