Records tumbled at the National Gas Company (NGC) National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) Juvenile Championships, which took place at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo over the weekend.
When the two-day, 51-event track and field meet ended, quite a number of records had been broken. In two of those events, the second place finisher was also better than the old mark. And in yet another two events, all three finishers were better than the old records.
Cougars emerged the eventual winner of the Games for the sixth consecutive time. Coach Kelvin Nancoo expressed that he was proud of his athletes and sees them being a major force in the future in athletics, not only in T&T but in the region.
“This is what T&T athletics needs to continue the upward curve. In three years time we will be a major force at the Carifta Games and looking beyond, we will be fighting Jamaica,” he said.
“Really we did well, we made errors and we will learn from them. We have an army of talent waiting to descend on Barbados and T&T in 2017. Congrats are in order for Janika Jordan who lost in two photo-finishes, and Kyrell Thomas who beat all an sundry this season. Well done!.”
The “Green Army” as they are fondly known captured 34 medals which included 13 gold medals, 11 silver and ten bronze to tally 412 points to beat Memphis Pioneers into second place with 353 points after copping 24 medals.
Leading the way for the Cougars unit were field athlete Destiny William and sprinter Shaniqua Bascombe. Williams won three gold in record-breaking fashion on the opening day, claiming the girls Under-14 shot put event with her best attempt of 8.35 metres, her toss of 18.05m got her the top spot on the podium in the discus and then she sealed the javelin throw with a winning effort of 22.99m.
Bascombe was also outstanding in winning the 60m hurdles and the 200 metres event, while finishing second in the 400m and 100m events.
Shakeem Mc Kay of Memphis must be singled out after setting meet records in taking the old 100-metre mark down to 11.73 seconds from 11.43 and erasing the 23.89 200 mark with a 23.40 run.
Mc Kay not only smashed records on the track but was also dominant on the field in both the high jump and the long jump where he and Cougar’s Jordan Pope both broke the record. The first and second finishers in the boy’s U-14 80m hurdles improved on the previous mark of 13.55. They were Brian Morris (12.99) of Cougars and Eastonians’ Darius Joseph (13.54).
Mc Kay also anchored Memphis to gold in the boy's 800m sprint relay. He partnered with Wayne Edwards, Daniel Qui and Kyle Beckles to set a new record of 2:12.21 and he joined with Atiya Croal, Arianne Lucio and Qui, to cross first in the mixed U-14 4x100m relay event. The Memphis quartet clocked 48.00.
Pope is proving to be one of the best middle distance athlete in the country in the U-14 age-group. He shattered the 800m record which he held and will be venturing to Tobago with the “big boys” this weekend at the National Junior Championships.
“Our athletes have worked superbly over the year and deserve every accolade which they received. I wish to express thanks to coaches, Abeyola Akowe, Rawle Phillip, and Ashton Gill for a superb job. To all the parents who have supported the worthy champions. We are the best by test and have proven it again and again,” said Nancoo.
In the boy’s U-14 300m hurdles, the top three finishers—Brian Morris (45.31), Darius Joseph (46.27) and Tyrique Mejias (47.02) - bettered the previous record of 47.34 while in the boy’s U-10 60m dash record of 8.61 was broken by trio, Isaiah Clarke (ZC), Giovanni Bobb-Semple (8.45) of Abilene Wildcats and Simplex Emmanuel James (8.60).
Championships records
Boys
Shakeem Mc Kay (Memphis): U-14 100m (11.43); 200m (24.28); high jump (1.55); long jump (5.34)
Travis Lewis (Memphis): U-12 400m (1:02.87)
Reyshawn Andrews (Memphis): U-12 80m (10.75)
Tristan Alexander-Farina (Memphis): U-10 long jump (3.53)
Keone John (Memphis): U-12 high jump (1.40)
Keran Ramdass (Chag Primary): U-12 ball throw (48.11)
Brian Morris (Cougars): U-14 80m hurdles (12.99); 300m hurdles (45.31)
Kyrell Thomas (Cougars): U-12 long jump (4.32)
Clinton Lewis (Cougars): U-10 ball throw (36.43)
Isaiah Gemon (Cougars): U-14 shot puy (9.83)
Jordan Pope (Cougars): U-14 800m (2:13.84)
Kern Cedeno (Fyzabad Stars): U-14 400m (59.01)
Josiah Bideshi (DPAC): U-14 Javelin (41.87)
Isaiah Clark (ZC): U-10 80m (10.99); 60m (8.45)
Andre Joseph (Morvant Jets): U-12 800m (2:32.08)
Jemell Boatswain (Silver Bullets): U-14 1,000m (3:12.15)
Tyric Samuel (Oasics): U-14 Discuss (24.60)
Girls
Destiny Williams (Cougars): U-14 shot put (8.35); Discus (18.05); Javelin (22.99)
Shaniqua Bascombe (Cougars): U-14 60m hurdles (10.56); 100m (12.69); 200m (25.12)
Karessa Kirton (Cougars): U-14 1,000m (3:26.15)
Peniel John (Cougars): U-14 long jump (4.47)
Tyler Shears (Matelot Com School): U-12 long jump (3.73m)
Rae Ann Serville (Memphis): U-14 high jump (1.46)
Lesanne Hodge (Memphis): U-10 60m (9.16); 80m (11.94)
Kadija Pickering (Abilene): U-12 60m (10.93)
Natasha Fox (PFNJ): U-14 400m (59.01); 800m (2:27.01)
Shakiah Phillips (Morvant Jets): U-12 800m (2:41.18); 400m (1:04.71)
Gianna Paul (DPAC): U-12 high jump (1.22)
Armani Merry (PFNJ): U-10 long jump (3.07)
Kernile Waldron (Titans): U-14 300m hurdles (51.75)
Nakida Peters (Simplex): U-12 150m (20.49)
Maya Ramkeelawan (Simplex): U-10 Ball Throw (24.12)
Janae De Gannes (Zenith): U-12 Ball Throw (27.05)