It is a wide open race in both sections of the PowerAde Barbados Secondary Schools’ Athletics Championships after the first day at the National Stadium today.
Scotiabank Springer Memorial lead the girls with 185 points, a mere four points ahead of last year’s champions Christ Church Foundation. The other main contenders, the St Michael School, are third on 168.
In the boys, champions St. Michael are out front with 139 points. Foundation are second with 123.50 and Harrison College third with 87 points.
There were five records – four on track and the other in the field.
Harrison College’s Jonathan Jones warmed up for CARIFTA with a meet record in the 400 metres in the under 20 boys division.
Jones clocked 46.80 seconds, erasing a 17 year-old record set by Christ Church Foundation’s Wilan Louis in 2001.
“I am glad I got the meet record. I wish it could have been faster but I just want to thank the Lord I got through it. It is perhaps a medal time in CARIFTA but I just like to come out and give it my all,” Jones said nonchalantly after the race.
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In-form Under-17 hurdler Sarah Belle of Foundation beat her own meet record set in this year’s zone meet, posting 14.05 seconds in the final, leading from start to finish finish. Belle is already focused on the Bahamas.
“I hope I can win a gold medal for my country and give God the praises.”
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Jadon Pearce of St. Leonard’s set a junior boys record in the 100 metre hurdles in a time of 13.39 seconds.
The day was doubly delightful for Mary Fraser, who won the first track event of the day, holding off a strong challenge from the precocious 12 year-old Layla Haynes of Harrison College to take the girls’ Open 3000 metres. She did the journey in 11:04.01 and Haynes ran 11:04.98. Fraser eased ahead of Harrison College’s Charissa Moore to triumph in the under 20 1500 metres.
The Darryl Jordan student stated: “I am happy with what I did today because I am coming back to full fitness.”
Triston Gibbons continued his outstanding form, breaking his own discus record in the Under-20 boys. The Harrisonian had a mark of 57.22 metres. He is already CARIFTA bound.
Shemia Odaine narrowly missed the CARIFTA standard in the Under-20 girls’ long jump with a leap of 5.77 metres. Shanice Hutson of Coleridge & Parry had a good throw of 13.13 metres in the Under-17 girls’ shot put.
