Local athletes excel in Leewards Invitational
U-20 Athletes from the British Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, Anguilla, St. Kitts, Nevis, Dominica, Guadeloupe and Martinique all competed with a slew of new Personal Best’s and even a new National Junior Record highlighting the performances.
Guadeloupe’s Sareena Carti opened the competition by overhauling Tarika Moses with the second best mark of her career, when she stopped the clock at 54.53 in the 400m. Her best is 54.26 from Carifta Games 2010 in Jamaica.
Moses, who beat Carti at this year’s Carifta Games in Nassau, finished second in a personal best of 54.95, eclipsing the 55.02 she ran two weeks ago at the Golden South Classic in Orlando, Florida. Teammate Jonel Lacey shaved .01 off her best for third in 56.07.
Khari Herbert junior won the Boy’s equivalent in 48.39 seconds with St. Kitts’ Warren Hazel second in 49.14 and Kyron McMaster third in 49.45.
St. Kitts’ Ka’Jon Parris sneaked past the BVI’s Tarique Moses to win the 800m event in 1 minute, 57.17 seconds to Moses’ 1:57.80, a personal best. U.S. Virgin Islands’ Malique Smith was third in 2:01.99.
Taylor Hill was the meet’s only Triple winner, first holding off charging teammate L’Tisha Fahie to take the 100m in 12.23 seconds to Fahie’s personal best of 12.24, shaving .03 off the 12.27 she ran at the Golden South Classic in Orlando. U.S. Virgin Islands’ Nia Jack, who bested them at Carifta, was third in 12.43.
“I got out as usual, got my head up and just wanted to run as fast as possible,” noted Hill.
“It was great that we finished first and second,” added Fahie, “Taylor is like a sister to me,”
Hill again repelled Fahie’s 200m finish line rush in another close race, 24.95-24.98 as Fahie dipped under 25.00 for the first time. Nevis’ Chole Williams was third in 25.74.
Hill, who anchored the 4x400m to a meet and the National Youth Record of 3:19.19 last year, led off the victorious 4x100m Relay. She handed off to Fahie who passed on to Lacey with Moses anchoring them to a meet record and National Youth Record time of 46.62 seconds. The time eclipsed the 46.69 established by the quartet of Britney Wattley, Ashley Kelly, Chantel Malone and Shanice Hazel, in 2007.
Shamica Glasgow also took a home a sprint double. “I executed better in the 100, which was a more enjoyable race and I just want to thank God for helping me with my performances.”
Chelsea Flax Solomon also picked her first ever podium finish in the 100m with a third place finish. “It feels awesome,” she commented, “and I hope for many many more.”
Guadeloupe’s Radia Gaza established the 400m Intermediate Hurdles standard as the event was introduced in Leeward Islands competition for the first time, a mark that is an All Comers Record. She cleared the barriers in 1 minute, 01.90 seconds. She was followed by teammate Meghane Grandson in 1:02.96. St. Kitts’ Keishonna Brookes edged the BVI’s Deya Erickson for third in her debut, 1:07.05-1:07.60.
Carifta Games U-17 Girls Long Jump bronze medalist St. Kitts’ Krystal Liburd, leapt 5.96m for victory, ahead of Anguilla’s Rechelle Meade’s 5.74 leap with the BVI’s Kanishque Todman finishing third in 5.47.
In the battle with between the 2012 and 2013 Carifta Games U-17 Girls Javelin Throw champs, Tynelle Gumbs prevailed over Dominica’s Shanee Angol. Gumbs tossed the 500g spear 39.91m to Angol’s 35.97m for her second win over Angol.
Gumbs’ twin sister Trevia had a Shot Put toss of 14.03m and had the satisfaction of qualifying for next month’s IAAF World Youth Championships in Ukraine. “It’s very exciting to see so many people here,” she said “I hurt my back a bit though and wasn’t able to throw as far as I wanted.”
Deklya Hodge settled for a personal best of 11.41m and Kiwana Emmanuel was third with 10.34m to complete a BVI sweep. Eldred Henry was a double winner with a 50.47 Discus Throw (1.75k) and a 16.73 Shot Put toss.
He was followed by teammate Kadeon Potter and the U.S. Virgin Islands’ Avery Joseph in both events.
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16 Responses to “Local athletes excel in Leewards Invitational”
I am tired of the biasness in this Association. Mr. Stephens competed in 4 races at the same competition. Ran a PB in 100 and 200. Helped the 4x100 relay team and 400x400 and yet he was not mentioned in any of the articles highlighting this weekend's event. But Thank God things like this BS don't faze him. Shaq keep your head up. But Dean could keep stick his articles where ......Sun don't shine
I hope they can give account for the funds collected, not like the Busta Cup years ago. The meet was fantastic. one think I did not like was the fact the athlete that fall in the Relay event, the people with the flag just stood there before they didnt raise their flag to say someone was down, then the Red Cross came without the stretcher, where did they get there training. it take a another athlete in the the pavilion to come to her aid before the rightful personal came to her aid. One other problem was they were not giving back people their stub from the Tickets, something fishy there, then after people complain if they go back outside they will have to pay for another ticket didn't go well with some people.How do you give account if the ticket stubs do not match up.
Great job Taylor Hill ur a winner everytime.
U were a quadruple winner last year but that wasnt recognised, we love ya in Houston, Texas and Queens New York.