The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

In a repeat showdown from last year, Kenya Forbes turned the tables on Shaunece Miller as the two high jumpers took the top two spots and also surpassed the under-17 girls’ qualifying height for the CARIFTA Games.

Forbes, who was second to Miller last year in the under-15 girls’ event, won the rematch as the two 14-year-old competitors moved up to compete in the under-17 division at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s 2019 National High School Track and Field Championships.

On day one of the three-day meet at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium yesterday, Forbes cleared 1.63 metres or 5-feet, 4 1/2-inches, while Miller had to settle for second with 1.61m (5-0). They both surpassed the CARIFTA-qualifying standard of 1.58m (5-2 1/4). Rojhna Tucker, of St Anne’s, got third with 1.47m (4-9 3/4). “It was good,” said Forbes, now a 10th grader at St George’s High School in Grand Bahama.

“I jumped a little higher than I expected, so when I cleared the bar, I was very excited.”

Forbes said she knew that Miller would provide the stiffest competition, so she was prepared to battle it out this time. She said she hopes they both can go to the Cayman Islands over the Easter holiday and shine for the Bahamas.

Miller, a 9th grader at Queen’s College, said she was satisfied with her performance.

“My legs felt very weak today, so I just tried to jump as high as I could,” said Miller, who first qualified when she won the high jump at the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools’ track meet last week.

“I wanted to jump higher. I wasn’t just aiming for the CARIFTA qualifier. I wanted to get in my personal best. I know today wasn’t my day. Some days it’s an off day, so I still have the CARIFTA trials, so hopefully I can get my PR.”

Miller, the younger sister of Olympic and world champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo, congratulated Forbes in attaining the Carifta standard as well and indicated that she’s looking forward to them competing in the Cayman Islands.

On the track, one of the most impressive performances came from St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine’s quarter-miler Megan Moss, who ran away from the field to win the under-20 girls 400 metres in 53.96 seconds. Moss, who qualified from February, went under the qualifying time of 55.02 as she also broke fellow SACer Doneisha Anderson’s meet record of 56.01.

Queen’s College’s Angel Pratt didn’t have enough ground to make up and had to settle for second in 57.11 with her team-mate Craiesha Johnson coming in third in 58.65.

More Carifta Qualifiers

SAC’s Vinajah Adderley soared 12.31m (40-04.75) to win the under-20 girls’ triple jump and surpassed the Carifta standard of 11.99m (39-4). Damazvia Dames of Tabernacle Baptiat was second with 11.64m (38-02.25) and Tyra McKenzie of Queens College was third with 11.16m (36-07.50).

Keishawn Strachan has thrown past the Carifta qualifying standard of 49.09m in the under-20 boys javelin since January and he continued to improve, taking first place with 54.13m (177-07). CR Walker’s Symillian Loroda was second with 44.76m (146-10) and SAC’s Lamar Watkins got third with 43.19m (141-08).

Top Quarter-Milers

The boys under-20 400 saw Moores Island’s Marckenson Joseph take the tape in 48.35. Tre Buchannon of Tabernacle Baptist got second in 48.48 and Matthew Thompson of Queens College was third in 48.58.

CR Walker’s Wendell Miller won the under-17 boys 400m in 49.91 with Grand Bahama getting second and third from Taejun Stewart of Jack Hayard in 51.53 and Makaylin Forbes of Tabernacle Baptist in 51.54.

Javonya Valcourt of Queens College was the champion in the under-17 girls 400m in 57.03 with Collinique Farrington of Tabernacle Baptist second in 57.21 and Lacarthea Cooper of Jack Hayward third in 58.15.

The under-15 boys’ one-lap race was won by Kamron Rolle of Nassau Christian in 52.95 over SAC’s Alexis Brown in 54.20 and HO Nash’s Daniel Ermilus in 54.28.

The winner of the girls under-15 400m was Shatalya Dorsett of Sunland Baptist in 59.39 with Breyanna Kemp of New Providence second in 1:00.03 and Alexandra Smith of Tabernacle Baptist third in 1:00.78.

Eight Mile Rock’s Tyrone Conliffe took the under-13 boys’ 400m in 58.74 with Christopher Roker of St John’s second in 1:00.35 and Senen Pintard of CH Reeves third in 1:02.45.

