Kuron Griffith continues to impress

Quantum Leaps’ Kuron Griffith has done it.

Running in the final Heat of the men’s 200m at the Athletics Association of Barbados May Classic track and field meet, Griffith dipped below the qualifying mark for the NACAC Under-23, when he stopped the clock at 20.99 secs.

Running out of Lane 2 at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex at The University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus, Griffith was one of the few that had the wind in their favour as it was a tailwind of 1.5 instead of the normal headwind that the athletes had encountered throughout the last few weeks.

Despite the tighter turn for the tall sprinter, Griffith had made up the stagger on most of the athletes by midway of the bend. When he turned for the straight, it was him against the clock.

Knowing the time he had to beat, he pushed and dipped at the line as winning was not his only goal. The qualifying time for the NACAC Under-23 is 21.00 secs.

Second in the race was Raheem Taitt-Best (21.88 secs), but overall he was third as Shaquan Boyce, who won his heat, was second overall with a time of 21.72 secs.

Griffith completed the sprint double yesterday as he won the 100m earlier in the day. However, he once again missed out on qualifying in the 100m as he ran 10.58 secs into a headwind of -1.9 m/s.

Griffith was in Lane 3 of the final of six heats in the 100m men’s race and was seen practising his reaction while he waited on the race before and listened to the starter’s instruction and the gun.

When it was his turn, he settled into his blocks, rocked from side to side and then steadied himself. Despite his earlier rehearsal, Griffith did not get the best start but was soon leading the race.

Knowing he was racing the clock more than he was racing the other athletes in the field, he dipped at the line and the flash time of 10.60 secs showed up to be corrected to 10.58 secs. It means he is still in search of a 100m time of 10.46 secs or faster to qualify in this event for the NACAC Under-23.

Layla Haynes showed her performance in the Women’s 1500m was no fluke, once again winning and also dipping below the Under-18 NACAC qualifying time of 4:55.00. Haynes won in a time of 4:43.12, which was just outside the Under-20 Pan Am Juniors qualifying time of 4:42.00.

In the women, Ayanna Morgan was the winner in 12.43 secs, avenging her lost the last time out when she finished fourth.

Kierre Beckles was second in 12.56 secs, while Tionce Walrond was third in 12.68 secs. Amani Kimon, who won the 100m last time out in 12.48 secs, was fourth on Saturday in 12.76 secs.

Asia Foster completed the double, winning the women’s 400m in 57.25 secs ahead of Shadae Worrell (57.43 secs). Foster also won the 200m, clocked at 25.82 secs ahead of  Amani Kimon (26.25 secs) and Worrell (26.39 secs).

In the boys’ Under-17 100m, the battle was between Aragorn Straker and Jaquan Pilgrim. At the Back on Track meet, it was Pilgrim who won in 11.53 secs from Straker who clocked 11.64 secs. However, on Saturday at the May Classic, the tables were turned with Straker winning in 11.56 secs, while Pilgrim had to settle for second in 11.85 secs.

In the 200m, it was Josiah Parris (22.32 secs) who won ahead of Straker (22.66 secs), while Nathan Brathwaite was third in the 200m (23.57 secs) and 100m (11.88secs). Pilgrim was fourth in the 200m (23.65 secs).

Parris also won the 400m in 50.26 secs to complete the double.

Kishwana Niles was the winner in the girls’ Under-17 400m in 62.97 secs ahead of Tianna Applewhaite (64.46 secs) and Jahzara Holford (64.98 secs).

Niles also won the 200m (26.02 secs) ahead of Chrisaria Ballantyne (27.27 secs) and Danae Niles (27.30 secs).

E Pierre-Greene once again completed the sprint double, winning the 200m (24.49 secs) and the 100m (12.16 secs) ahead of Ethan Hart (200m – 24.67 secs, 100m – 12.38 secs).

There were no double winners in the sprints in the Under-15 girls. Ariel Archer won the 200m (26.20 secs) from Tia Applewhite (27.23 secs) and Tania Applewhite (27.31 secs).

Kadia Rock was the 400m winner in 58.43 secs ahead of Archer (58.64 secs).

Azara Husbands, who was fourth in the 200m (27.32 secs), was the winner of the 100m (13.40 secs) ahead of Tania Applewhite (13.60 secs) and Tia Applewhite (13.62 secs).

Expectedly Kierre Beckles won the women’s hurdles in 14.12 secs, but has her work ahead of her if she is to reach the Olympic qualifying mark, which stands below 13 secs.