BOSTON (AP) — Rosy Spraker was only a half-mile from the finish line of her seventh Boston Marathon when the bombs went off. She received her medal later in the mail at her Lorton, Va., home. But she couldn't bring herself to wear it until Saturday, when she and thousands of other athletes joined victims of the blast to run and walk the last mile of the race.

"Now I feel like I've earned my medal," Spraker said, beaming, after she crossed the Boylston Street finish line, encouraged by a cheering crowd. "I wanted to run for the victims, for freedom, to show the world that nothing is going to stop us."

"Somebody that thinks that they're going to stop a marathoner from running doesn't understand the mentality of a marathoner," said her husband, Lesley, after he placed the medal around Spraker's neck.

On April 15, explosions near the finish line killed three people and wounded more than 260.

On Saturday morning, about 3,000 runners and bombing victims gathered in light rain to run the final mile of the world's oldest annual marathon, said Kathleen McGonagle, spokeswoman for those organizing the event known as OneRun.

OneRun honours victims and emergency workers and allows runners to reclaim the final mile, McGonagle said.

"For the runner that didn't get the chance to finish the marathon, this is the chance for them to experience the final mile that was taken away from them," McGonagle said.

For many runners, it was also a chance to heal from the events of that harrowing day.

"It was very emotional to run down this street and see all the people cheering," said OneRun organizer J. Alain Ferry, who was prevented from completing his ninth consecutive Boston Marathon on April 15 and ran the final mile Saturday.

"There were a lot of tears," Ferry said, clutching his 2013 marathon bib, with the number 22084. "And I can feel in my throat that there are going to be more. This was a scab for everyone that just was not healing."

While the event was not a fundraiser, donations from some corporate sponsors covered OneRun operating costs, McGonagle said, and any leftover funds will be sent to a charity set up to benefit bombing victims.

Before the race, the National Anthem was sung by the choir from St. Ann Parish, where 8-year-old victim Martin Richard's family worshipped.

Trinidad, May 25 – The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries will sign a trade investment framework agreement with the United States during the visit of Vice President Joe Biden to Trinidad and Tobago next week.

Biden is due in Port of Spain on Monday for a two-day visit  and will also meet with regional leaders to discuss security and other issues.

A statement issued by the Guyana –based CARICOM Secretariat Saturday said that during the visit energy, security, human and social development as well as trade and investment will be among the general themes of the discussions on Tuesday.

The CARICOM leaders will also be joined by the Vice President of the Dominican Republic and according to the CARICOM Secretariat “a highlight of the encounter will be the signing of a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) between CARICOM and the United States”.

CARICOM Chairman President Michel Martelly of Haiti will sign on behalf of the 15-member regional grouping, while Vice President Biden will sign on behalf of Washington.

“The meeting will chart the way forward for the TIFA including an initial action agenda intended to galvanise trade and investment activities both between the two sides and within CARICOM. To aid in this regard a Council will be established, led by a nominee of the CARICOM Chair and the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). “

The Council is expected to meet at least once a year and would among other things monitor trade and investment relations, identify and work to remove barriers to trade and investment.

It would also facilitate expanded linkages between the private sectors on both sides. In 2011, the last year for which finalised figures are available CARICOM had a favourable trade balance with the US amounting to US$1.2 billion with exports totalling US$8.6 billion. (CMC)

This year's Sugar Isle Jazz will highlight the music and flavour of the Caribbean.

Top Barbadian Grammy-nominated musician Nicholas Brancker will take centre stage as he leads an all-star band made up of some of the region’s biggest names in music,
including ace arranger Leston Paul from Trinidad.

The band will perform some of the Caribbean’s biggest hits in a contemporary jazz style.

Both Brancker and Paul are responsible for the arrangements and played on some of the region’s mega hits from artistes such as Sparrow, Arrow, Baron, Red Plastic Bag, Edwin Yearwood, Kitchener, Shaggy and Alison Hinds, to name a few.

