Burke, Williams make mark

ASHLEY?WILLIAMS provided further proof that she has a real shot at Carifta gold, with an impressive 13-metre throw at an Athletics Association of Barbados?meet at the National Stadium yesterday.
Williams was the class of the field in the women’s under-20 shot put, taking the event with a throw measured at 13.39 metres.
That was a continuation of her good form this season and makes her a major contender at this year’s Carifta Games, slated for Martinique in April.
On the track, the fastest schoolboy in the country, Mario Burke, running out of lane 4, won another thrilling duel with Levi Cadogan and Shakeim Greaves in the 200 metres Men’s Open.
Burke, a member of the High Performance Programme (HPP), was  clocked at 21.065 secs, a hair’s breadth ahead of Cadogan, who was racing for Quantum Leap. Cadogan was timed at 21.068 secs with Greaves third in 21.26 secs.
Burke, 16, a student at Harrison College, told SUNSPORT he was happy with his preparation for Martinique.
“So far, I am happy with my preparation. I have been doing plenty of endurance work with the 200 metres in mind as it is my weaker race, but by carifta  I should be good,” he said.
Last year Burke won Carifta gold in the 100-metre dash and he is confident he can repeat.
“I feel I can repeat in the 100 metres and possibly do the sprint double. We have some good guys in the sprints and I am confident Barbados can do well in the relays,” he said.
Nicholas Jordan won the other 200 metres heat in a much slower 22.04 secs with Roderick Best second in 22.21 secs.
Shakera Reece, a Pan Am Games medallist and one of the fastest women in the land, predictably took the women’s 100-metre dash, coasting past the line in 12.11 secs. Coleridge &?Parry 16-year-old Sada Williams of the Elite Distance Programme was second in 12.53 secs.
Williams was the star of the 200 metres for under-18 girls, crossing the line in 24.32 secs, with Asha Cave second in 25.24 secs.
Joseph Parris, running for Elite Distance Programme, marked himself as one to watch over the long distance at Inter-School Sports, with an emphatic victory in the 3 000 metres. Parris, a student of the St Michael School, was clocked at ten minutes, 9.32 secs.
He was followed home by Shaquille Holligan and Namibia-born King Layne, both of  whom, like Parris, are coached by Barcelona Olympian Leo Garnes.
“I was happy with the performance of Joseph. He actually did a personal best. He is a very hard worker. He is not the typical distance runner, but he is prepared to put in the hard work and get the returns.
“King Layne is another good athlete. He is back and once he remains dedicated will be a force. He is a product of Alma Parris and was the first one from that  school to win an event at Inter-School Sports,”?Garnes said.