By Neto Baptiste
Olympic-bound athletes and national sprinters, Joella Lloyd and Cejhae Greene, dominated the women’s and men’s 100 meters events while Geolyna Dowdye and Kasiya Daley ruled the women’s and men’s 200 meters, respectively, during the Antigua and Barbuda Athletics Association (ABAA) Cool & Smooth National Track & Field Championships held over the weekend at the YASCO Sports Complex.
Greene clocked 10.24 seconds to claim the sprinting crown ahead of a threatening Ajani Daley, who grabbed silver in a time of 10.34 seconds. Barbados’ Ajani Ince was third in 10.37 but yielded to national athlete Dwayne Fleming who registered a time of 10.40 to claim silver. Kasiya Daley (10.59), finished in the fifth position.
In the anticipated 200 meters showdown, Dowdye proved too much to handle, clocking 23.41 to claim the top prize ahead of LaNica Locker who finished in 23.59 to win silver. Thirteen-year-old sprint sensation, Tyra Fenton, won bronze with a time of 23.76 seconds. Janisha Spencer (24.49) and Mia McIntosh (25.32) round off the top five in the 200 meters.
In the men’s equivalent, Kasiya Daley dominated in a time of 20.96 seconds ahead of Jalen Dyett who finished a close second with a time of 20.98 seconds. Ajani Daley clocked 20.99 seconds in third. Barbados’ Ince registered a time of 20.65 to finish ahead of the pack. According to rules governing the nationals, only national athletes can be crowned champions.
Not to be left out, Fenton easily won the women’s 400 meters open event, clocking a time of 56.51 seconds. She outpaced Kettia Ambrose (58.63) and McIntosh (59.97) who were second and third respectively.
The action was tight in the men’s equivalent with Jalen Dyett registering a winning time of 47.63 seconds ahead of Osei Gardner (48.46) in second and Devon Shaw (49.64) in third.
Dahlia Barnes was crowned queen of the triple jump with Alyssa Dyett, Jahnissi Simon and Jada Gunthropes in second, third and fourth, respectively. There was triumph for Terrance Thomas in the men’s long jump with Ajaharye Williams and Jomari King second and third respectively.
The men’s javelin event was captured by Jomarnie Skerrit with Carifta gold medallist Maliek Francis in second. Nicholas Simpson was third with Jomari King finishing fourth.
There was triumph as well for Simpson in the men’s high jump, Ellisia Harris in the women’s shot put, Timon Emanuel in the men’s 800 meters, Sergio Barnwell in the men’s 5000 meters, Christopher Johnson in the men’s shot put and Jada Gunthropes in the women’s high jump.
About The Author