Brancker is eager to perform in front of his home audience in this capacity. “It has been quite a while performing a full concert set where I have real control over song selection and the interpretation,” he said, “so I am really excited and guarantee that the audience will not be disappointed.

“There is something in it for everyone – the young, the matured and, more importantly, the lovers of good music.”

The young and upcoming Barbadian band NJ30+ will open the show. This band is led by the versatile and exciting Marias Hawk Bass Charmagne and includes young saxophone sensation Joseph Callender, among others.

The Deryck Walcott production will take place on Saturday, June 8 at the Plantation Garden Theatre at 8pm. (PR)

Barbados’ economy is in imminent danger, head of the Private Sector Association, John Williams, said yesterday.

And he warned that if drastic action was not taken to flip the downward economic trend, there could be more pain for Bajans to feel.

“Things now are not normal. Although our entire society is not in imminent danger, our economy clearly is,” Williams told a hushed meeting of the tripartite Social Partnership.

Williams’ story of woe came moments after he was introduced by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart at the first full meeting of the Social Partnership for 2013, and the first since November last year.

CANDIDATES OF THE Opposition Barbados (BLP) Labour Party not only spent the most in the February 2013 general election but current Leader of the Opposition Mia Mottley shelled out the highest amount overall.

Based on the summary of election expenses published yesterday by the Electoral and Boundaries Commission (EBC), BLP candidates spent $1.18 million in the 30 constituencies, while candidates of the winning Democratic Labour Party spent $1.03 million.

With a register of 247 211 eligible voters, it meant that no candidate in either party officially spent beyond the lawful limit of  $10 per registered voter.   

Mottley, whose St Michael North East constituency comprises 8 026 voters, spent $68 783.15, with the second highest spender being Minister of Labour Senator Esther Byer-Suckoo, who spent $66 450 but lost her St George South seat to new BLP candidate Dwight Sutherland.

THE Barbados Cricket League (BCL) team are crying out that they are being no-balled by the National Sports Council (NSC).

According to BCL officials, the NSC, which is responsible for preparing the pitch at the Blenheim ground during the week, has not done so to facilitate practice sessions since the start of the season.

In an interview this week with SATURDAY SPORT, BCL president Glyne St Hill complained that the NSC’s reported tardiness had put the team at a disadvantage.

“Because the pitch isn’t being prepared, when the guys turn up for practice they can’t bowl or bat on the pitch,” he said.

THE SOCIAL PARTNERSHIP may have had its share of problems in 2013, but Prime Minister Freundel Stuart is confident the 20-year-old entity can assist in carving a way forward for Barbados as it continues to grapple with the worldwide recession.

In fact, Stuart feels Barbados remains better off because of the Social Partnership.

The Prime Minister made it clear the part the Social Partnership has to play remains critical, and paramount, when he met with employers, unions and the private sector – the groups comprising the Social Partnership – in a half-day meeting at Hilton Barbados yesterday.

“We are meeting to get some sense as to where we are in Barbados today in relation to matters that touch and concern the social partners, employers in the private sector, unions and labour,” Stuart said during a brief introductory speech before yesterday’s meeting. (BA)

LOCAL LAWMEN have been seeing a positive change in the level of crime associated with the cash for gold trade.

Police public relations officer Inspector David Welch told the SATURDAY SUN yesterday that efforts by the Royal Barbados Police Force to clamp down on robberies and thefts from individuals, coupled with new precious metals legislation, had been having some effect.

“We have seen a noticeable change with regard to the offences associated with the cash for gold trade – namely the theft from the person and robberies. We anticipate continued positive results with the ongoing help of the public,” he said.

Welch said police had already stepped up officer deployments and patrols in key areas, and strategies had also been devised to help combat crimes related to the cash for gold trade. (RMB)

ONE of the island’s leading renal transplant surgeons thinks the time has long come for Barbados to have brain death legislation, which would facilitate kidney transplants for scores of Barbadians.

