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Tobago athletes used home advantage to the maximum as they captured three of the four titles at the Northern American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Age-Group Trials at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet, Tobago on Saturday (June 3) and Sunday (June 4).
Daija Reid of Zenith led a Tobago sweep in the girls’ Under-13 pentathlon. Reid won the five-event discipline with 2,411 points ahead of the Mercury pair of Ryana Roberts (2,126) and Rayneisha Andrews (1,996).
Kerlon Henry of Rss Phoenix continued the Tobago dominance in the boys U-13 pentathlon, winning with 2,551, narrowly ahead of Jafari Waldron of Mercury (2544) and A’Don Young of Zenith (2,372).
In the girls’ U-15 heptathlon, athletes from Zenith took all spots on the podium as Makayla Cupid (3,418) was first ahead of La’Shiya Biggart (3,387) and Xaiah Tobias (3,366).
Michal Paul prevented a Tobago whitewash as he was victorious in the boys’ U-15 heptathlon with 4,695 points. Aaron Radgman of Zenith copped the second spot (4,679) with Omari Browne of Neon Wolves taking third place (4,449).
In the girls’ U-13 pentathlon, Reid was ahead at the end of the first day after the completion of the 60 metres, high jump and ball throw. In the 60m, she was second quickest with 8.31 seconds. Jael Peters (Burnley) was the fastest clocking 8.14. In the high jump, Reid finished down in sixth (1.16m) as Toco Titans’ Tahalia Briggs topped the field with a clearance of 1.34m.
Reid rebounded in the ball throw with the second-longest effort of 34.49m.
Another Toco Titan athlete, Yanique Stewart prevailed with a best of 41.11m. Stewart’s success in the throw should come as no surprise as she is the first cousin of 2012 London Olympic javelin champion Keshorn Walcott and daughter of two-time Carifta girls U-17 javelin champion Anna-Lee Walcott-Stewart.
On the second day, Reid extended her lead by taking the long jump (4.57m). Stewart was second (3.83). In the fifth and final event, the 800m, Reid was third with 2:56.85 as Naquesha Samel of Rss Phoenix won the two-lap race (2:50.97) from Mercury’s Rickeisha Ramsingh (2:54.54). Stewart seemed poised to upset the Tobago dominance but was battling stomach from the first day and did not participate in the final event.
Reid is the daughter of former national athletes Kelsey Toussaint-Reid and Dyke Reid.
In the boys U-13 pentathlon, Edwards was ahead after the completion of the first day (60m/ball throw/high jump) with victories in the ball throw and high jump. On day two, Henry was second in the long jump and captured the final discipline (1,000m), ending the meet with top-three finishes in his events.
Tobias, Cupid and Biggart made their intentions clear in the first event (80m) of the girls’ U-15 heptathlon with Tobias quickest (10.41), Cupid second (10.43) and Biggart third (10.46).
Tobias won the second event (long jump) with a distance of 4.80. Biggart took second (4.79) and Cupid, third (4.60).
In the ball throw, Cupid (7.75) was second with Biggart (7.46) third and Tobias (6.95), sixth. Another Zenith competitor Khemyah Andeson took the shot put (7.90). Biggart’s effort was enough to give her the lead at the end of the first day with Cupid and Tobias, next in the standings.
On the second day, Biggart soared to a personal best of 1.54m to win the high jump. Tehelia Francois (Mason Hall Police) was joint second with Cupid and Tobias (1.49m). In the final event, 1,200m, Biggart finished down the field in 11th spot as she was injured in the high jump. Cupid crossed the line in third ahead of Tobias in fourth. The outcome pushed Cupid to the title 31 points ahead of Biggart.
Paul started slowly in the boys’ U-15 heptathlon placing fifth in the opening event (80m hurdles) with 10.11 as Tequan John of Burnley prevailed in 9.85. However, Paul showed his class with wins in the shot put (12.19) and long jump (5.58) to move into the lead after the first day.
Radgman captured the 80m hurdles (12.30) with Brown (12.47) in third and Paul (12.54), in fourth. Paul ended in seventh in the ball throw (49.90) as Aaron Baird (64.27) prevailed over his Zenith clubmate Malique Young (63.66). In the high jump, Paul registered his third win with a personal best (pb) of 1.79m. Radgman (1.70pb) was second.
In the final of the seven events, 1,200m, Radgman completed the three-lap run in 3:35.13 well ahead of Paul (3:51.16). However, Paul took home the crown by 16 points.
The NACAC Age-Group title is the second for Paul, the younger brother of the 2022/2023 Carifta Girls Open heptathlon medallist Gianna Paul, after he secured the boys’ U-13 honours in 2021.
The top two finishers are expected to be selected to represent T&T at this year’s NACAC Age-Group Championships in Santiago, Dominican Republic from July 15-16.