Harper speeds to sprint double

JACEY HARPER of Clemson University in the US completed the 100/200m sprint double when the National Senior Track and Field Championship concluded at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo yesterday.

Representing Rebirth club, Harper sped past his five challengers to win in 21.13 seconds, ahead of Eagles’ Kevin Prime 21.24 and Dree Ryan of Brooklyn 21.45. Sidhonie Mothersil of the Cayman Islands, friend of men’s 400m silver medallist Ato Modibo, crossed the finish line in 22.94 seconds to cop the women’s 200m title. Fana Ashby, the 2002 winner, was next in 23.05 and Tobagonian Kelly-Ann Baptiste of Zenith 23.26. The men’s 800m was a showdown between Sheridan Kirk of Zenith and Simeon Bovell of Simplex, but the experienced Kirk prevailed in 1:48.13, with Bovell 0.15 seconds behind, while the up-and-coming Carlan Arthur of Morvant Jets third in 1:52.27.

Melissa De Leon recorded a crushing victory in the women’s half-mile with a time of two minutes 4.78 seconds, with fellow Phoenix teammate Denelle De Verteuil taking silver in 2:11.37 and Aisha Hume of Petrotrin bronze in 2:12.54. Rhonda Watkins of Bishop Anstey cleared the bar at 1.76 metres to take gold in the women’s high jump. The Carifta Under-17 champ defeated schoolmate Carleigh Bacchus (1.60m) and Memphis’ Jessie Williams (1.50m). With WITCO Sportswoman of the Year Cleopatra Borel opting out of the two-day championships, Candice Scott was an easy winner in the women’s shot put, with a best throw of 15.89m, with Annie Alexander of Burnley a distant second in 13.59m and Delois Phillips of Zenith third in 12.27m. Tobagonian Cuquie Melville was unchallenged in the women’s heptathlon. The Zenith athlete compiled 4,147 points in her seven events, with the Toco duo of Julia Miller (2,658) and Evana Douglas (2,062) trailing.

Other Results -
Men’s 5,000m: 1.Denze Ramirez (Defence Force) 16:02.76; 2.Jules La Rode (Palo Seco) 16:24.60.
Women’s 400m hurdles: 1.Desiree John (Eagles) 1:04.97; 2.Kimaada Ottley (Eagles) 1:06.79; 3.Aisha George (Zenith) 1:07.57.
Men’s 400m hurdles: 1.Nataki Dasent (Concorde) 53.85; 2.Daniel Greaves (Health Olympians) 54.12; 3.Kenneth Goodridge (QRC) 54.29.
Women’s 4x100m relay: 1.Memphis 46.71; 2.Concorde 47.33; 3.Phoenix 47.94.
Men’s 4x100m relay: 1.Concorde 41.11; 2.Phoenix 41.50; 3.Quantum 41.91.
Men’s 4x400m relay: 1.Zenith 3:11.75; 2.Simplex 3:14.03; 3.Concorde 3:15.94.
Women’s discus: 1.Loktoya McShine (Success) 40.58m; 2.Joycelyn Huggins (Police) 39.09m; 3.Akiba Robinson (TAFAC) 37.41m.
Men’s discus: 1.Hubert Maingot (Simplex) 40.35m; 2.Garth James (Tobago Falcons) 36.90m; 3.Wade Franklyn (Zenith) 36.86m.