Consultant general and head of surgery at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Margaret O’Shea, made this call on Thursday night at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies during the Selma Reeves Memorial Lecture hosted by the Barbados Kidney Association in association with the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the university.

“We need the legislation in place; we really can’t go forward without it and I am happy to see that people want it,” she said.

Before an audience that included businessman Rawle Brancker, who has received a kidney transplant, O’Shea said that Government needed to push for legislation to govern the issue of deceased donation, which would create a wider pool for kidney transplant in Barbados.

WITH JUST OVER two months to go before the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) begins, the remaining players who will be drafted by the six franchises were finally revealed this week.

At a Press conference at Hilton Barbados Thursday, attended by several players from the West Indies cricket team, along with former South Africa top order batsman Herschelle Gibbs, one of the international franchise players, CPL operations manager, Carlisle Powell disclosed the names of the 14 Pool “A” West Indies players as well as the 12 Pool “A” International players.

In addition, he also named the 127 Pool “B” West Indies players, six Pool “B” International players as well as the 53 Pool “C” players who are all Under-23 cricketers.

During the draft, scheduled to be held on June 5 in Jamaica, each of the six franchises will select a 15-member squad.

Each squad will comprise one West Indian and International franchise player, four players from Pool “A”, seven from Pool “B” and two Under-23 players.

Reflecting upon the quality of players available, CPL commercial director, Jamie Stewart said he was very impressed with the calibre of both the international and regional selectees.

“We have secured a broad selection of cricket talent that we feel will appeal to cricket fans everywhere,” he noted. “The variety of players, from the experienced and well established to the rising star on the cricket scene should make the inaugural CPL an exciting tournament that showcases the best of the best.”

He explained that because of upcoming series that clashed with the CPL, players from neither Sri Lanka nor England were targeted.

Powell, who is the father of West Indian cricketer Keiran Powell, acknowledged that preparations for the competition had been going smoothly.

He said he had visited each of the franchises to ensure that everything was in place for the July 30 start.

“I have had an opportunity to tour each venue to assess what each facility has to offer and what will be needed from a CPL standpoint to meet our goals and objectives for the tournament.

“I feel confident now that all of the cricket boards are better informed and more aware of all our preparations. The foundation for a solid working relationship has been established and I know I can call on each of them to assist us with the operations and logistics in their respective countries.”

Powell said CPL was also working with the West Indies Cricket Umpires Association to secure regional umpires who would work with a group of international umpires.

He said the team names, assignment of franchise players to franchise countries and the results of the player draft would be announced soon.

West Indies Pool A:

Andre Russell, Darren Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Dwayne Smith, Fidel Edwards, Johnson Charles, Kemar Roach, Kieran Powell, Lendl Simmons, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Ravi Rampaul, Samuel Badree, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Tino Best

International Pool A: Aaron Finch (Australia), Albie Morkel (South Africa), Daniel Vettori (New Zealand), Dirk Nannes (Australia), Luke Pomersbach (Australia), Shakib al Hasan (Bangladesh), Shaun Marsh (Australia), Shoaib Malik (Pakistan), Steven Smith (Australia), Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh), Umar Akmal (Pakistan), Vernon Philander (South Africa).  

International Pool B: Elton Chigumbura (Zimbabwe), Davy Jacobs (South Africa), Justin Kemp (South Africa), James Franklin (New Zealand), Mark Guptill (New Zealand), Kevin O’Brien (Ireland).

PRESIDENT OF the Council of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB), Cedric Murrell, has an idea how Barbados can bring itself out of the economic doldrums.

During a full meeting of the Social Partnership at Hilton Barbados yesterday, Murrell revealed what he feels was required for Barbados to make an upward move.

 “In terms of a national transformation, the aim is to make Barbados a more ordered, disciplined, efficient and productive society.

“There is the expectation that emphasis should be placed on the promotion of a new business culture.

“A greater level of investment would be procured, which in turn would lead to the setting up of new enterprises.

