media_artricles :: 2013

Farinha dominates at Junior Champs

Dominant half-lap runs from Jonathan Farinha, Jereem Richards and Kayelle Clarke were the highpoints on the second and final day of the National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) National Junior Track and Field Championships, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, yesterday.

Coming off the turn, the boys’ under-18 200 metres final seemed to be a battle of the Farinhas, Jonathan and his twin brother and Abilene Wildcats teammate, Nathan. However, Jonathan was in complete control on the straight, storming to victory in a fast 21.01 seconds.

Jonathan’s winning time was well inside the 21.40 World Youth Championship qualifying standard. It was the second time he bettered the mark, yesterday, the 17-year-old winning his semifinal heat in 21.37.

Nathan had topped his semi in 21.57 seconds, and then secured silver in the championship race in 21.67. Bronze went to Reberto Boyde, the St Vincent and the Grenadines sprinter getting to the line in 21.88.

In the boys’ under-20 200m final, Richards was just as dominant as Jonathan Farinha.

The Abilene athlete added the half-lap crown to his 400m title with an impressive 20.73 seconds run—well inside the 21.20 Pan American Junior Championship standard, but aided by an illegal 2.7 metres per second following wind.

Micah Ballantyne, of Alpha Athletics, picked up silver in 21.39, while Abilene’s Holland Cabara bagged bronze in 21.51.

Clarke enjoyed the most resounding 200m victory yesterday. The Petrotrin, Pointe-a-Pierre athlete stamped her class on the girls’ under-18 200m final early in the race, opening up many metres of daylight on the field, before motoring to the line in 23.84 seconds. While the run was faster than the 24.00 World Youth standard, Clarke had the benefit of an illegal 3.3 following wind.

Memphis Pioneers sprinter Astrid Casimire (25.18) and Abilene’s Jael Ferguson (25.31) earned silver and bronze, respectively.

Akeem Edwards was the only jumper to achieve a qualifying standard, yesterday. The Toco TAFAC athlete produced a 15.04 metres effort to top the boys’ under-20 triple jump field, his winning jump bettering the 15.00m Pan Am Juniors distance.

Kafil Edwards (13.89m), of Toco Titans, finished second.

Kenejah Williams outclassed his rivals in the boys’ under-18 shot put, the Tobago Falcons field athlete throwing the iron ball past the 17-metre mark with four of his six throws. His best effort came in the fifth round, Williams throwing 17.92m—22 centimetres better than the 17.70m World Youth standard.

Abilene’s Isaiah Taylor finished second with a 12.83m throw, while third spot was copped by Striders athlete, Maeil McAllister (12.10m).

Shakiel Waithe won the boys’ under-20 javelin, the Zenith Tobago thrower bettering the 61.00m Pan Am Juniors standard four times.

Waithe fouled his first attempt, but then produced a 62.17m effort in round two. He fouled again in the third round. In round four, Waithe landed the spear 63.46m—his best throw on the day. He followed up with a 61.13m effort, and then closed off with his second best throw in the competition—62.57m.

Carifta 2013 double gold medallist, Mark London did not achieve the one minute, 52.00 seconds Pan Am Juniors standard he was targeting in yesterday’s boys’ under-20 800m event. He had the satisfaction, though, of a big victory, the Zenith runner clocking 1:54.01, for a huge cushion on second-placed Jevon Joseph (1:59.08), of Air Bon Sonics. David Herbert (2:01.05), of Alpha Athletics, finished third.

London’s winning time at the Carifta Games, in Nassau, Bahamas, was 1:51.34.

And Akeem Marshall, the reigning Carifta champion in the boys’ under-20 5,000m, won that event yesterday in 16:48.73—well outside the 15:30.00 Pan Am Juniors standard.

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