The real fight for the overall boys’ and girls’ titles in the 2023 Dasani/Powerade Barbados Secondary Schools Athletic Championships begins on Thursday at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex.
Although the action began today, only the 400-meter semi-finals were contested, and now the full programme of events will be rolled out over the next two days.
Schools that competed in the three zones—Frank Blackman, Shane Brathwaite, and Esther Maynard, will battle it out to determine who is the best on the track and in the field.
The St. Michael School, Harrison College, Springer Memorial, and Combermere are among the favourites to capture the coveted titles up for grabs.
All eyes were on the Alleyne School’s star quarter-miler Aniya Nurse, who was the top qualifier today in the under-17 girls’ 400 metres with a time of 56.41 seconds.
It is left to be seen whether Nurse, the favourite to win the event, can shave two seconds off her time and break Mara Weekes’ 2007 record of 54.91 seconds.
Nurse is also favoured to win the 100 metres and 200 metres in the division.
Josiah Parris of the St. Michael School will be the one to watch in the under-20 boys’ 400 metres. During today’s qualifying rounds, he posted the fastest time of 48.59 seconds.
However, fireworks are expected in the Under-20 boys’ 200 metres, where Parris, Amani Mascoll-Beckles of Lodge, and Combermere’s Aargon Straker will face off in a highly anticipated showdown.
Brienna Boyce of the St Michael School posted the fastest qualifying time of 57.68 seconds in the under-20 girls’ 400 metres.
Meanwhile, in the Under-17 boys’ 400 metres, Parkinson’s Johnson Rouse had the fastest time of 49.97 seconds to book his spot in the next round.
In the junior divisions, Sarama James of the St Michael School had the fastest qualifying time of 65.87 seconds in the under-13 girls’ 400 metres, while her schoolmate Josiah Forde (59.84 seconds) was quickest among the under-13 boys.
Combermere’s Chanecia Bryan’s time of 58.50 seconds topped the Under-15 girls’ 400 metres and Aidan Moore of Harrison College, whose time of 53.27 seconds was two seconds slower than his time in the zone, was fastest among the Under-15 boys.
Nya Browne of Queen’s College looks like the one everyone will be chasing in the Under-20 girls’ 200 metres, but will be hard-pressed to complete the double with the likes of Springer’s duo of Romancia Wiltshire and Tuwana McClean and Combermere’s Tonique Fleming, her main rivals in the 100 metres.
Events slated for the first day of the final are the sprint hurdles (Under-17 and Under-20), the 400m (Under-17 and Under-20), the 100m (Under-17 and Under-20), the 200m (Under-13 and Under-15), the 800m (Under-13 and Under-15), and the 4 x 100 m relays (Under-17 and Under-20).
(CG)