“The net effect of this would be a creation of new job opportunities,” Murrell said.

“With these new opportunities would come increased levels of productivity and the creation of a culture of entrepreneurship, innovation and competitiveness to re-energize the Barbadian economy and contribute to the growth we need to increase our gross domestic product,” the CTUSAB boss added.

Murrell also said Barbados sorely needed to revisit the way it did business as a country.

“The traditional ways have been tried and proven, but are tired, and possibly outdated,” he told the meeting, which was attended by the  Cabinet of Barbados and leader of the Barbados Cooperative Credit Union League, Hally Haynes.

“The world has advanced into a fast-paced business environment driven by technological advancement and by engaging better skilled and trained work forces. This means there are some fundamental changes we have to make if this island is to reposition itself to be competitive, self-reliant and have sustainable levels of growth,” Murrell told the gathering.

He said the first things that needed change were governance structures which constrainedthe type of development needed. (BA)

Ricky “Li’l Rick” Reid, a past student of the Garrison Secondary School, now Graydon Sealy School, was honoured yesterday for his outstanding contribution to the entertainment industry.

He received an award from the school for his success as a young businessman, his contribution to the entertainment sector and, above all his outstanding creative potential that has seen him fashioning what history will record as the Li’l Rick ‘brand’.

The award was given to an emotional Reid in the presence of fellow entertainers Anthony Mighty Gabby Carter, Nathalee Burke and broadcaster Anthony Admiral Nelson and past and present staff and students.

Almost lost for words, but with a smile on his face, Reid who is one of Barbados’ most popular entertainers, said that when he was called to the school for something important, he had not expected the surprise that awaited him.

“I want to say thank you to everyone. I have been a lot of places and done a lot of things but this right here stands out to me. Usually, I have to go in a competition, I have to fight, I have to put in my all to get something like this. It stands out because it comes from the heart,” he said.

Amidst the screams and applause from the students, whom he teased with lyrics from several of his popular hits, Reid also encouraged them to believe and love themselves and to keep their heads up as they made themselves, their parents, the institution and society proud.

He warned the female students: “Keep your head on because there have some big hard-back men that would walk up to you and tell you that you are sexy, you look good and they want you, but keep your head on.”

Gabby said the honoree was clearly one of the most outstanding artistes Barbados had produced.

He added that it was fitting for Reid’s former school to honour him.

“I am happy for him. I am happy that he has given us all the music that he has and I wish him all success in the future,” said Gabby.

Principal Matthew Farley said he couldn’t wait for the day when the University of the West Indies’ linguistics department researched the works and artistic career of Reid.

According to him, the story of the Garrisonian was a story of the tremendous impact that entertainers could have on the populace in general and on the youth in particular.

Farley added that “it was a story of the tremendous creative potential that lies deep within our communities and which needs to be given opportunity for growth and development”.

“It is a story of the extent to which the cultural industries need to be recognized for their contribution to the economy.    At the level of the education system, the Li’l Rick story is a stark reminder that schools must do everything possible to develop creativity rather than kill it.

“It is a story of the need for teachers to acknowledge multiple intelligences among their students and foster the necessary environment for their development.”

Farley also noted that the story of Lil Rick was a “clear demonstration that regardless of where you come from, whatever may be your origins, whatever may be your past, it is you and only you that can carve out that niche by which you will make your contribution”.

“This versatile maestro of multiple moods, rhythms, vibrations and gyrations in spite of his tremendous success has remained humble and loyal to his Barbadian identity,” Farley said.

Some of Reid’s achievments included winning Party Monarch title Down Behind de Truck in 1998, with Hypa Dawg in 2002 and also Road March that same year. He won Party Monarch again in 2003 with Mash up And Buy Back and took Road March that same year with the same song.(AH)

THE 2013 UNITED Insurance National Inter-School Chess Championships push off today at the St Michael School with 17 primary school teams in competition.

