La Rode rules Point Fortin Games

Palo Seco Sporting Club’s Jules LaRode confirmed his position as the top local middle-distance runner when he whipped all-comers in the 800, 1500 and 5000 metres at the Point Fortin Civic Centre Games at Mahaica Oval, Point Fortin.

LaRode had taken care of his regional rivals at the Southern Games staged at Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre over 800 and 1500 metres. Running on the grass track on Sunday, his challengers had no answer to his pacing and power finishes as he won the men’s 800 metres in two minutes 02:51 secs from Pointe-a-Pierre’s Paul Beckett (2.03:29) and Neon Trackers’ Kern Glen (2.03:74). In the 1500 metres, LaRode showed his junior counterpart and the newly-crowned Carifta Games gold medallist Carlan Arthur of Morvant Jets that he needs to do a lot more speed work to topple his seniors. LaRode won easily in 4.13:16 secs while Arthur clocked 4.15:04 secs. Displaying tremendous stamina and excellent running form, La Rode raced unchallenged and won the feature 5,000 metres in convincing fashion. He returned a time of 17.15:16 secs and led home PFCC’s Brian Francis (18.12.04) and his Palo Seco’s clubmate Jesse Cross (23.04:72).

However, young Arthur proved his worth by winning the Boys Under-20 800 metres in 2.03:30 secs from Memphis’ Kern Harripersad who clocked 2.05:38 secs and Simplex’s McKellar Quashie (2.07:88). Harripersad, a former Carifta Under-17 champion, was too good for opponents in the Boys Under-20 400, which he won in 51.73 secs. Palo Seco’s Jason Elton placed second with 52.28 secs while McKella Quashie had to settle for another bronze with a 52.93 secs timing. Among the senior sprinters, Memphis’ Simon Pierre registered the notable double in the 200 (22.03 secs) and 400 metres (51.10) while the 100 metres dash was taken by Police’s Shane Dyer (10.69 secs) ahead of Simplex’s Dwight Neptune (10.71) and Memphis’ Kevin Springer (10.80).

Dianne Crooks of Health Olympians showed a clean pair of heels to her rivals in taking the women’s sprint double. She won the 100 in 12.51 secs and the 200 in 26.42. In both events she led home Brooklyn’s Janice Clayton 12.60 and Neon Trackers’ Natalie Dixon 12.34. The positions were reversed in the 200 metres with Dixon (26.44) in second place to Clayton with a time of 26.62. Dixon won the 400 metres in 1.01:57 secs from Memphis Devonne Quow (1.03:53) who returned to take the 800 metres in 2.33:82 secs. Carifta Games Under-20 100 metres bronze medallist Wanda Hutson of Memphis won her age group 100 metres in 12:03 secs but was beaten into second position in the metric furlong (200 metres) by Gabriella David who clocked 24:42 secs to Hutson’s 25:51. Quantum’s Chevonne Simpson took the Boys Under-100 metres dash in 10:93 secs ahead of  Simplex’s Joel Maloney (10:98 secs) who narrowly edged out his club mate Nicholas Augustus in the 200 metres. Augustus returned 22:88 secs to Maloney’s 22:91.

Palo Seco’s Kevin Tobias dominated the Under-17 boy’s category by winning the 200 (23:10 secs) and 400 metres (53:40). He had to settle for the silver in the 100 metres (11:42), which was won by Memphis’ Jamal Clinton in 11:36 secs. According to former Olympian and 200 and 400 metres champion Alvin Daniel, the coach and chief livewire of the Point Fortin Civic Centre Athletics Club, the third annual Games was made possible through major financial contributions from the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, Petrotrin and Trinmar.