HUNDREDS of athletes representing 16 clubs and school teams will converge on the George Odlum Stadium (GOS) today and tomorrow for the Saint Lucia Athletics Association (SLAA) annual National Junior Track and Field Championships, dubbed “CARIFTA Trials”.
This weekend’s championship, which starts at 10:00am both days, will see Saint Lucia’s top young talents between 15 -19 years, providing the final opportunity to qualify for the 49th edition of the CARIFTA Games, to be held in Bermuda over the Easter weekend, Friday 10th – Monday 13th April.
According to the SLAA Public Relations Officer, Andy Behl, two athletes, both in the pole vault category, have currently met the national qualifying standards for CARIFTA. The two, Jamol Marcel (Nightriders Track and Field Club) and Jeremiah Felix (Mon Repos Athletics Academy) will compete this afternoon as they aim to improve upon their 3.50 metres (11’6”) performances from the Independence Games which took place on Sunday 23rd February. The CARIFTA Games qualifying height – 3.48 metres.
“The Technical team of the SLAA will be keeping a close eye for qualification of the following athletes – Miguel Charlery 100 metres/200 metres (Rockets); Joy Edward in the shot putt (Speed Printing Survivors); Aaliyah Estaphor and Kereser Augustin in the women’s long jump (Speed Printing Survivors); Jenneil Jacobie – girls Youth high jump (Morne Stars), Hannah Charles – girls Youth high jump (Rockets) and Naomi London girls Youth 100 metres (Pace Setters),” Behl said.
At the Independence Games, in the 100 metres preliminary Heat 3 for Men, Miguel Charlery ran 11.02 seconds for 1st place and went on to finish 6th overall in the finals with a time of 11.00 seconds. In the 200 metres Preliminaries Heat 3, he finished 1st in a time of 22.11 seconds; while in the finals he was second across the finish line in a time of 22.13 seconds.
The Under 17 boys 100 metres: 10.72 seconds; Under 20 boys 10.43 seconds. For the 200 metres U17 boys 21.61 seconds and U20 boys 21.12 seconds are the proposed SLAA Standards for CARIFTA Games 2020-2021.
Also at the Independence Games, in the Discus Throw, Joy Edward threw 31.73 metres. The SLAA Proposed Standards for CARIFTA Games 2020 -2021 for U17 girls are 39.62 metres, U20 girls 42.85 metres.
In the girls long Jump Aaliyah Estaphor 5.61 metres for the gold medal and Kereser Augustin 5.60 metres for the silver. The SLAA Proposed Standard for CARIFTA Games 2020 – 2021: U17 girls 5.74 metres; U20 girls 5.87 metres.
Girls high jump, SLAA proposed standard for CARIFTA Games 2020 – 2021: U17 girls 1.66 metres; U20 girls 1.72 metres.
In the girls 100 metres, Naomi London in the preliminary round Heat 1 – 12.55 seconds for first place; she went on to win the finals in a time of 12.37 seconds.
Other qualifying standards: Girls 200 metres U17 – 24.02 seconds; U20 – 23.82 seconds. Boys 400 metres U17 – 48.57 seconds; U20 – 47.00 seconds; Girls U17 – 55.00 seconds; U20 – 54.51 seconds.
Boys 800 metres U17- 2:03.04 seconds; U20 – 1 minute 53.00 seconds; Girls U17 – 2:15.00 seconds; U20 – 2:13.00 seconds. Boys 1500 metres U17 – 4:12.00; U20 – 4:03.00; Girls U17 – 4:52.00 seconds; U20 – 4:56.00 seconds
Boys High Jump U17 – 1.97 metres, U20 – 2.08 metres; Girls 1.66 metres, U20 – 1.72 metres. Boys long jump U17 -6.91 metres, U20 -7.30 metres. Boys Triple Jump U17 – 14.46 metres, U20 – 15.32 metres. Boys Shot Putt U17- 13.92 metres, U20 – 17.26 metres. Girls U17 – 13.60 metres, U20 – 13.21 metres. Boys Discus U17 – 47.20 metres, U20 – 51.80. Boys Javelin U17 – 58.06 metres; U20 – 62.59 metres. Girls U17 – 39.92 metres, U20 – 40.14 metres.
Girls Heptathlon – 4466 points; Boys Octathlon – 5236 points.
Speaking at the SLAA Awards, President Cornelius Breen said, “The 2020 track season commenced on December 7th, 2019. This was part of our thrust for change and to provide more opportunities for our athletes as we are demanding more from them”
He continued, “We want to change their mindset and way of thinking from focusing not only locally but beyond our borders as there is a need to increase the number of our athletes who compete regionally and internationally and most of all to increase the tally of medals”.
