Tia, Tania Applewhaite dominate on the track

THE Wonder Twins of Combermere School, Tia and Tania Applewhaite stood a cut above the rest when they competed at the National Stadium for the BNOCL Frank Blackman Zone of the Powerade Barbados Secondary Schools Athletic Championships.

Proving their Primary School results on the track were not a fluke they have transitioned to the Secondary School in the same dominant form.

Each time they stepped on the track for the Under-13 Girls’ Division they won their Heats and as a result placed one, two in the time final.

On the first day, they both went below the previous Zone record in the 200 metres which was 27 seconds. The winner was Tia with a time of 26.05 seconds, while Tania was second in 26.62 secs.

They both returned on the second day refreshed and ready to go and in the 100 metres they won their respective heats and once again both were below the previous zone record of 13.07 secs. However this time it was Tania with the faster time of 12.97 secs that took the victory, while Tia had to settle for second with a time of 13.03 secs.

Their final individual event on the track for the twin was the 400 metres which went according to plan, this time it was Tania with the victory in 61.80 secs winning her heat. Tia who also won her heat had to settle for second with a time of 63.38 secs..

They combined for the 4x100m Under-13 relay and it was the only time they did not claim a Zone record as they finished an impressive three seconds ahead of the field in a time of 53.12 secs.

With the lively and vocal crowd behind the athletes 17 Zonal records fell on day two to add to the 18 Zone records on day one with most of the Schools in the stands finding some type of organic instrument to drum on.

Leading the chats and the cheers were Queen’s College and Combermere as they started early in the morning and continued even after the last relay was completed.

Of the records that fell there were four over BSSAC records that came tumbling down.

Skye Spencer Layne from the St. Michael School glided over the Junior Girls’ 76cm hurdles to crush the BSSAC record of 11.51 secs which was ten years old and set by Shakera Hall.

Spencer-Layne’s time was clocked at 11.35 secs as she finished ahead of Heat 2 winner and former Zone record holder Samiya Dell (SMS) who finished in 11.67 secs.

Spencer-Layne also won the Under-15 Girls’ 200m in 25.81 secs from Jahzara Holford (SMS) who clocked 25.85 secs.

The tables were turned in the 100m as it was Holford with the victory in her heat and in the times 12.68 secs, while Spencer-Layne who also won her heat had to settle for second in the times with 12.71 secs.

The other three records came when Ayden Greenidge from QC threw the 4kg Junior Shot Put 14.44m to replace the 24-year old BSSAC record set by Dwayne Beckles of 14.43 metres.

In the Under-20 Boys’ Triple Jump Jemuel Miller from Combermere with a leap, a hop and a skip of 15.64m replaced Nathan Crawford-Wallis BSSAC record which was set earlier this week of 15.57 metres.

Shanice Hutson continues to excel in the field this time she crushed the nine-year old record in the Under-20 Discus set by Leah Bannister of 42.71 metres with a new mark of 46.04 metres. (CG)

OVERALL POINTS STANDINGS

GIRLS

St. Michael School – 443

Combermere – 394.5

Springer Memorial – 312.5

Queen’s College – 221

Lodge School – 162

Alexandra School – 141

Ellerslie School – 94

Frederick Smith Secondary – 53.5

Graydon Sealy Secondary – 33

Grantley Adams – 18.5

Ursuline Convent – 18

BOYS

St. Michael School – 387

Combermere – 328

St. Leonard’s Boys’ – 291

Queen’s College – 268.5

Lodge School – 225

Alexandra School – 168

Ellerslie School – 134

Frederick Smith School – 60

Graydon Sealy Secondary – 44

Ursuline Convent – 24.5

Grantley Adams Memorial – 20

St. Winifred’s School – 2