Close to 150 junior players will be in action in the tournament where Arthur Smith Primary are the defending champions.

Two new teams – Trinity and Charles F. Broome – are competing this year and will be seeking to make their presence felt against regulars such as Sharon Primary, Wesley Hall, St Cyprians, St Gabriels, Providence , St Angela’s and St Winifred’s.

Other schools fielding teams are Milton Lynch, People’s Cathedral, St Judes Primary, Lawrence T. Gay, St Elizabeth, Grantley Prescod and St Matthews.

The annual championships, which will also feature secondary school players and a tournament for tertiary institutions, have been organized by the Barbados Chess Federation and sponsored by Bridgetown-based United Insurance for the past 30 years.

On Thursday, marketing executives of United Insurance handed over the sponsorship funds for the 2013 championships during a ceremony at its corporate offices, attended by representatives of the Barbados Chess Federation and some of the island’s leading young players.

Both Federation vice-president Dr David Jordan and treasurer Alan Herbert praised United Insurance for their long-standing support for chess over the years, which started back in 1981.

“The schools’ championships have been a nursery for the sport over the years and most of our top players came through the programme. Junior chess tournaments are critical to the development of the sport and we sincerely thank United for their support,” said Dr Jordan.

Acknowledging 30 years of sponsorship of the Chess Championships by United Insurance, marketing manager Sharron Alleyne-Elcock said the company was extremely proud to be able to support chess and other sports in Barbados and the Caribbean for such a long time.

Sponsorship for the various tournaments exceeds $15 000 and Alleyne-Elcock said: “We are happy to continue to partner with the Barbados Chess Federation in creating opportunities and helping to developthe minds of our youth.

“We believe such exposure is valuable and will serve the young players well beyond their years at school.” (PR/EZS)

A FIRE OF UNKNOWN origin gutted the popular Lookers Bar in Danesbury, Black Rock, St Michael, early yesterday morning.

Nothing was saved from the business that was managed by 52-year-old Ronald King for the last 28 years. He described yesterday as the worst day of his life.

“My [blood] pressure has gone up. This is rough. Everything is gone.

“I had my chicken seasoned and was ready and prepared for Friday business activity. This is a real setback for me. I am not sure what happened but everything is lost,” said a disconsolate King.

According to officials at the Probyn Street headquarters of the Barbados Fire Service, they received a call at 4:24 a.m. Two water tenders along with nine officers under the command of Divisional Officer Lloydson Phillips responded to the blaze and were able to bring it under control.

The shop is owned by McCollin Harris who resides in the United States.

King said he would stay with relatives. (MK)

THE 2013 CELTIC FESTIVAL got off to a rousing start Thursday evening on the popular Richard Haynes Boardwalk at Hastings in Christ Church.

The festival continues until Wednesday and from the look of things, patrons are in for a treat again this year.

At the opening, themed Pipers On The Boardwalk, the large crowd was thrilled by tunes from the pipes of quartet Seudan and entertained by stilt-walking piper Big Rory and his dog Ochie.

Hailing from Scotland, Big Rory and Ochie are surreal street theatre characters, who evoke giggles and squeals from members of their audience by suddenly jumping out at them. They were a big hit, especially with the children. (RL)

Here, Ochie getting close to the crowd.

IT LIKE IT IS the norm now tuh be what the old people used tuh call a “follow pattern”. Somehow it looks like most people nowadays like duh ain’t interested in setting the pace, setting duh own standard or even leading the way fuh a soul tuh follow; evahbody just following and going ’long.

Duh following somebody or something. It looks like some people does just wait till somebody come up wid something dat they think could work or, duh reckon dat if it works fuh dat body who come up wid it, it could work fuh dem too, so dem does bong on pon it. Duh ain’t know the meaning o’ originality – dat is a bad word tuh dem.

