MARY FRASER of Daryll Jordan Secondary was one of the athletes who stamped her authority on the first day of the Powerade Barbados Secondary Schools’ Athletic Championships’ (BSSAC) Frank Blackman Zone at the National Stadium yesterday.
Fraser, missing from the athletics scene this year due to illness, returned with a bang to win the Under-20 Girls’ 1500 metres and the 400 metres. She won the 1500 metres in 4:58.52, slow by her standards, but she promised to do much better in the final.
“I was sick and I am not exactly 100 per cent, but I am close to it. I train really hard and I know that I will do better later on,” she said.
Fraser won the Austin Sealy Award at last year’s CARIFTA Championships and will also compete in the 800 metres and the 3000 metres at BSSAC.
St Michael School’s Darian Clarke was predictably the one to watch in the Under-15 Boys’ division. The second-former sped to victory in the 100 metres in a wind-assisted time of 11.12 seconds and came back later in the day to lead his team to victory in the 4×100 metres relay.
He is pleased with his performances so far and is hoping to run below 11 seconds in the 100 metres at the championships.
“I worked hard in the pre-season and now the hard work is paying off. I have to thank my coach Mr [Gabriel] Burnett for pushing me. Even when I didn’t want to go hard, he made sure that I pushed,” said Clarke.
Sarah Belle of Princess Margaret Secondary School was a double winner yesterday, with gold medal performances in the Under-15 Girls’ 400 metres and the Junior Girls’ Hurdles. She also led her team to a third place finish in their heat of the 4×100 metres relay.
“I think this year has been good so far, I had to work hard. I really hope to achieve the victrix ludorum this year. It’s going to be hard, but I think I can make it,” said Belle.
Malachi Harris was once one of the prominent names of NAPSAC and he has continued his good form in this his first year at BSSAC. Harris won the 100 metres in 12.91 seconds and was second in the 400 metres in 63.96 seconds.
The Deacons Farm resident was pleased with his performances so far in the championships.
“I feel a little bit better because this morning when I get up my mother was making sport and told me that I won’t win anything, but I told her she can’t say so because you don’t know what could happen. So I just come out here and do my best,” said Harris.
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