DESPITE a late start yesterday at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, most of the big names got through safely to next Monday’s finals of the 2017 Inter-Secondary Schools Track and Field Championship.
The finals were rescheduled to accommodate the State funeral of the late Sir Derek Walcott.
The top three finishers in each heat of the semifinal round advance to the finals, including the two fastest losers thereafter.
In the Girls 12-13 150 metres dash, Joy Edward of Leon Hess Comprehensive won in a time of 18.40 seconds, ahead of Imrina Wilson of Micoud Secondary (19.10 seconds) and Amy Joseph of Soufriere Comprehensive (19.30 seconds).
The other athletes making it to the finals are Kiana Casimir (Corinth), Abigail Mathurin (Vieux Fort Comprehensive), Lesley-Ann Spencer (CCSS), Gizel Louis (CCSS) and Janiel Jackman (Beanefield Comprehensive).
Leon Alexander of Beanefield Comprehensive proved too much for the field, finishing in a time of 18.00 seconds in the Boys 12-13 150 metres. Also qualifying for the finals were Keanu Felicien — 18.40 seconds (CCSS), JhoviJn Louis — 19.60 seconds (Grande Riviere Secondary), Ajani Rac (VFCSS), Wesley Desrivieres (LHCC), SonjayHunte (Ciceron Secondary), Joel Barthelmy (LHCC), JavidVolney (CCSS), Jahlil Evans (Gros Islet Secondary).
Here are some of the results in the mid-morning session: Girls 14-15 200 metres: Mya Hippolyte of Micoud Secondary finished first (24.30 seconds) Corinth Secondary’s Effie Felix second (24.60 seconds), Tyler Paul (SJC), Makhaya Paul (AnseGer), Christelle Paul (LHCC), Stephanie Popo (Babonneau), Zoe Dorville (Entrepot), Medelli Constantine (Beanefield).
The Boys Under-16 was a class act with Michael Joseph of Corinth Secondary heading the list of finalists after winning his heat in a time of 21.80 seconds. He had times of 24.16 seconds in the preliminaries and 23.39 seconds in the finals in the Northern Zone qualifiers last week.
On Monday, he will line up against Linus Theophilus (CCSS), Devon Alexander (Grande Riviere), Omega James (Corinth), Miguel Charlery (SMC), Chester Francois (Choiseul), Nakim Jones (Micoud) and Simeon Amos (George Charles).
The Girls Under-18 saw CARIFTA hopeful Kimani Alphonse of Vieux Fort Comprehensive stamping her authority to win in a time of 25.30 seconds. She also ran 26.49 seconds in the preliminary round of the Southern Zone qualifier last Thursday at the La Ressource playing field.
Also heading into Monday’s final are Neema Leon (SJC), DeyetteDjerel (Clendon Mason), Niah Charlemagne (Babonneau), Gabrielle (Soufriere Comprehensive), Nya Pierre (SJC) and Sirmyra Compton (Clendon Mason).
Jeanmeachel Etienne of Choiseul Secondary clocked a time of 22.90 seconds to win the Boys Under-18 200 metres. He will face the likes of Tyrese Paul (Corinth) Jean–Lux Robert (CCSS), Kenneth Verneuil (Choiseul), Ethan James (SMC), Anthony Felix (Entrepot) and Dashawn Augustin (Ange Ger) in Monday’s final.