Athletes heat up the track at National Championships

Hurdlers Kierre Beckles and Shane Brathwaite along with sprinter Mario Burke took the spotlight at the Barbados National Championships on Saturday at the National Stadium when they bothqualified for the Commonwealth Games.

Brathwaite, who has been on the Diamond League circuit had a steady rhythm over the hurdles but left nothing for granted in a very close race and he leaned at the line to win in 13.52 secs just shy of the World Championships qualifying time of 13.48 secs. Brathwaite has run 13.25 secs in Stockholm but the wind was +3.5. The time qualifies him for the Common Wealth games.

Second at the National Championships was Eddie Lovett (13.53secs) and third was Ramon Sosa Jr (14.26secs).

In the women’s Kierre Beckles was running well until she struck the second last hurdle but was still composed enough to win the race in 13.15 secs and dip well below the Commonwealth standard of 13.40 secs.

Second went to Lavonne Idlette (13.53 secs) and third was Ayanna Morgan (13.77 secs)

One of the eagerly anticipated events of the night was the men’s and women’s 100m final.

Everyone would have had their eyes on Levi Cadogan who was returning from an injury, Mario Burke and Burkheart Ellis Jr.

As they stormed down the track it looked as though Cadogan was still in the middle of the pack and struggling to come to the front. This was not the case for Burke who recognised with about 15 metres to go that he was all alone and began the celebrations long before crossing the line.

Burke stopped the clock in 10.17 secs to qualify for Commonwealth Games.

Second went to Ellis Jr in 10.27 secs, while Stephen Headley was third (10.40 secs). Cadogan (10.42 secs) had to settle for fourth whch was decided by photo finish between Cadogan and Jaqoune Hoyte (10.42 secs).

In the women’s 100m Jade Bailey was behind Tristan Evelyn and Myasia Jacobs initially but stormed through to win in 11.39 secs and win the race as well as qualify for the Commonwealth Games.

Jacobs was second in 11.57 secs and Evelyn third in 11.59 secs.

Moments before Darian Clarke stormed down the track to easily win the Under-18 100m in a time of 10.71 secs from Julian Forde (10.85 secs) and Michael Patrick (11.12 secs).

A new National Championship record was set by Daquan Clarke in the Under-15 when he won in 11.47 secs to replace the old record of 11.81 secs set by Josian Atkins in 2013.

In the 400m Kyle Gale (48.63 secs) left it for the final 100m to haul in Delano Wickham (49.04 secs) who was on his outside and stormed out for a sizeable lead over the field but did not have enough in the final metres to hold on for the victory. Third was Raheem Taitt Best (50.05 secs).

It was a lonely race for Tianna Bowen in the women’s 400m as she took to the front early and went on to win in 55.96 secs. Second was Akeilia Knight in 60.62 secs.

Joshua Walcott went all out over the first 300m in the men’s division. Walcott went like a bullet down the back straight to took hold of the race leading by a comfortable margin. In the home straight he straight to tie up but his advantage was enough for him to win in 46.84 secs. Second was a fast closing Antoni Hoyte-Small in 47.45secs, while Deshon Trent was third in 48.20secs.

Jonathan Jones won the 1500m open race in 3:55.08 from Joshua Hunte who clocked 3:57.32.

Tristan Whitehall set a championship record of 54.53m in the men’s discus to replace the old record of 49.42m set in 2001 by Dave Taylor. He national record I also held by Whitehall which is 55.61m set this year.(CG)