Akira Malaver of Holy Faith Convent-Penal, Kadeem Chinapoo (St Benedict's College) and Omari Brown (Carapichaima East Secondary) were the stand-out performers on the first day of the Cedenio/Richards/Borel South Central Regional Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, Port-of-Spain on Wednesday.
The trio won their events with commanding performances attaining the standards for the National Secondary Schools Track and Field Finals on February 20 and 21 and also surpassing the qualifying marks for this year's Carifta Games set for Grenada from March 30 to April 1.
Malaver retained the girls' Under-17 400m crown in 56.03 seconds to better the National Finals barrier of 58.00 and the Carifta mark of 57.54. The 2023 North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) U-18 Championships Girls 4x100m gold medallist dipped under the Carifta for the second time this season after she clocked 56.33 at the NAAA Development Meet 1 on January 7. She will be seeking to retain her regional 200m title later Thursday.
Chinapoo topped the boys' U-17 100m field with a 10.77 clocking in winning the first of seven sections. The 2023 NACAC U-18 Boys 4x100m champion easily dipped under the National Finals 11.45 and Carifta 11.03 asking time. Justin Dowridge of Gasparillo Secondary also zoomed under the standard, clocking 11.19 to finish second-best.
Brown sped to victory in the boys' U-17 110m hurdles in 14.62 seconds impressively clearing the barriers to go under the national mark of 16.00 and the Carifta 14.78 standard.
Mc Kale Mohammed of St Benedict's was a double winner taking the boys' 17 and over 100m (10.72) and long jump (6.66m). He got past the 10.93 and 6.40m National Championships standards, respectively.
In the 100m, Mohammed, who turns 20 in August, pulled the Presentation College duo of Jayden Clement (10.81) and Mikhael Byer (10.89) went faster than the standard.
Zada Martin of Naparima Boys led the top four finishers in the boys' U-15 100m under the 12.85 National Final standard. Martin was the quickest in 12.26, ahead of Jonathan Huggins of Vessigny Secondary (12.48), Cowen Hamilton Secondary's Terrel Thomas (12.74) and Darius Fraser of Gasparillo Secondary (12.72).
Kaylon George of St Benedict's, Kewes Gomes of Holy Faith Couva, San Fernando, and Central Secondary's Charisi Charles all secured spots in the National Finals. George claimed the boys' Open Hammer in 24.45m to go beyond the 20.00 standard. Ethan Adonis of Cunupia Secondary (19.07) claimed silver ahead of George's schoolmate Jaden Grant (18.81. Gomez took home the girls' 17 and over 100m hurdles in 16.66 (standard-16.00) while Charles beat the the field in the boys' U-15 400m in 54.81, to go almost three seconds faster than the 57.50 standard.
Point Fortin East Secondary sixth-former Diamond Paul defended her girls' 17 and over 400m (1:02.06) and long jump (5.03) titles. Paul will be going for the 200m title Thursday to match the triple success she had in 2023 when she attended Holy Name Convent-Point Fortin.
Sinead Vina Perez of St Joseph's Convent- San Fernando captured the first title of the day when she retained the girls' Open hammer gold medal with a 13.56m effort.
The action continues Thursday, the second and final day with boys' Open 5,000m, boys' and girls' 17 and over javelin, long jump (boys' and girls' U-17), boys' U-15, girl' U-17, boys' U-15 shot put, girls' U-15 long jump, boys' and girls' U-17, boys' U-15 discus, girls' U-15 javelin, 400m hurdles, 800m, 200m (all age group), 1,500m walk and pole vault (Boys' and Girls' Open), boys' U-17 and 17 and over, girls' Open triple jump, girls' U-17 high jump, girls' Open 3,000m and the complete of the girls' U-15 triathlon.
The first event (Boys' Open 5,000m) is scheduled to get underway at 9 am, Thursday.
The Richards/Cedenio/Borel South Regional Championship is one of three qualifying meets for students seeking to compete in the National Secondary Schools Championships at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
The Walcott/Lendore/North Regionals are carded for January 30 and 31 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium while the Stewart/Quow/Baptiste Tobago Regionals are set for the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet is scheduled for February 7-8.
