Nurse sets tongues wagging

Aniya Nurse from the Alleyne School scorched the track on her way to stealing the show at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex today.
Nurse, who broke the zonal records in the 100 metres, 200 metres, and 400 metres last week, was the clear favourite to win the Under-17 girls’ 100 metres final of the Dasani-Powerade Barbados Secondary Schools Athletic Championships (BSSAC) and she did not disappoint.
After cruising to the line in the semi-finals to win her heat with the fastest qualifying time of 12.23 secs in a headwind, Nurse returned to take the gold medal in a time of 11.92 seconds, just shy of Tristan Evelyn’s 2014 record of 11.87 secs.
Her time was even faster than the Under-20 girls’ 100 metres winner.
Alika Harewood from Christ Church Foundation School (CCFS) was a distant second in 12.34 seconds, while third was Combermere’s Nyema Taylor in 12.39 seconds.
Nurse, also won the 400 metres in a time of 55.34 seconds.
With smoke and ash falling on the Usain Bolt Sports Complex, Queen’s College’s Nya Browne expectedly copped gold in the Under-20 girls’ 100 metres title in a time of 12.41 seconds, the same time she ran in the semis.
The battle second position was a close one, with the silver medal eventually awarded to Maliah Edwards of Springer (12.52), even though she clocked the same time as third-placed Tonique Fleming of Combermere.
After a false start which saw Enrico Jean Pierre-Green from Princess Margaret being disqualified, Geovanny Lee from Coleridge and Parry won the Under-17 boys’ 100 metres in 11.38 seconds, narrowly edging out Tarrell Johnson Rouse from Parkinson Memorial (11.41) and Jayden Greene of Christ Church Foundation, who finished third in 11.44 secs.
The Under-20 boys’ 100 metres was won by Aragon Straker of Combermere in 10.66 seconds. Harrison College’s Justin Maynard was second in 10.77secs and T’Shuan Sealy of Foundation copped bronze in a time of 10.80 seconds.
Aidan Moore of Harrison College won the Under-15 boys’ 200 metres in 22.85 secs and the 800 metres (2:12.39).
Kaden Dowrich-Roach of Coleridge & Parry clocked a personal best time of 48.61 seconds to win the Under-17 boys’ 400 metres. He said he stuck to his game plan and sprinted the entire race.
Meanwhile, Josiah Parris of the St Michael School won the Under-20 boys’ 400 metres in 47.80 seconds ahead of Amir Gustave from the Daryll Jordan Secondary in 48.61 seconds, while Fabian Gollop of Coleridge and Parry was third in 48.81 seconds.
Brieanna Boyce of the St Michael School won the Under-20 girls’ 400 metres in 56.33 seconds, ahead of her teammate Jahzara Holford (58.51). Kelia Bentham of Combermere finished third in 59.04 seconds.
(CG)