Well, we all know dat the young people does say and do evahthing duh see pon BET. One time duh used tuh wear the caps wid the peaks behind duh heads. Well, duh doan do dat now; duh wearing caps alright, only this time it is dem big hard ones wid an American basketball team name on pon the front. I think I hear my nephews calling dem snapbacks or something so; and duh selling fuh way past $50 depending pon the team.

I had tuh tell my nephews dat dem caps is old news. Dem was up long time. Duh only come back wid a different name. Doan leh nuhbody fool wunna; just because evahbody wearing and clamouring fuh dem, it ain’t mean dat dem gotta get dem too. But you know ya cahn convince dem, ’cause evahbody wearing dem.

One time some smart body come up wid the grand idea tuh make fishtail dresses, the ones dat got a short front and a long piece flying behind. Well I ain’t gine tell you nuh lie: I think dem is some o’ the ugliest designs I have seen in a long time. If ya see one ya see all – and, look, evabody in dem, even the girls wid the biggest legs and the knockest knees.

Doan talk ’bout the shoes at all. Because the next-door neighbour daughter and every other young girl got on dem dragon heel weapons, you gotta get some too, even if you cahn walk in dem. The other night I went tuh the show Mum, This One’s For You, at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre and duh had a good few young people there.

You should see dem in the shortest o’ dresses and the tallest o’ shoes scotching and gine ’long, ain’t able tuh walk in the two upstairs things but evahbody wearing dem, so you gotta be in the do too, even if it doan suit you.

Sometimes I wonder if the young girls nowadays understand wha’ duh doing when duh going and getting pregnant fuh deadbeat block boys who cahn do one flipping thing fuh dem.

Sometimes I just wonder if duh following and getting pregnant because duh friend or friends get pregnant, like duh follow patterning, like if it is some kind o’ fad or game or something so. Li’l bony, hard-side girls who ain’t know the first thing ’bout looking after demselves, far less a child.  

The thing about it is dat all o’ dem does wear the same kinda tight, nippy clothes dat dem and duh friends used tuh wear before duh was pregnant and duh does get on the same very way like evahbody instead of understanding and accepting dat duh gine soon be mothers. It is too sad; it does make ya shake ya head, hear wha’ I tell ya?

If you pass down Black Rock around three o’clock any evening when the children get out from school, you would see a host o’ young boys wid scarfs in all colours tie round duh heads or hanging outta duh pockets. Now half o’ duh ain’t know what the colours mean and which gang duh belong tuh, hear? But duh got dem on and posing, showing off tuh theli’l schoolgirls.

The older people ain’t much different either. Wha’evah the young people wearing, and doing, dem wearing and doing too. Evahbody following evabody as if dem ain’t got minds o’ duh own. If you barely open one o’ ya windows and decide tuh sell a few drinks and snacks tuh make a extra dollar, a couple days after you start, before the week out, somebody two doors down from you gine be on pon the same idea and selling the same identical things. Ya think we easy? We does wait fuh somebody tuh do it first and then pick up from there.

• Mavis Beckles was born and raised in The Orleans. She has an opinion on everything.

BARBADOS HAS a new supermillionaire.

Ralph Haynes bought the winning ticket for Super Lotto Game No. 376 at Carlton Supermarket this month.

When it comes to plans for his $7 320 000, Haynes – who had played the lottery for more than 15 years without success – said he intended to “enjoy it”.

He revealed this plan to the media yesterday as he collected his cheque from GTECH Global Services Corporation Limited headquarters in Independence Square during a formal announcement of his win.

Using quite few words to express his happiness, Haynes said he was “quite sure” that his sizeable family looked forward to his sharing his millions with them.

“I always play Lotto. No matter where I am at, I play Lotto. This one was quick pick,” he said.

As for his immediate response to the news of his winning the lottery, Haynes explained: “I was unsure so I turned off the computer, stepped outside, smoked a cigarette, came back to the computer and I saw it.”

Super Lotto is a multi-jurisdictional game and, as a result, representatives from other Caribbean countries were at the ceremony.

Among them was Oscar Lenck, site manager from the Dominican Republic. He congratulated Haynes and wished him well in his future endeavours.

