Bahamas, and Grenada - national championships - reports

Last weekend, Bahamas held their National “Open” Championships  (20 June), and Grenada their Nationals Championships on Saturday. Respectively, Alpheus Finlayson & Terry Finisterre report for the IAAF.

Sturrup and Demeritte win the Century
As Bahamian Nationals Move to Grand Bahama

Bahamian National Record holder Chandra Sturrup easily handled the field at the Bahamas National “Open” Championships, last Friday evening, 20 June in Freeport, Grand Bahama. This was the first time that the National “Open” was being held outside of Nassau.

Sturrup, the 2001 IAAF World Indoor 60m sprint queen, who had run sparingly so far this season, demonstrated that she is definitely ready when she ran 11.01 to defeat Debbie Ferguson, who was named Commonwealth Female Athlete of the Year for her superb 2002 season. Newcomer Timica Clarke who became the new 'Golden Girl', when she stepped into the 400m relay squad which won the Commonwealth Games, was third in 11.44 a personal best. Clarke, attends Auburn University.

Double sprint winner at the NCAA Division II Championships, Shandria Brown placed fourth in 11.60, with IAAF World Indoor 400m silver medallist Christine Amertil fifth in 11.67.

There was no surprise in the men’s 100m. Dominic Demeritte, the IAAF World Indoor 200m bronze medallist finished in 10.26, ahead of newcomer Dereck Adkins, who clocked 10.37.

In the 200m, Debbie Ferguson withstood a challenge from Tonique Williams and Christine Amertil. Ferguson, the 2002 IAAF World Cup 200m winner and 2001 World Championships silver medallist won in 22.95, in the rain. Williams, who was disqualified in the 400m in Birmingham but held the second fastest 400m time this season (50.39), finished in a personal best of 23.18. Amertil finished third in 23.24.

Demeritte who holds the national record in the 200m finished in 20.61, well ahead of Troy McIntosh, who ran 21.01.

In the men’s 400m the anticipated showdown between 2001 World Champion Avard Moncur and Chris Brown did not materialise. At the start Brown raised his hand indicating he was not set to run. This was simultaneous to the start of the gun, allowing the race to be run without Brown. McIntosh, the former National record holder won his first round heat in 46.65 but did not run the semi-final, choosing to run the 200m instead.

Moncur won in 45.62 over Dennis Darling who is making a comeback. Darling who earlier this year was married to Tonique Williams, placed second in 46.29 sec. Darling ran 45.83 in the semi-final. Relay runner Carl Oliver finished third in 46.37, while Nathaniel Mc Kinney placed fourth in 46.70 sec.

In the field events, Jackie Edwards managed 6.59 m in the Long Jump with Daphne Sunders, former LSU NCAA Champ on a comeback trail second in 5.93m.

NCAA Champion Leevan Sands won his event in 7.80m as Osbourne Moxey, last year’s NACAC Under 25 Champion placed second in 7.73m.

Commonwealth Games Champion Lavern Eve, who had competed sparingly this season, won the Javelin with a 60.92m effort.

The Bahamian team now looks forward to the Central American and Caribbean Championships scheduled for Grenada from July 4th to 6th. The Bahamas intends have its best run the four relays in preparation for Paris.

Alpheus Finlayson for the IAAF

Alleyne Shines in Grenada

The overseas-based athletes put on quite a show at Saturday's (21 June) Grenada National Championships. Sponsored by Cable & Wireless Grenada, the meet featured the island's only professional competitor, World Championship men's 400m finalist Alleyne Francique, along with current collegiate stars such as Hazelann Regis, Neisha Bernard-Thomas and Bruce Swan. The island's top junior athletes, such as Sherry Fletcher and Joel Philip also came out in force.

But the day belonged to the likes of Alleyne Francique, competing for Nike International. The former Louisiana State University runner is one of the world's ten fastest men over a quarter-mile this year. With the Central American and Caribbean Championships to be held in his hometown 4-6 July, Alleyne threw down the gauntlet for his potential rivals on Saturday, with a comfortable run of 45.89 seconds to win that event. He doubled in the men's 200m, an event in which he has not competed for some time, but a healthy winning run of 20.83 seconds - Swan was second in 20.91 - will have heartened him.

Regis won the women's 400m, the 22-year-old clocking a comfortable 52.51 to finish ahead of Bernard-Thomas, her fellow junior at LSU. Also on the track, Swan crossed the line in 10.33 seconds to win the men's 100m dash, but with a massive trailing wind of 4.5 metres per second. Central Arizona College freshman Alleyne Lett ran for his high school team, St. David's Catholic Secondary, winning the 11om hurdles in 14.20 seconds. His SDCSS and CAC teammate, Jackie-Ann Morain won the women's 400m Hurdles in 1:02.19, whilst another CAC student athlete, Shane Charles (Falcons) clocked 54.13 for the men's 400 Hurdles.

Trevor Modeste and Mike Modeste (Royal Grenada Police Force) saved their best for last in the men's Javelin Throw. Trevor won the event with a last gasp effort of 62.90m, beating Mike's penultimate throw of 61.64m into second place. Nathalia Vincent (44.68m) and Kathy-Ann Gilchrist (44.56m) recorded their best throws early, in the first and second efforts of their respective series.

Tarah Ross, an 18-year-old from SDCSS, pushed the Shot 13.05m to win that event easily. Alleyne Lett, a one-time combined events athlete, also won the men's Discus Throw with a mark of 49.74m, one of just two legal throws from him.

Joel Philip was twice the bridesmaid in the men's jumps. Just 16 years old, Joel posted 7.02m and 1.90m efforts for the men's Long Jump and High Jump, finishing second each time. Wayne McSween (7.27m) and Garvin Peters (2.05m) were the winners in those two events. Patricia Cornwall  (Ace AC) cleared 5.63m for the women's Long Jump.

Terry Finisterre for the IAAF