media_artricles :: 2016

Future stars on show at Secondary Schools Champs

APPROXIMATELY 600 of Trinidad and Tobago's top junior athletes are set to battle over two days of exciting action in the 2016 National Secondary Secondary Schools Athletic Championships which are set for the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo today and tomorrow.

Competing under the theme "Fire On The Tracks", the athletes will be representing their schools and districts in 104 events. Tobago is the defending zonal champions after taking the overall trophy in 2015 with North East, Port of Spain and Environs, St George East, St Patrick, Victoria, Caroni and South East following behind.

The athletes will compete in the Under-14, U-16, U-18 and Over- 18 age classes in the following events - 100-metres, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m, 5000m, 100m/110m hurdles, 300m/400m hurdles, 4x100m, 4x400m (track); shot put, discus, javelin, long jump, high jump, triple jump (field).

The Tobago competitors are eyeing their 26th straight victory and will have Carifta gold medallists Tyriq Horsford (Signal Hill Secondary) and Akanni Hislop (Bishops High) in their line-up. Horsford retained the boys Under-18 javelin gold medal at this year's Carifta Games in Grenada with a mammoth record throw of 73.00m while Hislop raced to the boys Under- 20 200m top prize to add to the Under-18 gold won in 2015.

At last year's Secondary Schools Champs Horsford took the boys Under-18 discus and javelin gold medals but may just compete in the javelin this year. He was the Top Male Athlete (Victor Ludorum) at the 2012 meet when he won four individual titles. Hislop may race over the 200m only at Carifta he may vie for the 100m and 200m double as he won both events at the Tobago zonals.

Port of Spain and Environs Zone and North East have the only other zones to finish in the top three in recent years and will be will be aiming to upset Tobago's unbeaten run.

With seven Carifta medallists in their contingent and 12 members who made the trip to Grenada, Port of Spain were the last zone to beat Tobago doing so way back in 1992.

Former Carifta champion Jeminise Parris (St Francois Girls) took bronze in the girls Under-20 100m hurdles while she and Renee Stoddard (Providence Girls) helped the girls Under-20 4x100m to bronze.

Parris will be heavy favourite for the girls Over-18 100m/400m hurdles while Stoddard is tipped for the girls Over-18 200m and 400m sprints.

Last year's Victor Ludorum and this year's Carifta selectee Avindale Smith (formerly of Arima Central of the North East Zone) is now wearing the colours of Queen's Royal College. Smith will vie for gold in the boys Under-16 100m, 200m and high jump. QRC will also have fellow Carifta picks Clement Campbell and Josiah Edwards who will look to sweep the boys Under-18 long jump and triple jumps.

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