“We know that it is going to make your life easy and part of the money that you are having is coming from the Dominican Republic. I am so happy that we have a winner in Barbados. Thank you for playing Super Lotto,” said Lenck.

Meanwhile, GTECH’s lead brand manager Lisa Jackman-Corbin said the retailer that sold the prize ticket would receive a bonus.

“Some of them share with the cashiers, some of them do improvements,” said the brand manager. (AH)

SUPER LOTTO WINNER Ralph Haynes (third from left) showing off his cheque. With him are: Super Lotto’s financial administrator in Jamaica Sasha Johnston-Dixon (left), draw director Elvin Diaz (second from left), regional marketing manager Patrick Clunis (behind winner), Dominican Republic site manager Oscar Lenck (fifth from left), Barbados site manager Denny Brewster (holding cheque), inspector of the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission in Jamaica Earle Browne (second from right) and representative from Supreme Ventures Marketing in Jamaica, Sonia Davidson. (Picture by Sandy Pitt.)

All children should have a hearing test before they enter school.

That is the advice of audiologist of the Albert Cecil Graham Development Centre, Jan Wickham, who was speaking yesterday as the centre, which provides such evaluation, held an open day.

Wickham said some parents and caregivers were very observant and if they saw that by age two or three the child was not speaking or not responding when called by name, or to loud sounds, or if they had frequent ear infections, they should heed these warning signs.

Also on display was the physiotherapy and occupational therapy department with therapists sharing the variety of therapy and exercises used to assist with the children’s development.

Here, occupational therapist Jodi Worrell working with four-year-old Jayda Corbin as she tries to maintain her balance on the swing. (LK)

(Picture by Lennox Devonish.)

Akela Jones has already won one national title while advancing to the finals of three other events today among the highest ranked athletes.

Jones, a freshman at Oklahoma Baptist University, won the long jump at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Outdoor Championships in Indiana on Friday evening with a season’s best 6.35 metres.

In sixth place after the first round of her flight with 5.61 metres, Jones steadily improved, raising her jumps to 5.74 and 5.84 metres in successive rounds.

The winning leap came in the fourth round. She fouled the fifth attempt and passed in the final round as the nearest competitor, Lauren Corbitt,  of Langston, did not  improve on the 6.05 metres she did in the first round.

Neeia Cooperwood, of Morningside, was third with 5.98 metres.

Jones also advancedto today’s finals of the 100 metres and 100 metres hurdles.

Yesterday, she clocked the second fastest time of 14 seconds flat in the 100 metres hurdles behind Tyler Sloan, of Baker,  who did 13.80 seconds.

The 18-year-old also produced a personal best 11.59 seconds (wind reading not available) to win her heat in the 100 metres.

Jones’ Oklahoma Baptist team has the third fastest time of 46.95 seconds in the 4x100 metres relay and she will also be competing in the high jump.

Meanwhile, Sade Sealy, of Illinois State, advanced to the finals of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division One Outdoor Championships set for later this month.

Sealy was second in her 400 metres heat on Thursday night at the West Regionals with a time of 52.99 seconds.

 However, neither Missouri State’s Althia Maximilien (54.30) nor Shandel Ellis, of Illinois State, (56.25) advanced.

Kansas State’s Sonia Gaskin secured her spot in the finals, fourth in her heat in 2 minutes 08.64 seconds in the 800 metres.

Houston’s Sade-Mariah Greenidge came up short in the 400 metres hurdles with a time of 61.51 seconds.

At the Division 2 Championships in Pueblo, Colorado, both Burkheart Ellis Jr and Cherrisse Lynch reached their respective 400 metres finals, ranked sixth overall.

Ellis did a personal best 46.51 and Lynch 54.24, also a personal best. Ellis is in the finals of the 4x100 metres relay, the team ranked third overall.

The meets continue today.

