Hart stamps authority at NAPSAC

Ethan Hart of Green Technologies Inc St. George Lions established himself as the fastest 200m and 400m primary school boy in Barbados when the quarterfinal of the National Primary Schools Athletics Championship (NAPSAC) concluded today at the National Stadium.

Hart destroyed the Under-13 Boys’ 400m record of 58.75 seconds once held by Barbados’ top sprinter Mario Burke which he set 12-years-ago.

A decade later and the 11-year-old Hart birthed a new record of 57.84 seconds to advance into next Monday’s semifinals with the fastest time. Isaiah Marshall of St. Alban’s (1:02.08) and Zachary Wall of St. George (1:02.22) were the next two fastest challengers.

Two weeks ago while competing in the James Wedderburn Zone, Hart shattered the 25.70 seconds record set by Jhamal Burke of West Terrace in the 200m, establishing a new record of 25.23 seconds. He treated supporters in the Stadium to another record-breaking performance today by reducing that time to 25.10 this afternoon.

Ethan Hart of Green Technologies Inc St. George Lions did what no other Primary schoolboy has done in a long time when he broke two records in the Under-13 Boys 200m and 400m at the quarterfinals of the National Primary Schools Athletics Championship. (Pictures by Morissa Lindsay).

Interestingly, Hart ran out of lane five on both occasions when he set those two records. While he didn’t break the 100m record, he still clocked the fastest time of 12.96 in the event.

Hart along with teammates Zachary Wall, Tamarion Lynch and Trekeil Parris also lowered the record of 1:55.78 they set in the boys’ medley relay at the zonal meet by clocking 1:55.20 today.

St. George Lions were also the favourites to capture the Under-13 Boys’ 4x100m relay, but an unfortunate circumstance where the baton was dropped on the third leg led to the team finishing down the pack.

Jayden Walcott of Williams Industries West Terrace was also among the record breakers. Walcott erased the 9.59m mark for the shot put set this year in the zonal meet by Tariq Greenidge of Luther Thorne Memorial.

Jayden Walcott of Williams Industries West Terrace set a new record in the Under-13 Boys shot put.

Jakaira Jones-Smith of Belmont won her heat of the 400m in 1:05.95 to register the quickest time overall among the Under-13 Girls. Jones-Smith was also unstoppable (27.75) in the 200m.

Wilkie Cumberbatch’s Leanna Greene ran a time of 46.77 to leads the Under-11 Girls’ 300m and Elizer Williams of St. Alban crossed the finish line in 44.95 to automatically qualify in the Under-11 Boys’ 300m. 

Micaiah Brathwaite of Luther Thorne Memorial was ahead of the field (13.92) in the Under-11 Boys’ 100m. In the Under-11 Girls’ 100m, Sharifa Nicholls of Charles F. Broome (14.56) will be the one to beat.

The Under-9 100m standouts are Tianna Burke of Bayley’s (15.50) in the girls and Atari Howell of George Lamming 15.04 among the boys. Burke also won the girls 150m in 23.70 and Raheem Myles of Trinity Academy (23.20) took the boys equivalent.

Bayley’s and Reynold Weekes, both based in the parish of St. Phillip, commanded proceedings in the 600m and 800m open events.

Jakaira Jones-Smith of Belmont Primary (far right) advanced with the overall fastest times in the Under-13 Girls 200m and 400m.

Destiny Howard began the day with a gold medal performance of 1:49.72 in the Girls’ 600m open for Reynold Weekes.

Renaldo Duncan stamped his authority around the final 200m mark of the 800m race to finish in 2:32.79 ahead of rival Luke McIntyre (2:33.38) of St. Gabriel’s School.

The defending boys champion Bayley’s had another great showing when Micah Cumberbatch bolted to the finish line in 8.85 seconds in the Under-7 50m. Nyan Gooden of Good Shepherd was the fastest Under-7 Girl (9.03) in the 50m dash.

For reigning NAPSAC queens City of Bridgetown St. Giles, Rejada Hinds registered the fastest time of 12.39 seconds in the Under-9 Girls’ 80m. Rajan Forde of Wesley Hall topped the Under-9 Boys’ 80m in 12.07.

City of Bridgetown St. Giles Primary are the defending girls champions at NAPSAC and Rejada Hinds (leading) will be one of several female athletes carry their hopes into the semifinals as she won the Under-nine Girls 80m dash.

From left, Rajan Forde of Wesley Hall dipped on the finish line as he won his heat of the 80m and had the overall fastest time in the Under-nine age group.

morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb