THREE ATHLETES left the National Stadium with a lighter load to carry after meeting the respective qualifying standards at the CARIFTA Selection Championships last Saturday night.
For many others, it is back to the drawing board, with the last chance at the Inter-School Sports which start on Wednesday.
Former CARIFTA silver medallist Raphael Jordan of Quantum Leap hit 14.18 seconds in the prelims of the Under-20 boys’ 110 metres hurdles. He lost the final to Tramaine Maloney (14.25) of Rising Stars who was still short of the 14.20 seconds.
Also qualifying was first-timer Raheem Skinner of Elite Distance. Needing a time of 4 minutes 13.5 seconds, Skinner let Rising Stars’ Pius Emilien (4:25.42) do all the early work. When he took the lead with just over a lap left, the gap widened considerably as he pulled away to cross the line in 4:13 flat. Teammate Joshua
Hunte was second in 4:24.40 and Emilien ran straight into the medical tent.
The final qualifier was Foundation’s Tia-Adana Belle. After coming close, Belle put the issue to bed with a commanding run in the Under-17 girls’ 400m, crossing the line in 56.32 seconds, within the required 56.5.
The 400m might have been the most exciting events, but Belle was the only qualifier. Freedom Striders took the other races through Ramarco Thompson (49.5), Ariel Jackson (55.98) and Shaquille Alleyne (48.11).
BC Trac’s Tristan Whitehall, who has already qualified in the Under-20 boys’ shot put, added the discus with a best throw of 49.19m. All of the other field eventers came up short, but Pacers’ Charles Greaves (7.09) and Kadeem Norville (6.40) look quite promising in their respective long jump divisions.
Shakera Hall, who had also qualified earlier, lowered her time in the Under-20 girls’ 100m hurdles from 14.23 to 14.12 to meet the Central American and Caribbean Juniors standard.
Mario Burke of HPP, also a qualifier, showed his consistency by winning the Under-17 boys’ 100m in 10.77 seconds, but Blitz’s Tama Atwell (11.07) is still a way off.
Lisa Ann Barrow, who came in from the United States, won the Under-17 girls’ 100mh final in 14.78 and Rising Stars’ Michael Nicholls the boys’ 110m hurdles in 15.17.
Deon Hope was finally able to beat Levi Cadogan, clocking 10.67 to win the Under-20 boys’ 100m. Cadogan was second in 10.69, but they need to lower their times to 10.55.
Springer’s Akela Jones is only getting in some speed work for the long jump, but her 12 seconds flat is the fastest time this season by the Under-20 girls’ who needed 11.7 seconds. Leah Barker won the Under-17 girls’ race in 12.29 with Tristan Evelyn not showing for in the final.
There were also select events for the Under-15, with the most impressive performance coming from Rising Stars’ Tiana Bowen with a time of 58.06 in the 400m, Rosette Hoyte second in 59.52.
St Leonard’s swept the boys’ event through Jevon Hunte (54.85), Zidan Harte (55.47) and Chemar Holder (56.99). Rising Stars’ Timeka Rawlins won the 100m in 12.75 and St Leonard’s Jaquan Hoyte sped to victory in 11.61.
