The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THERE were qualifying performances for the Carifta Games and a number of meet records set as the Star Trackers Track Club hosted their 27th Star Performers Track Classic on Saturday at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium.

With at least seven clubs from Grand Bahama and a 17-member team from Bermuda visiting, Carlos Brown of Swift Athletics and Jasmine Knowles of Alliance Athletics both attaining the B standards for the Carifta Games in Hamilton, Bermuda over the Easter holiday weekend.

The Bahamas Associations of Athletic Association for the 100 and 400m only in a bid to ensure that they have quality competitors to make up the relay teams.

Brown surpassed the under-17 boys B standard in the 100m of 11.24 seconds with his winning time of 11.11. The A standard was 11.02. In the process, Brown also established a new meet record, replacing the previous time of 11.65 that was done by Mario Burke in 2014.

Otto Laing, of the Red-Line Athletics, got second in 11.26 and Jeremiah Adderley, of the DTSP Wolfpacks, was third in 11.40.

Knowles, on the other hand, clocked 55.60 to take the title in the under-20 girls’ 400m. It was a B qualifying time of 55.85. The A standard is 54.76. She also erased the meet record of 56.75 that was set by Gene-Lee Leith in 2014.

And Knowles added her name to another record in the 800m in 2:14.84, erasing the previous meet record of 2:19.70 that was established by Quanisha Marshall in 2018.

Robyn Rolle-Curry, of the Star Trackers, was second in 56.64 and Wendira Moss of the Galaxy Invaders came in third in 57.40.

Other record breaking performances were as follows:

Cleve Sutherland of St Augustine’s College in the under-25 boys 80m hurdles in 12.99, erasing the previous time of 13.23 by Rowan Sands in 2019. Sands. representing the Sun Blazers, competed in the event and had to settle for second in 13.64.

Tayshawn Robinson of the Sunblazers took the under-17 boys’100m hurdles in 15.09 to replace the previous mark of 15.19 that was set by Ohio State’s Tavonte Moss in 2014. Andrew Styles of Ninety Degree was second in 17.27.

Winning Club Barbados’ Adriana Argent and Daria Desmond clocked 5:08.13 and 5:7.28 respectively to both dip under the previous under-17 girls 1,500m record of 5:17.99 that was set by Akaya Lightbourne in 2018.

Bermuda’s team-mates Kahzi Sealy and Thomas Marshall also led the top three competitors in the under-17 boys’ 1,500m, surpassing Mookie Rolle’s record time of 4:31.54 that he set in 2016. Sealy won in 4:21.94, followed by Marshall in 4:23.82 and Silver Lightning’s Jayden Wright in 4:31.22.

Both Lianzita of Fast Forward won the under-20 girls’ 1,500m in 5:21.06 and Elma Mackey of the University of the Bahamas in 5:26.64 as they both surpassed the previous meet record of 5:28.87 by Sierra Sears in 2019.

Wendell Miller of Power Athletics clocked 54.02 to win the under-20 girls’ 400m hurdles and established a new meet record, replacing the previous time of 54.94 that Xavier Coakley established in 2013.

The under-9 girls 200m saw three competitors also dip under the meet record of 35.70 that was established by Malaya Gordon in 2019. Skye Sweeting now holds the record with 34.62. Kellise Roberts (34.83) and Cassidy Pratt (35.70) also went under the old record for second and third respectively.

Zion Bradford of the Golden Eagle, clocked 28.86 to win the under-11 boys 200m and erasing the previous meet record of 28.89 that was set by Jonathan Higgs in 2019.

And Rajae Saunders’ previous meet record of 27.03 that she posted in 2019 was replaced by Kiana Henchelle’s winning time of 27.03. Shekinah Johnson of the Spirit of Excellence was second in 27.87 and Darvinique Dean of Kids’ Athletics was third in 28.06.

Meet director Dave Charlton said it was quite an exciting event that went very well from start to finish and they completed the meet on time.

“The meet was awesome. We ran one race right after the other and we had some competitive races in each and every event,” said Charlton, who is also the head coach of the Star Trackers Track Club.

“The kids really showed up, the officiating was picture perfect and the timing was precise. The ground crew was here for us and they did an awesome job getting the stadium ready. Everything was perfect.”

Freddie Evans, the head coach of Bermuda, said their combination of sprinters, middle distance runners, throwers and jumpers, all performed exceptionally well.

“I’m appreciative of Star Performers putting on such a great meet and making sure that everything went well and was on time,” Evans said. “I’m very appreciative. They made our athletes feel right at home and they performed very well in a new environment.”

As Bermuda get set to host the Carifta Games over the Easter holiday weekend, Evans said their athletes got a chance to turn in some qualifying performances for their team as well.

In addition to Argent and Desmond, Club Bermuda also saw Za’Kayza finish as runner-up in a time of 12.74 in the under-20 girls’ 100m to Star Trackers’ Anthaya Charlton, in what could be a prelude to Carifta.

Club Bermuda’s Ryan Outterbridge also won the under-20 boys’ 1,500m in 4:20.71 well ahead of Phoenix Track Club’s Rodrigueson Garcia, who did 4:44.87 for second.

And Sancho Smith, also from Club Bermuda, clocked 2:03.00 to take the title in the under-17 boys’ 800m over his nearest rival Kamran Rolle of the Sun Blazers Track Club, who did 2:08.74.

“We had some athletes who qualified for Carifta, so we are looking at putting on a small team that will be very competitive at the games,” Evans said.

“More importantly, it will be my responsibility to host the Bahamians when they come to Bermuda. I want to show them how the Bermudians do it. So I’m looking forward to it.”

Also entertained at the meet were seven clubs from Grand Bahama.

Ravanno Ferguson, the first vice president of the BAAA, said his 12-member team from Fast Track Athletics turned in some credible performances.

“The meet is one of the better track meets put on by any track club, so we always try to come out and support the Star Trackers,” he said. “Overall, it was a very good competition.

“All of the kids performed very well. Grand Bahama athletes stepped up tremendously. This was the first meet for the season for a lot of them, so we just wanted to see where they are and what we need to go back home and work on.”