In a heart-pounding showdown at the annual Trevor Straughn Memorial Cross Country Race, young athletes from across the island left it all on the track, turning the Sir Garfield Sobers Sports Complex into a cauldron of determination and grit.
In the day’s action, Hillaby Turner‘s Hall Primary’s Natari Lavine and Ayafemi Roach of Eagle Hall Primary were the top performers, taking the boys’ and girls’ Class 3-4 divisions respectively by storm.
In the Class 1-2 division, Dawico Stephens from Welches Primary set the course ablaze, leaving spectators in awe, while Christina Rock of St Stephen’s Primary also left her competition in the dust.
A total of 708 budding primary school athletes ventured to the Wildey circuit for a cross-country adventure like no other. From the very start, the air was electric, and it crackled with energy until the final competitor crossed the finish line.
In the boys’ Class 3-4 showdown, Lavine and his teammate Isaiah Marshall put on an exhilarating show, snatching the top two spots in style.
Lavine, a 10-year-old dynamo who also excelled at last year’s event, exhibited his prowess with a blazing time of seven minutes, 33.95 seconds. Not far behind, the speedy Marshall, at just 9-years-old, crossed the finish line in seven minutes, 45.33 seconds.
Zachary Ladipo of St Gabriel’s showcased his mettle to secure the third spot with a time of 7:56.09, while West Terrace’s dynamic duo of Domario Bayne (7:57.02) and Damani Denny (7:59.65) locked in the top-five finishers.
Dexter Gill, the physical education teacher at Hillaby Turner’s Hall, couldn’t help but shower praise on his star athletes, Lavine and Marshall.
In an interview with Barbados TODAY, Gill lauded his charges, especially Lavine whom he said has been consistent in his athletics performance for the school.
Under Gill’s expert guidance, Hillaby Turner’s Hall also recently captured the National Sports Council’s six-for-six softball tournament.
He extended his heartfelt thanks to the parents, recognising their support, stating, “Without them the students do not excel. The parents and the teachers work together for the benefit and the interest of the students excelling academically and athletically.”
Meanwhile, in the girls’ Class 3-4 race, Roach faced off against some fierce competition but managed to snatch victory.
She clocked in at 8:31.15, just narrowly outpacing Karisa Bowen of St Albans (8:33.00) and Trinity Academy’s Kaiya Warner-Franklin (8:34.43).
West Terrace’s Kalia Curwin (8:36.75) and Darisse Branker of Arthur Smith (8:44.78) rounded out the top five.
The boys’ Class 1-2 category witnessed the sensational sprint of Dawico Stephens, who conquered the course in just 6:35.07, leaving his rivals in the dust.
St Paul’s Zeshawn Shoney (6:47.65) and Naleek Gill (6:49.21) of St Ambrose gave it their all, securing second and third place, respectively.
Christina Rock from St Stephen’s was dominant in the girls’ Class 1-2 division. She soared above the competition with a time of 8:00.44, leaving Naveah Winfield (8:07.68) of Christ Church and St George Primary’s Azariah Tappin (8:08.34) trailing in her wake. rawletoney@barbadostoday.bb
