The return of athletics

Several athletes got the opportunity to quench their thirst as the Athletics Association of Barbados became the first national sporting body out the blocks with its 2021 track meet called Back on Track, held yesterday afternoon at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex.

It was a good start to the meet and a commendable showing from the athletes. Layla Haynes of Elite Distance Club and Caleb Massiah of Quantum Leap Club took the spotlight as the only two athletes to meet the qualifying standard for the North American Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Under-18 Championship scheduled for July 9 in Costa Rica.

Caleb Massiah of Quantum Leap captured the qualifying standard for NACAC Under-18 Boys long jump.

Competing in a field with all males, Haynes needed to run 4:55.00 and got the push needed when she clocked 4:47.47 for the NACAC Under-18 Girls 1500m. CARIFTA Gold medalist Massiah produced a mark of 7.07m in the men’s long jump and surpassed the 7.00m NACAC standard.

Considering it has been months since the athletes featured in competition, because of uncertainty with the coronavirus pandemic and the cancellation of two consecutive CARIFTA Games, many of them have done well to maintain their form.

Brieanna Boyce, who captured bronze for Barbados in 2019 at the NACAC Age Group Championship in El Salvador, was among those that stood out yesterday on the Ryan Brathwaite track.

A two-time victrix ludorum of the Barbados Secondary Schools Athletics Championship (BSSAC), Boyce accounted for the overall fastest time of 58.79 seconds in the Under-17 Girls 400m. Running unattached Boyce who featured in the second and final heat of that event came close to meeting the qualifying standard of 56.00 seconds required for NACAC.

Brieanna Boyce came extremely close to qualifying for NACAC Under-18 Girls 400m.

In the Under-20 Girls 400m, Quantum Leap pair of Asia Foster (58.67 seconds) and Shadae Worrell (59.33 seconds) emerged as the top two finishers.

Josiah Parris of Quantum Leap clocked 50.65 seconds in the one-lap (400m) sprint for Under-17 Boys but was just short of the 48.50 seconds asking time. In the men’s 400m, Jerrad Mason (49.92 seconds) and Akil Howell (50.00 seconds) were the top two also representing Quantum Leap.

In the men and women 100m sprint, Quantum Leap took precedence through Amani Kirnon and Kuron Griffith. Kirnon had a time of 12.48 seconds in the women’s dash and Griffith sprinted 10.51 seconds in the men’s.

For the men’s 1500m, Joshua Hunte ran unattached in a time of 4:04.14 and proved to be a class above the rest of the field.

Top national women’s hurdler Kerrie Beckles of Rising Stars raced away in 13.96 seconds ahead of Ayana Morgan of Quantum Leap (14.45) and Adeyah Brewster of Proformers track club (14.82).

Rising Stars pair of Jadon Pearce (15.49) and Kennady Nikolai (15.53) pushed each other in the Under-20 Boys 110m hurdles.

Layla Haynes of Elite Distance met the qualifying standard for NACAC Under-18 Girls 1500m. (Pictures by Morissa Lindsay).

In the Under-17 Girls 100m hurdles, just two split seconds separated Nya Browne of Proformers (15.32) from Maliah Edwards of Rising Stars (15.34).

There were also field events held yesterday at the National Stadium and CARIFTA Gold medalist Shanice Hutson of Elite Distance recorded 11.88m in the women’s shot put.

Ryah Dates of Elite Distance had a throw of 11.74m in the Under-17 Girls shot put. In the Under-17 Girls javelin throw, Dates’ measurement of 34.27m was second to 41.87m by Asabi Callender of Talons Club.

For the women’s javelin, Vanessa Greaves of Rising Stars executed a throw of 37.93m. The women’s triple jump was won by Lodge School student Kay’ghun Rouse with an 11.47m measurement.

BC Trac Club dominated the discus throw compliments Kevon Hinds (42.95m) and Kaelin King (35.71) for the Under-20 Boys.

The AAB track meet continues next week Saturday, May 23 at the Usain Bolt, Sports Complex.