By Neto Baptiste
Seventeen-year-old sprinter, La’Nica Locker, completed the double with victory in the women’s 200 meters final in the Antigua and Barbuda Athletics Association (ABAA) National Championships, clocking 23.59 seconds to take the title at the YASCO Sports Complex on Sunday.
The athlete finished ahead of Phoenix Track Club’s Geolyna Dowdye who won silver in a time of 23.83 seconds, and Panthers’ Soniya Jones who won bronze in a time of 25.25 seconds.
Locker, running for the PSE track club, claimed the 100 meters crown in a time of 11.62 second on Saturday.
Darion Skerritt, representing the Phoenix Track Club, registered a time of 21.01 to captured the men’s equivalent, outpacing the young but aggressive Kasiya Daley of PSE who finished second in a time of 21.26 seconds. UNA’s Coull Graham registered a time of 21.60 to win the bronze medal.
Jalen Dyett of PSE dominated the men’s 400 meters final with a time of 48.26 seconds while Calabar High School’s Craig Prendergast won silver in a time of 49.82 seconds and Caandre Pascall of Panthers was third in a time of 51.42 seconds.
In the women’s 400 meters final, Mia McIntosh claimed the top prize with Shenika Bentick and Sidaunte Smith finishing second and third respectively. The times ran in the women’s 400 meters final was not readily available.
Meanwhile, Hannah Charles of the Hurricane Power Athletic Club, dominated the middle and long distance events by winning the 800, 1500 and 3000 meters, all on Sunday. The 17-year-old clocked a time of 2:37.50 to win the 800 meters before registering a time of 5:46.75 seconds to claim the 1500 meters title. No times were available for the 3000 meters event.
National athlete Sheldon Noble dominated the men’s long jump with a leap of 7.25 meters. He finished ahead of national compatriot Taeco O’Garro who registered a leap 7.14 meters. O’Garro returned to capture the triple-jump crown with a leap of 14.65 meters, while Chidindu Ohaegbulam finished second with a distance of 11.39 meters.
Maliek Francis captured the men’s shot put with a throw of 14.65 meters while Francis also claimed the Javelin title with a throw of 61.33 meters.
The mixed 4×400 meters relay was claimed by Panthers A in a time of 3:35.97, with Roots Athletics Club A won silver in a time of 3:36.36. PSE finished third in a time of 3:52.32.
