The biblical saying of a child shall lead them never gets old when it comes to 12-year-old athlete Layla Haynes.
The second form Harrison College student and granddaughter of the late Sir Richard Haynes scored a blistering win in the Run Barbados Signia Fun Run Mile on Friday night, beating opponents twice and thrice her age.
Haynes completed the sprint from the Barbados Musuem to the Esplanade on Bay Street in 5 minutes, 36.17 seconds, leading a top three finish for Barbados of Sade Sealy and Carlie Pipe, who is returning from injury.
Youth dominated the top ten for Barbados, who only conceded fourth to April Francis of Trinidad and Tobago and tenth to Emma Cowley of Great Britain. Fifth was ten-year-old Ashlyn Simmons, with Naja Gulstone, 12 placing seventh, and 11-year-olds Skye Spencer Layne and Tianna Applewaithe placing eighth and ninth, respectively.
Bajan distance runner Dario Grandison took the men’s title for his second such victory. His time of 4.40.79 could have been even better if he had not spent time showboating as usual before crossing the finish line.
Only second placed Michael James of St Lucia and fifth placed Michael Honore of Trinidad and Tobago prevented a Bajan clean sweep of the top ten in the males. Fourteen-year-old Savion Hoyte placed an impressive eighth.
Many of the runners took part for the fun element, with the likes of “Batman” and an individual dressed in a multicoloured suit and carrying flags in both hands crossing the finish line with great enthusiasm. Large contingents turned out once again from Philadelphia in the United States and Trinidad and Tobago. (KB)
