Signal Hill’s Horsford stars with four golds on first day

Tyriq Horsford of Signal Hill Secondary (Tobago) was the star on the opening day of the Ministry of Education Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, yesterday, after he won four titles.

Horsford’s success came in the boys under-15 80 metres hurdles, long jump, javelin and 100 metres events. 

The 13-year-old first won the hurdles event with a late surge in 11.12 seconds, edging out the early leader Tyrell Edwards (Toco Secondary/North East) 11.14. Another Tobago athlete, Anson Moses of Bishop’s, was third with 13.71. 

Horsford returned to take the U-15 javelin with a distance of 49.91m ahead of Kiel McNeil (Holy Cross/North East) 32.96m and Jonathan Ramsa (St Benedics/Victoria) 31.67m and then the U-14 long jump with a distance of 5.64m with Josiah Edwards (QRC-POS) took the silver and Moses another bronze (4.86). The lanky athlete copped the U-14 100m race in 11.87, late yesterday.

Horsford’s medal haul was among 11 by athletes from perennial champion, Tobago, up to press time. 

Carifta champions Mark London and Kenejah Williams were also winners. London (Bishop’s/Tobago) sprinted away from the field in the boys U-20 1500m in the final lap to cross the line ahead of Akeem Marshall (Toco Secondary/North East) and Jovon Joseph (Sixth Form-POS) in a repeat of the finish at last week’s Carifta trials. 

Williams (Scarborough Secondary/Tobago) landed the boys U-20 shot put with a distance of 14.91m..

Other winners included Shanua Sutherland (Bishop East-St George East) in the girls U-15 Discus (23.26), Aeisha Colthrust (Holy Faith, Couva- Caroni) in the girls U-20 long jump (5.40), Shainn Charles (El Dorado West Sec-St George East) in the girls U-17 discus (35.97) and Kerchell Douglas (Toco Secondary-North East) in the girls U-20 high jump (1.65).

Also in the girls U-17 long jump, Alisha St Louis of St Francois Girls, Port-of-Spain, leaped to victory in 4.96, Makefa John (Pt Fortin West Sec-St Patrick) girls U-14 shot put (10.27), Dillon Pierre (Trinity College-POS) in boys U-17 100m hurdles (15.61) and Elroy Serapio (Toco Secondary-North East) in the boys U-20 high jump (1.95). 

The day’s performances were marred by lengthy delays between events, and a lack of communication. The traditional march past started more than an hour late and the heats of the 400m were run off late in the afternoon, some four hours after the scheduled start. 

There were complaints of late changing of entries which, according to officials, contributed to the delays. Another official, who did not want to be identified, stated that the late arrangements with the National Association for Athletic Administration (NAAA) to do the timing of events was a major factor in the problems experienced. The annual two-day meet has been plagued in recent years with delays and lack of spectators. 

The meet continues today from 9.30 am, commencing with the 300/400m hurdles, 1500m walks, 200m, 8000m, 3000m, 5000m and the 4x400m relays.