By Treiston Joseph
The Guyana Police Force Sports Club stood tall at the end of the two-day Boyce and Jefford Track and Field Classic that concluded on Sunday at the Mackenzie Sports Club, Linden.
Police amassed 395 points for the $1,000,000 first place prize, while the Guyana Defence Force took second for $500,000 on 355 points. Super Upcoming Runners were third for the $300,000 on 119 points while Upper Demerara Sports Club (Linden) took fourth for $200,000 on 76 points.
Shocker
However, on the track, Linden’s own Daniel Williams was the star of the Boyce and Jefford Track and Field Classic.
Williams created the shocker on Sunday by stepping down into the Men’s 100m and running past the field 100m specialists in the final 40ms to win the event in a time of 10.7s.
Williams, who is a World Youth silver medallist at 400m, also took the 400m on Sunday with a time of 50.3s, while winning the 200m on Saturday in a time of 21.8s to win the champion male crown.
“It’s just a great feeling; I really don’t know what to say… I just came out to run and they are really good athletes here competing and I’m happy to have come out with the win,” Williams told News Room Sport.
Big Race
In the big race of the day, Ugandan Julius Mutenkanga waited until the final 200m to sprint away from his competition in the Men’s 800m for a new game’s record of 1:53.9s. Samuel Lynch took second in the event with a run of 1:55.9s, while Trinidad’s Ashton Gill was third with a time of 1:57.1s. Defending champ Kevin Bayley finished a disappointing eighth.
“It was a really good run, can’t remember the last time I ran on grass, but it was good… the competition was okay, but I will be back next year; Kevin Bayley is my friend, so I will be back,” Mutenkanga noted.
Continued Dominance
Meanwhile, Chantoba Bright continued her dominance in the jumps with wins in the Women’s Long Jump with a leap of 5.35m, while taking the Women’s Triple Jump with a leap of 11.46m.
Guyana’s national javelin record holder, Leslain Baird, was also in a class by himself with a top throw of 69.21m for an easy win with his closest competition being Kleon Spellen with a throw of 53.5m.
Cleveland Forde also continued to rule the roost with an easy win in the Men’s 1500m with a time of 4:15.1s to finish ahead of Winston Missenger with time of 4:16.3s.
Upset
The upset of the meet had to be that of Toyan Raymond topping the experienced and former sprint champion of the meet, Alita Moore, in both the 100 and 200m.
Raymond won the 200m on Saturday in a time of 25.2s to Moore’s 25.4s, while winning the 100m on Sunday in a time of 12.0s to Moore’s 12.2s.