SHAW PARK, Tobago – Reigning two-time Carifta champion Chelsea James (Signal Hill Secondary) was one of the star performers on the opening day of the Tobago Zonal Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships on the grass track at Shaw Park Recreational Grounds in Shaw Park on Tuesday (February 11).
James topped the field in the girls under-18 discus with a personal best throw of 40.24m. The 2012/2013 Carifta girls under-17 shot put gold medallist and record holder beat Dejelle Hector (Bishops High) 26.26 and Shawnea Andrews (Pentecostal Light and Life) 21.13. James will go for the shot put gold on Wednesday.
Fellow double Carifta champion and Signal Hill colleague, Andwuelle Wright, was surprisingly beaten in the boys under-18 long jump. Wright had to settle for second with 5.93 as Akanni Hislop (Bishops) took the top spot with a leap of 6.19. LaShawn Roberts (Scarborough Secondary) finished in third (5.81). Akanni again upstaged Wright in the 100m finals winning in 11.20 with Wright taking the runner up spot (11.32). Wright's school mate Shermall Williams was third (11.41)
2012 Carifta and CAC Junior champion Kenejah Williams was one of several double champions for Scarborough. Williams dominated the boys over-20 shot put with a throw of 15.76m well ahead of Tyrell Gray of Bishops (12.70) and Bishops' Daniel Clarke (12.29). Williams then took the discus with a winning effort of 42.00. Lanky Kensel Dates (Speyside) took the silver (37.90) from Gray (32.48). Amira and Safiya John (no relation) were also impressive for Scarborough. Amira secured the girls under-18 four hundred meter/100m double taking the one lap race in 1:05.04 ahead of Khemani Roberts of Signal Hill (1:08.06) and Tinelle Roberts of Bishops (1:09.06) and then sped away with the 100m 13.27) ahead of team-mate Nikisha Legerton (13.43) and Chevelle Mc Pherson of Signal HIll (13.55). Amira and Legerton then led Scarborough to the 4x400m in 56.77 ahead of Signal Hill (56.84) and Bishops (57.65). Safiya ran away with the girls under 14 400m and took the long jump. In the 400m, Safiya was first to the line in the one lap race and left Monique Vincent of Signal HIll and Goodwood High's Kelly-Ann Murray to take silver and bronze respectively . In the long jump the double winner had a best mark of 4.58m to take the top prize ahead of national table tennis star Jasher De Gannes (Bishops) 4.06 and Deandra Baron of Signal HIll, 3.78.
Andrew Charles and Shaquella Daniel also won gold for Scarborough. Charles landed the boys under-14 400m (1:05.33) from Mason Hall's Jonathan Thomas (1:07.20) and G'Mari Small (1:08.38). Daniel sped to victory in the girls under-16 400m holding off Mason Hall's Schrese Trim (1:01.38 to 1:01.71) in a sprint battle down the home stretch. Daniel's Scarborough team-mate Ayla Stanisclaus had to settle for third (1:03.66). Stanisclaus got revenge in the 100m taking the top spot but the results were cancelled as Trim's name was omitted from the finals despite finishing second in her heat. The rescheduled race is set for early Wednesday morning. Darrel Alfred secured the boys over-18 1500m in 4:45.03 and was aiming for a second gold in the 400m but had to settle for silver behind Christian Balboza (Unattached) who powered down the finals stretch to secure gold in 52.18) ahead of Alfred (53.59). Ornella Walker (G U-16 javelin-26.07), Kakeel Yearwood (B O 18 high jump-1.80), Janeela Joefield (G U-14 shot put-7.49), were winners for Scarborough along with their girls under 18 4x100m. Nikita Agard anchored the quartet to victory by 0.01 seconds (54.40 to 54.41) over Signal Hill with McPherson running a determined last leg.
Franklyn Stanisclaus and Dwight St. Hillaire were impressive for Bishops. Stanisclaus struck double gold taking the boys under-16 400m and high jump. In the one lap event the 2012 National Championships Victor Ludorium took the lead before the 100m mark and pulled away to win in 54.14 well ahead of the Speyside pair Don Alleyne (57.81) and Shaffie McKenzie (57.89). Stanisclaus then leapt to the high jump gold (1.65). Scarobrough's Joel Thomas (1.60) and Dwarika Moses (1.45) took the minor medals. Stanislaus then earned a third gold anchoring Bishops to victory in the 4x100m in 48.22, holding off Tyriq Horsford of Signal Hill (48.35). St. Hillaire strode away with the boys under 18 400m crossing the line in 52.78 seconds ahead of 1500m Miguel Hackett (Pentecostal Light and Life) 53.45 and Goodwood's Anderson Robley (54.06). Anya Akili (G U 16 high jump-1.60), Kesley Daniel (B U14 long jump-5.10), Nateisha Radgman (G U 18 1500m-6:25.57), Natalia Thomas (G U 18 long jump-4.86) , Keifa Des Vignes (G O 18 shot put-9.90) struck gold for Bishops. Edson Moses anchored Bishops to gold in the boys under 18 4x400m in 46.21, doing enough to hold off Scarborough (46.37) and Goodwood (47.60).
For Signal Hill Horsford was spectacular in winning the boys under-16 javelin, hurling the spear out to 50.80m. Maleerie Malchan (Roxborough) was well behind in second (39.91) with Akeem Balfour of Scarborough securing the bronze (36.77). Asha James (G U-16 1500m-6:04.26), Kernel Jacob (B U-16 shot put-13.20), Tishara Turner (G U-14 100m-13.92) were also winners for Signal Hill.
Zakiya Denoon was on the top performer for Speyside landing the girls over-18 400m and 100m crowns. In the 400m Denoon led a 1-2 Speyside finish stopping the clock in 1:07.06 ahead of school-mate Kervern Bernard (1:09.81). Signal Hill's Jerisia McEachrane copped the third place (1:11.36). Then in the 100m Denoon dismissed the field (12.22) with Bishops' Trishell's Leacock (12.51) and Corise Alfred (Pentecostal) taking the minor spots (13.60). Kensel Dates made a double for Speyside taking the boys over 18 sprint in 11.17 ahead of Hakeeb Louis of Mason Hall (11.27) and Djere Saul 11.46. Denoon then anchored Speyside to victory in the girls over-18 4x400m (55.54) with Bishops taking second (58.51) thanks to storming anchor leg for Leacock who lifted her team from fifth. Scarborough was third. Dates similar led Speyside to the boys relay with a strong second leg run. Speyside took the gold in 46.67 ahead of Mason Hall (46.73) and Signal Hill (46.74). Gershum Guy (B U-16 1500m-4:50.98) secured gold for Goodwood High.
The meet concludes on Wednesdy with the 200m, 800m and 3000/5000 and 4x400m.
The top performers will represent Tobago at the National championships at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on March 12 and 13.
