Phillips, Williams, Caesar, Bright outstanding at AAG Age Group c/ships
Usual suspects Compton Caesar, Kenisha Phillips and Chantoba Bright were among the rising stars who shone the brightest when the Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG) staged its Age Group Championships Saturday at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.
Phillips, the fastest local female student/athlete of all time, recorded a sprint double in the 15-17-year age category, winning the marquee 100m in a supersonic 12.23 seconds. She bested Christianburg’s Onasha Rogers ( 12.29s) and Super Upcoming Runner’s Cassie Small (12.30s) who joined her on the podium.
Phillips ( 24.73s) returned to complete the double by easily winning the 200m ahead of Deshawnna Skeete who completed the half lap event in 25.08s. Skeete, however, made hay in the sunshine in the 400m which she completed in 59.39 seconds for the win.
Caesar took the boys 18 years and over 100m gold in 10.52 seconds ahead of Guyana Police Force’s (GPF), Kevin Abbensetts who stopped the clock at 10.92s.
Caesar then relegated another GPF product, Winston Dummett to second place in the 200m. The tall Lindener powered across the line in 21.65s to Dummett’s 22.33 seconds. Dummett won the boys 18 years and over 400m in 50.02 seconds.
Bright, the 2016 double CARIFTA Games silver medalist, continued in fine form to clear 5.84m in the girls 15-17 long jump.
The South American Youth Championship bronze medalist also went on to clear 11.79m in the triple jump event. South American Youth Championship silver medalist Daniel Williams ruled the boys’ 15 – 17 400m in 50.41 seconds and took another gold in the high jump, where he cleared 1.90m.
Other standout athletes on Saturday included Joanna Archer who picked up the 800m win in a time of 2:25.10s, and was shortly followed by Kezra Murray ( 2: 26.40s). Running Brave’s Claudrice McKoy took the 1500m win in 4: 50.52s and Anfernee Headecker who won the boys’ 18 and over gold with a time of 1: 55.70s, Samuel Lynch took third in 2:02.50s.
Men’s javelin national record holder, Leslain Baird, took the javelin event with a throw of 66.30m.