It was the middle-distance runners, hurdlers and triple jumpers chance to test their skills at the National Gas Company (NGC) National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) series and Tafari Waldron, Dorian Charles and Lorenzo Luces, made the most of the opportunity. This was on Sunday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, Port-of-Spain.
Waldron of Cougars cruised to victory in the Boys Under-17 3,000 metres, crossing in nine minutes and 32.26 seconds to go drastically go under the proposed qualifying standard of 9.36.30 for the upcoming Carifta Games set to take place in Bermuda. The premier youth track and field event which is traditionally held during the Easter weekend was postponed to July due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Following Waldron to the line was Omarie Thompson (+one A Week) in a far-off second place with 10:58.04 and Amir Mathis (Tobago Select) in third spot with 11:37.35.
Charles of Point Fortin Net Jets (PFNJ) also went under the proposed standard (57.88) in the Boys U-17 400m hurdles event, clocking 57.61. He comfortably finished ahead of Kaiyin Morris of Cougars with 1:01.02.
Just as the first two test events, the meet featured a condensed track and field programme with events designed to minimise exposure of both athletes and officials.
Over on the field, Lorenzo Luces of Toco Tafac leaped 14.74m to win the boys Under-20 triple jump event ahead of Health Olympians' Jean-Jon Matthews (13.30m) and surpassed the proposed qualifying standard of 14.55m.
This was the NAAA's third test event as it continues to prepare to resume local track and field competitions. The local athletics season was brought to an abrupt end in the first quarter of last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
There was limited interaction between participants as athletes were limited to one event only and were required to vacate the Stadium immediately upon completion of their event.
According to the NAAA's meet schedule, the fourth test event is scheduled for this coming weekend at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Tobago.
Other results
High Jump
Men: 1 Kristian La Touche, (Memphis Pioneers) - 1.85m; 2 Anson Moses (Tobago Falcons) - 1.80m
Boys U-20: 1 Aaron Antoine (Neon Wolves) - 1.95m; 2 Kaleb Maynard (QRC) - 1.75m
Boys U-17: 1 Kimani Kent (Tobago Falcons) - 1.65m; Anthony Clement (Toco Tafac) - NH
Girls U-17: 1 Gianna Paul (Concorde) - 1.55m; Kernesha Shelbourne (Oasics) - NH
Triple Jump
Men (2.2 wind): 1 Kristopher La Touche (Memphis Pioneers) - 14.21m
Girls U-20: 1 Shade Guy (Toco Tafac) - 8.55m
Discus Throw
Men: 1 Christopher Crawford (Tobago Falcons) - 49.71m; 2 Joel Andrews (D'Abadie) - 32.85m
Boys U-20 : 1 Jaden James (Fatima College) - 45.62m; 2 Umar Sandy (Toco Tafac) - 43.35m; 3 Kenan Alexander (Health Olympians) - 31.55m
Girls U-20: 1 Allesha Lindsay (Tobago Falcons) - 34.30m; 2 Esther Irvine (Tobago Falcons) - 34.25m
Girls U-17: 1 Adriana Quamina (D'Abadie) - 31.45m; 2 Tshian Noray (Tobago Falcons) - 27.27m; 3 Kimani Duke (Tobago Falcons) - 21.15m
Boys U-17: 1 Isaiah Malchan (Toco Tafac) - 30.05m
100m Hurdles
Girls U-20: 1 Kayla Caesar (+one A Week) - 17.96; 2 Jinell Campbell (Mason Hall) - 24.93
Girls U-17: 1 Gianna Paul (Concorde) - 15.24; 2 Fatima Springer (Cougars) - 17.19; 3 Aalisha Jones (Oasics) - 20.84
110m Hurdles
Men (4.2 wind): 1 Anson Moses (Tobago Falcons) - 15.68
Boys U-20: 1 Obi Edwards (FAS) - 15.81
Boys U-17: 1 Kimani Kent (Tobago Falcons) - 15.91; 2 Danion Williams (Mason Hall) - 20.13; 3 Jaqwuan Fraser (Mason Hall) - 20.25
800m
Men: 1 Genesis Joseph (Health Olympians) - 1:56.27; 2 Raphael James (Tobago Select) - 1:59.56; 3 Donnell Francis (MAP) - 2:01.04
Boys U-20: 1 Cyril Sumner (Memphis) - 1:58.90; 2 Roshane Symister (Tobago Select) - 2:03.04; 3 Ethan Forde (Cougars) - 2:03.10
Girls U-20: 1 Arlette Ollivierre (Tobago Select) - 2:36.73; 2 Octavia Cambridge (Cougars) - 3:00.79
Boys U-17: 1 Jahfa Woodley (Memphis) - 2:04.66; 2 Zeke Mottley (Cougars) -2:05.37; 3 Ryan Joseph (Phoenix Athletics) - 2:11.77
Girls U-17: 1 Kayleigh Forde (Cougars) - 2:28.22; 2 Kernesha Shelbourne (Oasics) - 2:35.00; 3 Rasheeda Cave (Rss Phoenix) - 2:36.01
3,000m
Men: 1 Nicholas Romany (TTRRC) - 9:16.79; 2 James Phillip (TTRRC) - 9:49.92; 3 Kibwe Cromwell (UTT) - 10:58.13
Women: 1 Josanne Antoine (Toco Tafac) - 20:43.87
Boys U-20: 1 Khadeem John (+one A Week) - 9:57.08; 2 Nkosi Toney (Tobago Select) - 9:59.67; 3 Jordan Ross (Fire Fitness) - 10:03.08
Girls U-20: 1 Zahra Gaskin (Fire Fitness) - 12:38.43
Girls U-17: 1 Melania Nanton (Rjr) - 12:56.94; 2 Chelsea Fuller (Phoenix Athletics) - 14:56.88
400m Hurdles
Boys U-20: 1 Brian Morris (Cougars) - 59.95; 2 Keiel Yearwood (Tobago Select) - 1:00.65; 3 Kai Martin (Tobago Falcons) - 1:06.10
Girls U-20: 1 Shanika Belfon (Tobago Select) - 1:08.75; Patrice Richards (Neon Wolves) - DNF
Girls U-17: 1 Jenna Marie Thomas (IG Fastlane) - 1:13.56; 2 Shanille Green (Tobago Falcons) - 1:17.71; 3 Hermione Martin (IG Fastlane) - 1:23.69