SEVENTY-FOUR ATHLETES, one of the highest turnouts in recent years, were at Combermere School yesterday when the first of three trials for the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Multi-Event Championships were held.
Barbados won the last three stagings of the biennial meet in 2007 in El Salvador, 2009 in The Bahamas and the British Virgin Islands two years ago.
An eight-member team will be chosen for this year’s competition in Curacao on June 29 and 30.
Points from yesterday’s trial do not go towards the final team but will help selectors pick a group for the training squad.
The 13-to-14 year-olds compete in the 80 metres, high jump, shot put, 60m hurdles, long jump, baseball throw and 1 000m (girls) or 1 200 (boys), while the 11-to-12s have to complete the 60m, long jump, baseball throw, high jump, 800 (girls) and 1 000 (boys).
Micah Shepherd of Harrison College was the surprise package in the boys’ 13-14 heptathlon, coming out on top with 2 980 points despite a mix-up in the 1 200 metres which resulted in athletes running a longer distance.
Tyrell Barnes of The Lodge School was second with 2 670 and Hasani Lowe of BC Trac third with 2 634.
Shepherd was steady throughout the day but his biggest performance came with a 1.70 metres clearance in the high jump. He also won the long jump with a leap of 5.72m; was second in both the shot put (11.01) and baseball throw (69.10).
Anderson Greaves won the two throws with 11.60 and 71.46m, respectively, but he did not start the final event.
The Rising Stars trio of Tiana Bowen, Timeka Jordan and Rosette Hoyte were the leaders in the girls’ section. Bowen, with 3 170 points, took the edge on Jordan (3 083) out-performing her in the high jump (1.45m) and won both the long jump (4.99m) and 1 000 in 3 minutes 29.23 seconds.
Jordan won the 80m in 10.65 seconds and the 60m hurdles in 11.34, while Hoyte was consistent for her 2 833 points, including second-place finishes in the 60h (11.88) and 1 000 (3:33.13).
Jumulah Estwick of St Leonard’s won the 11-to-12 boys’ pentathlon with 1 882 points. He was second in the baseball throw with 51.14m behind schoolmate Maleik Small (60.60) and slammed the field in the 1 000 in 3:17.36.
Torian Waldron was second with 1 762 points. His best performance came in the high jump where he was joint first with Shamar Brancker, clearing 1.45m. Brancker was third with 1 737 points.
High Performance Programme’s Charissa Moore came out on top of the 20 starters – only one of whom did not finish – in the girls’ division with 2 082 points. She was third in the first three events and second in the high jump with about four others, then took the 800 in 2:46.44.
Akayla Morris, who won the 60m dash (8.78) and long jump (4.29), was second with 1 984 points, while Springer Memorial’s Shaquona Scott was third with 1 839.
