The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Despite the inclement weather, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture kicked off the Frank ‘Pancho’ Rahming National Primary School Track and Field Meet at the refurbished Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium yesterday with athletes from around the country participating.

In the girls’ A long jump, Grand Bahama picked up a 1-2 sweep as Leniqua Black of Martin Town Primary won with a leap of 4.68 metres and Latalia Knowles of Walter Primary took second with 4.08m. Third place went to Shannon Donaldson of Queen’s College with 3.80m.

The top two spots in the girls’ B high jump was dominated by New Providence as Paige Archer of CW Sawyer won with 1.24m, followed by Kendrea Munroe of Temple Christian with 1.20m. Jazz Townsend of Freeport Primary came in third with 1.18m.

New Providence and Grand Bahama split the top three spots in the girls’ C softball throw with Alanna Clarke of St Andrew’s winning with a toss of 26.91m. Takiethra Hanna of Walter Parker from Grand Bahama was second with 25.50m and Kyi Poitier of St Anne’s School came in third with 23.44m.

On the boys’ side, there was a mixture of New Providence, Grand Bahama and the Family Islands emerging on top.

Kayden Dean of Queen’s College captured the boys’ A shot put with a heave of 11.54m. William Larrimore of Uriah McPhee came in second with 9.69m and Leonardo Pierre of Central Abaco came in third with 8.87m.

The boys’ B softball throw saw Lynden Johnson of Walter Parker taking the title back to Grand Bahama with his toss of 46.50m. Frankey Moree of Temple Christian came in second with 43.97m and Rohajae Pinder of St John’s College rounded out the top three with 42.90m.

And in the boys’ C long jump, it was another Grand Bahama 1-2 feat as Tyrone Conliffe of Martin Town Primary won with 3.85m. Quinton Gordon of Walter Parker Primary got second with 3.83m and Johnathon Martin of the Eleuthera All Stars got third with 3.52m.

There were just two finals contested on the track with the other events being staged in the preliminary rounds.

The first final was the girls’ C 1,200 metres where Jasmine Mackey of TG Glover was the overall winner of the two heats in four minutes and 14.43 seconds. Second was Akaya Lightbourne of Walter Parker, who came second in the same heat in 4:15.30. Devin Cuffy-Bethel of Queen’s College was the winner of the other heat in 4:19.94 for third place overall.

And in the boys’ B 1,200m, Kyle Bain of Faith Way Christian Academy surged to an easy win in 4:17.54. Damani David of St John’s College was his closest rival in 4:18.57. Third place went to Alan Clayton of Cleveland Eneas in 4:21.04.

Preliminary rounds took place in both the 200 and 800m with the finalists being determined for the final day of competition on Friday.

Today, the meet will continue with the preliminaries in the 100 and 400m. The finals in both events will also take place on Friday.

Also today will be the final of the 4 x 100m relays.

And on the field, competitors will compete in the boys’ B high jump, boys’ C softball throw, boys’ A triple jump and the girls’ C shot put.

Unlike the other meets, there are no overall champions crowned. Athletes compete for individual medals and ribbons.

The meet is being held under the patronage of Frank ‘Pancho’ Rahming, who was responsible for getting the meet started to provide an opportunity to showcase the future stars.

The meet was officially opened by Dr Daniel Johnson, the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture.