Rodriguez pips Duncan for 100m crown

DION RODRIGUEZ edged Marcus Duncan by one hundredth of a second yesterday to claim the Boys Under-20 100 metres sprint  as the National Junior Track and Field Championships began at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. The strongly-built Rodriguez, running in lane five, got off to a slow start but gradually made ground on Duncan, in lane four. The duo was neck and neck after 60 metres with Rodriguez, of Memphis Pioneers, crossing the finishing line in 10.48 seconds with Duncan, of  Phoenix, next in 10.49 while Chevon Simpson of Quantum was third in 10.75. CARIFTA Games Girls Under-20 bronze medallist, the diminutive Wanda Hutson, also of Memphis, held off a late burst from Kelly-Ann Baptiste of Zenith Tobago to cop the 100m gold medal in 11.56, with Baptiste timed in 11.62 and Kerry Barrow of Falcons third in 11.96. Another pint-sized athlete, Carlan Arthur of Morvant Jets, continued his excellent 2003 season (which included gold at the CARIFTA Games held here during the Easter weekend) with victory in the Boys U-20 1,500m in four minutes 20.02 seconds, ahead of Akini Pierre of Athletic Central 4:21.57 and Kern Harripersad of Memphis 4:23.92. CARIFTA Girls Under-17 long jump gold medallist, Rhonda Watkins of Bishop Anstey, easily defeated the field with a best attempt of 5.85 metres. Liseli Eastman of Air Bon Sonics took silver with 5.35m while Venice Fredericks of Success/Laventille followed with 4.98m.
Competition continues at the Stadium from 10 am today.

Other Results
Boys U-17 110m hurdles: 1.Peter Carter (QRC) 14.42; 2.Denzil Delpeche (Memphis) 14.94; 3.Keal Armstrong (Falcons) 14.97.
Girls U-17 400m: 1.Britney St Louis (Phoenix) 58.12; 2.Gineille Felix (Memphis) 58.39; 3.Shelly McLean (Eagles) 59.72.
Boys U-17 400m: 1.Renny Quow (Zenith) 49.46; 2.Kevon Thomas (Palo Seco) 50.78; 3.Shamir Reid (Zenith) 50.86.
Girls U-20 400m: 1.Abigail David (Memphis) 54.97; 2.Dana Massiah (Concorde) 55.56; 3.Denelle De Verteuil (Phoenix) 56.78.
Boys U-20 400m: 1.Joel Pile (Phoenix) 47.64; 2.Simeon Bovell (Simplex) 47.98; 3.Deverne Charles (Zenith) 48.50.
Girls U-17 100m: 1.Jurnelle Francis (Burnley) 12.12; 2.Marsha Louis (Neon Trackers) 12.13; 3.Nichelle De Landro (Phoenix) 12.28.
Boys U-17 100m: 1.Marlon Douglas (Phoenix) 10.98; 2.Kester Charles (Zenith) 11.12; 3.Kashif Williams (Zenith) 11.13.
Boys U-17 1,500m: 1.Neil Francois (Health Olympians) 4:20.44; 2.Lester Herbert (Phoenix) 4:23.74; 3.Jamal Stoute (Warriors) 4:25.76.
Girls U-17 1,500m: 1.Pilar McShine (Success) 4:56.13; 2.Kema McShine (Success) 5;13.89; 3.Shermain La Saldo (Success) 5:22.20.
Girls U-20 1,500m: 1.Candice Ince (Memphis) 4:55.52; 2.Paula Jones (Neon Trackers) 5:08.68; 3.Soroya Williams (Phoenix) 5:19.19.
Girls U-17 javelin: 1.Venice Fredericks (Success) 28.98m; 2.Kimelyn Williams (Zenith) 27.69m; 3.Shakira Thompson (Morvant Jets) 23.36m.
Boys U-17 javelin: 1.Samuel Seaton (St Mary’s Home) 35.31m; 2.Mark Oliver (Eastonians) 35.00m; 3.James Eastman (Morvant Jets) 34.62m.
Girls U-17 discus: 1.Annie Alexander (Burnley) 35.10m; 2.Jodie Sutherland (Burnley) 27.56m; 3.Pilar McShine (Success) 26.90m.
Boys U-17 discus: 1.Kellon Marshall (Dovers) 40.75m; 2.Sheldon Scott (Falcons) 30.87m; 3.Brendon George (Memphis) 29.80m.
Girls U-20 discus: 1.LokToya McShine (Success) 38.35m; 2.Candice Williams (Memphis) 30.39m.
Boys U-17 high jump: 1.Peter Carter 1.87m; 2.Randy Persad (St Mary’s Home) 1.65m.
Girls U-20 long jump: 1.Michelle Cuthbert (Neon Trackers) 5.60m; 2.Diana Johnson (Morvant Jets) 4.52m.
Boys U-20 long jump: 1.Shawn Thomas (Zenith) 6.98m; 2.Tauel Missinger (Tigers) 6.70m; 3.Mikel Courtney (TAFAC) 6.64M.
Girls U-17 shot put: 1.Annie Alexander 13.59m; 2.Jodie Sutherland 8.84m; 3.Gerneiva Parkinson (Bishop’s Anstey) 7.11.