ON JUNE 30, 1860, seven months after Charles Darwin published his famous book on evolution (On The Origin Of Species), several prominent British scientists and philosophers got into a very heated discussion at the Oxford University Museum.  

The Bishop of Oxford, Samuel Wilberforce, asked Thomas Henry Huxley, a biologist known as “Darwin’s Bulldog”, for his passionate advocacy of Darwin’s theories, whether it was through his grandfather or grandmother that he claimed his descent from a monkey.  

A recent article in the British newspaper Mail Online headlined Why You Should Never Trust An Ape: Researchers Reveal How Lying May Have Evolved In Animals states: “We all tell the occasional white lie – and researchers believe they have finally found out why. Scientists studying the development of cooperative behaviour in apes and monkeys believe the animals developed the ability to lie and deceive in order to form coalitions, get food and mate.”

A New York Times article published in 2008 says: “Deceitful behaviour has a long and storied history in the evolution of social life, and the more sophisticated the animal, it seems, the more commonplace the con games, the more cunning their contours.  

“In a comparative survey of primate behaviour, Richard Byrne and Nadia Corp of the University of St Andrews in Scotland found a direct relationship between sneakiness and brain size. The larger the average volume of a primate species’ neocortex – the newest, ‘highest’ region of the brain – the greater the chance that the monkey or ape would pull a stunt like this one described in The New Scientist: a young baboon being chased by an enraged mother intent on punishment suddenly stopped in mid-pursuit, stood up and began scanning the horizon intently, an act that conveniently distracted the entire baboon troop into preparing for non-existent intruders.”

How sophisticated can apes get with their deception?

Dr Dale Peterson, in an article on Those Lying Apes, refers to the book Chimpanzee Politics (1982) by primatologist Frans de Waal, who describes the case of Orr, an adolescent female at Arnheim, who would scream while she was having sex. During sneaked copulations with younger males, however, her screams sometimes caught the attention of the alpha, who would do his mighty best to interrupt the couple. Eventually, Orr learned to suppress her vocalizations when mating with lower-ranking males, while she continued the habit of screaming whenever she mated with the alpha.  

Peterson pointed out that competition often motivates individuals to deceive in order to get what they want, whether it’s sex, power, or food. Once at Arnheim, the chimpanzees all observed the arrival of a box of grapefruit. De Waal then brought the box out into the public area and buried the grapefruit in sand. He left a small portion of each grapefruit still uncovered by the sand, just enough for a very observant chimpanzee to notice.  

When they were released from their night cages, they raced off in search of the fruit, but none seemed to have found them. Later that day, as the chimps were taking their afternoon siesta, a young male who had been among the group that earlier rushed past the buried grapefruit, now quietly raised himself from his relaxed sprawl, casually strolled over to where the grapefruit had been hidden and dug out the fruit and consumed it at his leisure.

So when a human tells a lie, something that researchers say we do at least twice a day, even though it might not be as big a deception as the one that follows, there is a reason and an evolutionary trail.

A very distinguished lady, who was seated next to a priest on a plane arriving from Switzerland, asked him to do her a favour. The lady explained that she had bought a new sophisticated hair remover gadget which cost a lot but she was afraid that customs would confiscate it. She asked him to hide it under his cassock. The priest agreed on the basis that if asked he would not lie.  

When he arrived, the first thing that customs asked him was if he had anything to declare. He replied: “From the top of my head to my sash, I have nothing to declare, my son.”  

The alert customs officer asked: “And from the sash down, what do you have?"  

The priest replied: “I have there a marvellous little instrument destined for use by women, but which has never been used.”  

Breaking out in laughter, the customs officer said: “Go ahead, Father. Next!”

I suppose that had he been found out the priest could have replied truthfully: “My DNA made me do it.”

• Tony Deyal was last seen saying that among the biggest lies of all are “I’m from your Government and I am here to help you”; “I am getting a divorce”; “It’s not the money, it’s the principle of the thing”; and “Now, I’m going to tell the truth.”