media_artricles :: 2014

Harris, Thompson star on Hampton’s opening day

Guyanese-born American sprinter Adam Harris captured the blue riband men’s Invitational 100 metres event at the 2014 Hampton International Games when he powered down the mondo track at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain to stop the clock at 10.12 seconds.

Harris, representing Codrington Elite Athletics Club of the USA, improved on the 10.29 clocking he produced over the same surface last month in copping Falcon Games 100m gold, to repel the challenges of Cuba’s Yasniel Carrero, 10.33, and Steve Slowly of Jamaica, 10.40.

In the women’s Invitational 100m, Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson produced a fast 11.23 seconds clocking to grab gold ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s Kamaria Durant, 11.39, and Alexis Love of the USA, 11.55. The three runners matched each other stride for stride over the first 60 metres of the event but Thompson would gradually assert her authority to prevail from the gallant Durant with Love back in third.

Kentoine Browne of Pacers Track Club’s won gold in the boy’s U-18 100-metre event when he repelled the challenges of Abilene Wildcats’ Corey Stewart and McKish Compton of St Vincent. Browne returned in 11.03 seconds with Stewart and Compton registering times of 11.09 and 11.11, respectively.

And in the girl’s version, Neon Trackers Jenea Spinks took gold in 11.97 seconds. Concorde’s Nikit Paul produced 12.11 for silver with bronze going to Jada Barker of Cougars, who returned in 12.15.

Kendis Bullard led a Defence Force one-two en route to capturing men’s 1,500 metres gold. Bullard and compatriot George Smith led from the off with Smith dictating the early running while Bullard was content to sit in just behind the pacesetter. At the bell they would increase the tempo to but some distance between them and the chasing pack.

Bullard, however, would deliver his challenge 150 metres from home to prevail in a spirited stretch duel. He stopped the clock at three minutes, 59.77 seconds while Smith returned in 4:00.19.

Abilene Wildcat’s Jacob St Clair was made to dig deep by Kashief King of Point Fortin New Jets to win the Boy’s U-18 400 metres event.

The pair became engaged in a protracted duel down the homestretch with St Clair just edging ahead close homes. The winner returned a time of 48.26 seconds with King taking silver in 48.36 and Memphis’ Kobe John snaring bronze in 49.99.

And Jevina Simpson and Natricia Hooper won gold and silver for Guyana's Running Brave in the Girl’sU-18 400. Sampson produced a winning time of 55.72 seconds while Hooper stopped the clock at 57.25. Bronze went to Jeminise Parris of Memphis who returned in 57.50

In action away from the track, national shot put record holder Akeem Stewart captured gold in his pet event when he produced a best effort of 17.93 metres. The Tobago Falcons athlete had to stave off the challenge of Rebirth’s Hezekiel Romeo who took silver with a distance of 17.24m. Bronze went to UWI’s Kesean Phillips who threw the ball 15.62m.

French Guiana’s Alais Alexie struck gold for the regional contingent with a comfortable win in the women’s javelin event. Alexie threw the spear 49.92 metres with Darlene Lewis of UWI, 39.78m, and Petrotrin’s Gwendolyn Smith, 38.91m, taking silver and bronze, respectively.

And D’Abadie Progressive’s Shaiann Charles was the winner of the women’s discus. She produced a best effort of 38.80 metres with silver going to Kieanne Blackman of Memphis, 26.69m, and Dover’s Nikita Colthrust bagged bronze with a throw of 25.78m.

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