BASSETERRE, St. Kitts -THE track at the Silver Jubilee Stadium was left smoking yesterday (Jun. 22) following some sizzling performances by the Federation’s top athletes at the National Invitational and Club Championships.
The day however went to Jason Rogers and Antoine Adams, who once again thrilled the audience with another scintillating performance in the Male 100m Final as they did last year.
Shortly before the race began, tension at the Silver Jubilee Stadium reached boiling point with many in the Stands unable to sit while some wanted to record the performance on their phones, tablets and cameras.
Rogers got out the blocks with a lightening start and was seemingly running away with the race, but a strong finish by Adams clipped him at the line to successfully defend his 100 metre title for the third consecutive year.
Adams won that race in 10.01 seconds while Rogers clocked 10.04 and Brijesh Lawrence came in third with 10.16 seconds.
Preceding that race however was another tight one in the Female 100m, when a battle ensued between Meritzer Williams and Maricia Pemberton with both of them matching each other stride for stride and leaving the photo finish to determine the winner.
Pemberton was however declared the winner in 11.49 seconds, edging out Williams by 0.02 seconds.
Adams also won the Male 200m and set a new National Record of 20.08 seconds as he strolled to the finish line in an easy victory. His record is also the fifth fastest time in the world for 2014.
In the Male Shot Put, Dion Warde set a new record of 14.86m, eclipsing the 23-year-old record of 14.73m set in 1991 by Berkeley; while Stavia Lewis’ throw of 40.40 metres in the Female Discuss eclipsed her own National Record set last year.
The other record for the day was championed by Oneil Thomas who won the Male 400m Hurdles in 53.04seconds.
Kristal Liburd won the Female Long Jump with a distance of 6.11m, which is also a qualifier for the IAAF World Junior Championships.
In celebration of Olympic Day 2014, which is observed the world over on June 23, the track and field officials and some of the national netballers ran one lap around the track before the Olympic Day Message was delivered by youth Olympian Akeem Chumney.
The Federation’s Youth Olympic team was also announced, which will feature both track and field athletes as well as those competing in table tennis.
Yesterday also saw a number of junior athletes participating in exhibition races, as they prepare for various meets to be staged later this year.
