BETWEEN THEM they accounted for three records, 80 points and eight gold medals, while carrying their respective schools on their shoulders.
Springer Memorial’s Tristan Evelyn and Alexandra’s Shonita Brome’s performances on the track were virtually inseparable, and so was their hold on the victrix ludorum trophy.
Evelyn and Brome finished with 40 points each, after winning all four of their events in their respective divisions to share the award for the top female athlete at the Barbados Secondary Schools Athletic Championships (BSSAC) which came to an end at the National Stadium on Friday.
Evelyn, 16, was a cut above the rest of the Under-17 girls, establishing new records in the 100 and 200 metres to add to victories in the 100 metres and long jump.
And the CARIFTA-bound athlete was especially pleased that her performances allowed her school to romp to their 11th straight girls’ title and 15th overall.
“I’m very proud because I know we could have done it and I’m glad the girls were able to work together and come through to defend their title,” Evelyn told SUNSPORT in an interview.
“It was really good to break those records too, because I was working really hard and I wanted to see the results,” she added.
Evelyn said that the results were especially pleasing after several months of hard training, and she had now set her sights on gold at the CARIFTA Games scheduled for April 19-24 in Martinique.
Brome, Alexandra’s pride and joy, was just unstoppable among the Under-15 division, where she set a new mark in the 400 metres and copped gold in the 800, 1500 and high jump events.
The soft-spoken bespectacled 14-year-old couldn’t help but flash a wide smile when asked how she felt about her accomplishments.
“I feel really excited and glad. Coming to BSSAC my goals were to place first in all of my events and go after the records,” an obviously shy Brome revealed.
“My training was pretty hard and intense and I’m glad that I was able to come here and reach my goals.”
And although the third-form student may still be at a tender age, she already has plans to pursue a career in athletics, following in the footsteps of her favourite athletes, Jamaicans Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
“I can see myself attaining a scholarship and eventually making it to the Olympics, because I really love running and it’s something which I can see myself doing for the rest of my life,” Brome acknowledged.
