Farinha, Frederick take national 200m crowns

Simplex sprinter Sole Frederick and IG Fastlane hurdler Jenna Thomas were the only two track athletes to achieve qualifying times for the World Athletics U20 Championships on the final day of this year’s NGC/Republic Bank NAAA National Championships at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo on June 30.

Eighteen-year old Frederick showed class in the women’s 200m final as she dominated the field from out of the blocks.

Frederick clocked a blistering 23.02s to win gold in commanding style ahead of the experienced Abilene Wildcats’ Reyare Thomas (23.69s), who claimed silver, and Concorde’s Caliyah Wallace (24.44s), who earned bronze.

Frederick dipped below the World U20 standard of 24.35 seconds.

The World Athletics U20 Champs runs off in Lima, Peru, from August 27-31.

In the men's equivalent, Olympian Jonathan Farinha, 28, won gold.

In the U20 girls 400m hurdles, IG Fastlane’s Thomas powered to victory in 1.00.66s. Her time bettered the World U20 Champs qualifying time of 1.01.00 and assured her a national spot for Lima.

Second-placed Natalia Eastman of RSS Phoenix earned silver in 1.08.00. Simplex’s Jillian Kidd was third in 1.09.43.

In what was considered the most tightly contested event on day thee, Cougars’ Kyrell Thomas sprinted to gold in the U20 boys 200m final. Thomas clocked a wind-assisted 21.17s, and finished witht the same time as runner-up Hakeem Chinapoo of Simplex.

Abilene Wildcats’ Daeshaun Cole finished third in 21.18s.

Similarly in the girls’ equivalent, the top four finishers recorded times under the World U20s 24.35s standard, but all their performances were wind-assisted and void from qualification.

Track Blazers’ Nicole Raye won in 23.50s, Point Fortin’s Kenniyah Guishard-Yearwood was second in 24.08s, Zenith’s Alexxe Henry third in 24.23s and Simplex’s Sierra Joseph fourth in 24.31s.

In the U17 girls 200m, event winner Ariana Raye of Track Blazers stopped the clock on 23.24s while Simplex’s Akira Malaver earned silver in 24.30s and Zenith’s Xiah Tobias claimed bronze in 25.22s.

Raye and Malaver’s times were below the World U20s standard, but with a high wind of 2.4 their results were not recognised as qualifying times.

In other earlier events, D’Abadie’s Zariah Pascall topped the field in the U17 girls 400m hurdles in 1.07.28. She was followed by RSS Phoenix’s Anastacia Gibbs (1.16.40) and Kimmyah Jack (1.20.95) respectively, rounding off the top three.

The women’s 400m hurdles was contested by Memphis Pioneers’ Chakiya Plummer only, and she timed 1.00.49.

RSS Phoenix produced a 1-2-3 finish in the U17 boys 400m hurdles as Shezlon Gordon (56.88s), Keron Daniel (58.49s) and Jhariel Williams swept the podium.

D’Abadie’s Jeremiah Francis won gold in the U20 boys 400m hurdles in 55.47s and finished well ahead of the eventual silver medallist Tishon Edwards (1.03.38).

Point Fortin New Jets’ Dorian Charles won gold in the men’s 400m hurdles in 53.46s. He beat to the line Abilene Wildcats’ Cheyne West (53.93s) and third-placed Tauren George (54.71s) of TT Defence Force.

Other Results:

Men’s Long Jump - 1. Kelsey Daniel (Kaizen Panthers) 7.20m, 2. Jean Jon Matthew (UWI) 6.97m, 3. Drew Anthony Wilson (Mercury) 6.64m.

Women’s Javelin 600g - 1. Natalie Dixon (TTPS) 36.50m, 2. Gwendolyn Smith (TTAMA) 33.01m.