Ashby, Barry win sprints

GAINESVILLE: Caribbean athletes registered impressive victories at Sunday’s Gator Invitational Indoor meet at the University of Florida. They were wins for fast improving St Kitts and Nevis quarter-miler Tiandra Ponteen, and the Trinidad and Tobago pair of Fana Ashby and Damion Barry, both of Auburn University. Ponteen, a student at UF, sped to victory in the women’s 400 metres event in 52.31 seconds ahead of Jamaica’s Novlene Williams, who crossed the line in 54.51 secs.

Ashby registered a sprint double in the women’s 55 metres and 200 metres events. The Auburn senior breasted the tape in 6.74 secs in the 55 metres and 23.90 secs in the one-lap. Also in winners’ row was TT’s Barry, who sped to victory in the men’s 200. The 6-ft 3-in sprinter won in 21.58 secs ahead of Kyle Farmer in 21.60 secs. TT-born sprinter Kerron Clement of UF also had a good meet, placing second in the 400 metres in 46.13 secs, and fifth in the 55 metres in 7.41 secs.