Moore and James rule the track

Sarama James from the St. Michael School and Aidan Moore from Harrison College were crowned the victrix and victor ludorum respectively of the 2023 Dasani Powerade Barbados Secondary Schools Athletic Championships.

Competing in the Under-13 girls’ division, James won the 100m (13.45 secs), 200m (27.17 secs) and the long jump, while finishing third in the 400m. She finished with 36 points.

Moore won the Under-15 boys’ 200m (22.85 secs), the 400m (52.11 secs) and the 800m (2:12.39 secs) while finishing second in the long jump to finish with 38 points.

And just for good measure he anchored his 4x100m team to victory as he pulled them back from third place after the final baton pass.

Aragon Straker from the Combermere School completed the sprint double in the Under-20 boys’ division.

In a show of speed, he won the 200m in 20.87 secs, just a spilt second shy of Nicholas Deshong’s 2011 record of 20.80 secs. Straker won the 100m on Thursday in 10.66 secs.

T’Shaun Sealy from Christ Church Foundation School (CCFS) was second in 21.47 secs and Jadon Pearce from the St. Michael School (SMS) was third in 21.51 secs.

Nya Browne from Queen’s College (QC) proved to have the golden touch among the Under-20 girls as she also completed the sprint double winning the 100m (12.41 secs) the day before and coming back on the final day to win the 200m in 24.11 secs ahead of a fast-closing Brieanna Boyce (SMS) who clocked 24.20 secs. Third was Tuwana McClean from Springer Memorial (SPR) in 24.65 secs.

Browne also won the 100m hurdles (13.97 secs).

Aniya Nurse from the Alleyne School won the Under-17 girls’ 100m (11.92 secs) on the second day and came back on the final day to win the 200m in 24.32 secs to once again narrowly miss another one of Tristan Evelyn’s records (24.13). Second was Ariel Archer from Princess Margaret (PM) in 24.66 secs and third was Nyema Taylor from Combermere School (CS) in 25.61 secs.

Despite her impressive performance, Nurse believed that she could have done a bit more as she was looking for a particular time in the 100m. Speaking after her victory in the 200m, she said she was working on getting out the blocks a bit better and holding a better drive phase.

She also won the 400m (55.34 secs) but said she will be competing in the 100m and 200m at the Carifta Games next week and leaving out the 400m.

After a false start took him out of the Under-17 boys’ 100m, Enrico Jn’Pierre-Green (PM) stormed down the track to make a statement and win the 200 metres in 22.36 secs ahead of Ke’iron Haynes from the Lodge School (22.43 secs) and Shamari Addison (QC) who clocked 22.69 secs.
(CG)