Concorde's Paul dominates opening day of Juvenile Champs

MICHAL PAUL of Concorde Athletics Club showed off his multi-event athleticism when he powered to gold in three events on day one of the National Gas Company/Republic Bank/National Association of Athletics Administrations Juvenile Track and Field Championships at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on Saturday.

Paul proved a cut above the rest and topped the field in the boys’ Under-13 high jump, 80 metres hurdles and 400m.

The 10-year-old opened his account by leaping a height of 1.48m in the high jump. He bettered Zenith silver medallist Jesuron Woods (1.4m) and RSS Phoenix bronze receiver Donnell Stewart (1.35m).

Paul added his second gold when he clocked 13.13 seconds in the 80m hurdles. He cruised to the finish line ahead of runner-up Niyelle Alleyne (15.45s) of RSS Phoenix and third place Sean Hart (16.40s).

He completed a hat-trick of wins in the one-lap race, clocking one minute and five seconds. Lambeau Alliance’s Aiden Campbell (1:06.13) held on to second spot followed by Alleyne (1:07:96) in third.

Paul will be hoping to make another golden sweep when day two runs off on Sunday. He is scheduled for another busy day at the office as he lines up in the boys’ U-13 200m, 300m hurdles, 800m and long jump events.

Paul’s heroics on the opening day however, could not help his team maintain a strong position on the overall standings. After 27 events on day one, Concorde sat in eighth position with 38 points.

Heading into day two, Zenith Athletic Club (212 points) lead the rankings while RSS Phoenix (195pts) and Burnley Athletic Club (116pts) round off the top three. Cougars Track and Field (115pts) and Toco Tafac (72pts) are fourth and fifth respectively.

Meanwhile, also capturing double-gold was Cougars’ Seth Alexander. He won the boys’ U-11 80m and 800m.

In the 80m, the 12-year-old Alexander, clocked 11.44, followed by Abilene Wildcats’ Adon Barnwell (11.80) and Zenith’s Jaydon Edwards (11.85) respectively.

And, in the latter race, Alexander emerged victor in 2:59.02. He trumped Mason Hall’s Aliquan La Rosa (3:03.87), who bagged silver, and RSS Phoenix’s Jozheyah Andrews (3:04.01) in bronze position.

In the feature event, the boys U-13 100m, Cougars’ Josiah Rogers and Burnley’s Jayden Goodridge fought neck and neck til the end. Rogers (12.31) would snag gold ahead of Goodridge (12.32), with Siparia Athletics’ Kareem Charles (13.03) third.

In the women’s equivalent, Burnley’s Jael Peters (12.89) and the Zenith pair of Maliyah Cupid (13.25) and Daija Reid (13.51) were the top three in that order.

During the lunch break, NAAA president George Comissiong and general manager corporate and investment banking Richard Sammy officially declared the games open.

The pair also expressed their pleasure to once again host the first national championships since 2019, owing to the pandemic. This is Republic Bank’s fourth year of sponsorship.

OTHER RESULTS –

Girls –

U-11 long jump: 1. Shakeela Warrick (Mercury) 3.27m; 2. Je’Niyah Waldron (Zenith) 3.17m; 3. Aniyah Mohammed (Lambeau Alliance) 3.16m

U-11 800m: 1. Gloria Henry (RSS) 2:50.33; 2. Nashequa Samuel (RSS) 2:55.91; 3. Brittney Morgan (Cougars) 3:26.53

U-13 high jump: 1. Kenese Stewart (Mason Hall) 1.3m; 2. Maliyah Cupid (Zenith) 1.3m; 3. Destiny Silverthorn (Toco Tafac) 1.2m

U-13 shot put: 1. Daija Reid (Zenith) 6.61m; 2. Amaiyah Beckles (Mercury) 6.2m; 3. Kyla Jack (Cougars) 5.55m

U-13 60m hurdles: 1. La Queen Welch (Unattached) 14.00; 2. Tiquana Pierre (Toco Tafac) 14.05; 3. Serenity Nancis (RSS) 16.45

U-13 400m: 1. Reniece Smith (Burnley) 1:05.72; 2. Toniyah Boucher (Zenith) 1:08.24; 3. Chelsea Joseph (Point Fortin New Jets) 1:09.95

U-13 1000m: 1. Serenity Nancis (RSS) 3:59.31; 2. KenyaMuir (RSS) 4:01.52

Boys –

U-9 long jump: 1. Jhe-Armani Stewart (Zenith) 2.84m; 2. Kenai Reid (Zenith) 2.7m; 3. Kayden Young (Zenith) 2.5m

U-13 1000m: 1. J’Dani Williams 3:27.72; 2. Niyelle Alleyne 3:41.37; 3. Kerlon Henry 3:42.90 (all of RSS)

Mixed –

U-9 4x50m relay: 1. Lambeau Alliance 36.37; 2. Toco Tafac 38.45; 3. Burnley 40.28

U-11 4x100m relay: 1. Abilene Wildcats 59.93; 2. RSS Phoenix 1:01.30; 3. Zenith 1:03.65

U-13 4x100m relay: 1. Burnely 52.37; 2. Cougars 54.77; 3. Zenith 56.29.