St Michael dominates track and field at Senior Games

Hundreds of seniors turned out at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex on Monday for the track and field segment of the 21st edition of the Barbados National Senior Games, where age proved no barrier to fierce competition and impressive fitness.

The parish of St Michael reigned supreme with 1 066 points to finish well ahead of St James (674) and Christ Church (536), placing second and third respectively.

One of the standout performers was Andrew Thornhill, the 2025 World Masters Indoor High Jump Champion (age 40-44), who was in fabulous form. Competing for St Thomas, Thornhill secured the overall win in his age group with 46 points, claiming three gold medals in the high jump (1.85m), standing broad jump (2.93m), and setting a new record in the long jump (6.34m). He also won silver in the 100m (11.76s), narrowly edged out by Dwayne Beckles of St James (11.73s), and added another silver in the cricket ball throw (64.17m).

In the field events and long-distance races, 75-year-old Grafton Cobham of St Michael was exceptional, topping all male age groups with 48 points across multiple disciplines. He competed in the field events, the 5K event and on the track.

Among the women, Jennifer Swanston-Jones of St James was quite outstanding with a mammoth 76 points in the 65-69 age group.

Olympian and coach Gabriel Burnett made his return to the track, competing in the men’s 50–54 100m dash, 22 years after retiring. Burnett got out with an explosive drive phase and shut down after 60m to win in 13.08 seconds.

Also heating up the track was St James’ Amber Cumberbatch in the women’s 40-44 age group. She was in tip top shape and easily won the 100m (13.79s), 200m (28.93s) and 400m (1:09.14).

The essential services got their taste of the track with Customs, the Barbados Fire Service, the Barbados Police Training School and Barbados Police Service going head-to-head in a 4x100m relay for women and then the men’s equivalent.

In the 4x100m women’s relay, the Barbados Fire Service was too hot to handle, blazing to victory in 1:00.17, just ahead of The Barbados Police Service (1:00.46). On the men’s side, Customs took the win in 48.43 seconds after the Fire Service was disqualified, with the Police Service (49.40) and Police Training School (51.68) following.

Not to be left out, members of the calypso tents – including All Stars, Super Gladiators, Shining Stars, Big Show, and Stray Cats – put their speed to the test in a 4x100m relay. All Stars brought their A-game, winning by five seconds ahead of the other tents.

Youth athletes were also in the spotlight during the Senior Games, with teams from the National Primary Schools Athletic Championship (NAPSAC) and the Barbados Secondary Schools Athletic Championships (BSSAC).

The NAPSAC teams who came up against each other were Reynold Weekes and Christ Church Girls in an 800m sprint medley relay. The St Philip based school got the better of Christ Church Girls with a time of 2:08.21. Christ Church Girls finished in 2:11.35.

In the BSSAC, Combermere School ran unopposed in the girls’ 4x400m, clocking a solid 3:59.69. In the boys’ equivalent, St George Secondary’s A team (3:31.73) beat Christ Church Foundation (3:32.52) and Combermere (3:35.24). (NGM)