And in the under-13 girls 400m, Kenndi Knowles of St John’s won in 1:03.08; Shania Miller of Sister Mary Patricia got second in 1:03.13 and A’Karee Roberts of LW Young was third in 1:03.64.

Fastest Sprinters

There were no real surprises as the first day of competition closed out with the 100m.

SAC’s Adrian Curry emerged as the fastest under-20 boys’ winning the straight away race in 10.72. Kendal Culmer of Sunland Baptist was second in 10.84 and Queen’s College’s Max Azor got third in 10.85.

SAC clinched the top two spots in the under-20 girls as Jaida Knowles claimed the title in 11.79 with her team-mate Lakelle Kinteh second in 12.20. Aisha Johnson of Kingsway Academy was third in 12.34.

It was a New Providence showdown in the under-17 boys division as Keano Ferguson of Queens College crossed the line first in 11.11 ahead of Davon Johnson of St Anne’s in 11.12 and Jaheim Gray of St John’s third in 11.30.

11 11.19 10.

SAC also got a victory in the under-17 girls century as Anthaya Charlton stretched it out for her time of 12.04. St Andrew’s D’Arjna Davis was second in 12.30 and Shavantae Roberts was third in 12.32.

Grand Bahama got some spotlight in the under-15 boys’ 100m as Lynden Johnson of Tabernacle Baptist won in 11.30. Jeremiah Adderley of Nassau Christian was second in 11.31 and Carlos Brown of St John’s was third in 11.49.

Tabernacle Baptist’s Stephanique Dean added to the win column for Grand Bahama with her triumph in the under-15 girls’ century in 12.38. Queen’s College’s Paige Archer was second in 12.56 and Amari Pratt of Temple Christian was third in 12.66.

The under-13 boys division saw Tristan King of Queens College clock 12.29 for his victory over Quinton Gordon of Tabernacle Baptist in 12.49. Rotario Tate of East End was third in 12.82.

And in the girls under-13 100m, Rajae Saunders of Queens College was the best of the pack in 13.21. Phebe Thompson of Bishop Michael Eldon took second home to Grand Bahama in 13.27 and Rynique Dolce of LW Young was third in 13.37.

Not to be left out

Also on the field, in the under-20 girls’ discus, SAC’s Garryn Scott picked up the victory with her winning feat of 33.06m (108-05), well ahead of second place finisher Tianna Carey of Queen’s College with 28.70m (94-02). Government High’s Benet Johnson was third with 26.65m (87-05).

“It wasn’t the greatest (performance), but I did my best,” said Scott, a 16-year-old 11th grader at SAC. “The first throw wasn’t good. I tried to change some things and it didn’t work out, but in the second round, I executed it to the best of my abilities and I got a PR (personal record).

“The rest of the throws wasn’t that good. I had a lot of my tramp-mates who I train with, so I knew they were going to give it their best. The athletes from the Family Island schools also did their best. I’m just glad that I won.”

St Augustine’s College also secured a 1-2 punch as Raevyn Bethell won with 28.65m (94-0), followed by Ann-Marie Oriakhi with 27.43m (86-0).

In the under-15 boys shot put, Huntley Christie’s Nathaniel McHardy pulled off a victory for the Family with his heave of 13.34m (43-9 1/4). Louise McDonald’s Kayshawn Garconville took second place with 12.489m (40-11 3/4) and Kingsway Academy’s Tamario Petty was third with 12.44m (40-9 3/4).

The under-15 girls javelin was won by HO Nash’s Shenique Stewart with a toss of 22.40m (73-06). AF Adderley’s Vanessa Sawyer was second with 20.50m (67-03) and SC Bootle’s Cierra Lightbourn was third with 20.28m (66-06).

On the track, Teleios Academy’s Jasmine Mackewy easily won the under-15 girls 1,500m in 5:07.29. Queen’s College had to settle for second and third with Devin Cuffy-Bethel running 5:12.79 and Grace Farrington trailing in 5:17.33.

And SAC’s Cayden King was unchallenged as he crossed the line in the under-25 boys’ 1,500m in 4:13.69. Kingsway Academy’s Damani David was second in 4:37.94 and Anatol Rodgers’ Kevinson Felix came in third in 4:54.09.

The meet will continue today at 9 am and with the evening session to start at 6 pm. The meet will conclude on Saturday night.