SOUTHERN GAMES:

KEVON PIERRE, just back from the recent Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, blazed to victory yesterday in the men’s invitational 100-metre sprint as the two-day Southern Games 2006 began at Guaracara Park, Pointe a Pierre.

Pierre, a member of the Trinidad and Tobago men’s 4x100-metre relay team which was disqualified “Down Under”, returned to the Petrotrin venue to annihilate the field in a brisk 10.07 seconds.

Jamaican Carl Barrett was a distant second in 10.29 and Barbadian Andrew Hinds placed third in 10.33.

In the men’s open 100m, Randell Sorrillo of Palo Seco was first across the finish line in 10.45, ahead of Concorde’s Shane Dyer (10.50) and Petrotrin’s Carlton Elwin (10.53).

Jade Bailey of Barbados claimed the women’s equivalent in 11.36, followed by leading national youth sprinter Sade St Louis of Memphis Pioneers (11.44) and Zenith’s Semoy Hackett (11.60).

Another top TT junior runner, Keston Bledman of Simplex, led from start to finish in the Boys Under-20 100m, clocking an impressive 10.29, with Sadiki James of Dovers (10.68) and Kieron Anthony of Memphis (10.84) trailing. Top regional long-distance runner Pamenos Ballantyne was beaten by a pair of Venezuelans in the men’s 1500m final.

Edwan Villanvera was the first across the finish line in three minutes 58.68 seconds, with countryman David Sanchez next in 4:01.01 with Ballantyne third in 4:05.65.

Kerticha John of Memphis Pioneers claimed gold in the women’s 1,500m in five minutes 13.08 seconds, followed by Joanne Rojas of Warriors (5:15.32) and Paula Jones of Memphis Pioneers (5:22.13).

Rick Francis prevailed in the men’s javelin, with a distance of 57.04 metres. The Defence Force representative prevailed over Andre Andrews of Warriors (55.66) and Jerren Franklyn of Neon Trackers (54.41).

The meet will conclude today, with the start at 2 pm.

Other Results —

TRACK AND FIELD—

Girls Under-17 1500m: 1.Alika Morgan (Guyana) 5:16.51; 2.Renissa Phillip (Point Fortin Jets) 6:15.09; 3.La Juene Burton (Neon Trackers) 6:28.35.

Boys Under-17 1500m: 1.Christian Bern (Health Olympians) 4:26.56; 2.Deran Samlalsingh (Air Bon Sonics) 4:33.72; 3.Devon Thomas (Morvant Jets) 4:39.68.

Boys Under-20 1500m: 1.Junior Ashton (St Vincent) 4:15.35; 2.Neal Francois (Health Olympians) 4:16.48; 3.Lester Herbert (Phoenix) 4:19.23.

Girls Under-13 100m: 1.Kenesha Spann (Morvant Jets) 12.74; 2.Orika Murray (Simplex) 13.16; 3.Chenesse Benskin (Silver Bullet) 13.26.

Girls Under-15 100m: 1.Michelle Ahye (Concorde) 11.92; 2.Kai Selvon (Air Bon Sonics) 12.32; 3.Crystal Rogers (Concorde) 12.51.

Boys Under-13 100m: 1.Darvin Sandy (Silver Bullet) 12.61; 2.Trey Hart (Memphis Pioneers) 12.72; 3.Kye Bacchus (Memphis Pioneers) 13.22.

Boys Under-15 100m: 1.Christian Benjamin (Memphis Pioneers) 11.12; 2.Adriel Prescott (Memphis Pioneers) 11.16; 3.Jonathon Holder (Memphis Pioneers) 11.22.

Girls Under-17 100m: 1.Cadajah Spencer (Dovers) 11.77; 2.Nyoka Gilkes (Memphis Pioneers) 11.82; 3.Carissa Leacock (Health Olympians) 12.33.

Boys Under-17 100m: 1.Joel Dillon (Simplex) 10.82; 2.Isaiah Rondon (Brooklyn) 10.90; 3.Kendel Bacchus (Memphis Pionners) 11.15.

CYCLING -

Tinymites and Women 1000m: 1.Christian Fairley (Oilbelt Sonics) 2:02.27; 2.Rudy Ashton (Oilbelt Sonics); 3.Tamilia Baptiste (Oilbelt Sonics).

Juniors and Juveniles 1000m: 1.Jude Codrington (Oilbelt Sonics) 1:33.06; 2.Jonathan Rawlins (Oilbelt Sonics); 3.Bevon Luces (Oilbelt Sonics).

Category 1&2 1000m: 1.Royden Bacchus (Guyana) 1:29.37; 2.Barry Luces (Oilbelt Sonics); 3.Deon Codrington (Oilbelt Sonics).

Veterans 40-49 1000m: 1.Sherwyn Semper (Sonics) 1:36.96; 2.Gregory D’Andrade (Madonna Wheelers); 3.Simon Spicer (Oilbelt Sonics).

International 500m: 1.Haseem McLean (Trinidad and Tobago); 2.Azikiwe Kellar (Trinidad and Tobago); 3.Marc Codrington (Trinidad and Tobago).