Olympic hopeful Emanuel Archibald made a positive start to 2021 with impressive performances in the 100m and Long Jump events at the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) Developmental Meet at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora, on Sunday.
The 26-year-old clocked 10.21s to win the 100m ahead of Akeem Stewart (10.51s) and Nolex Holder (10.61s). While he clocked a new personal best in the 100m, he is still off the Olympic qualification time of 10.05 seconds.
In the Long Jump, he leaped to a mark of 8.10m which, unofficially, is the world leading jump.
As of February 16, Australian Darcy Roper, officially leads the world in the Long Jump with a leap of 7.96m set on January 26. The Olympic qualification mark is 8.22m.
Archibald, who is on a scholarship, is hoping he can return to Jamaica soon to continue his training.
“It was not a bad performance. I got a personal record in my first meet so I am glad with the performance. I felt I could have done better, but it is the first meet,” Archibald expressed.
He added, “To open the season with 10.21 is good; I feel I can run 10.05 at my next meet.”
National Javelin record holder, Leslain Baird won his event with a distance of 77.23m, but still needs to reach 85.00m to qualify for the Olympics. Second went to Timothy Sealey (49.02m) and third Jonathan Fagundes (23.18m).
Baird indicated he did beyond the expectations of his coach, but also alluded to the need for more meets so he can reach the required standard to qualify for the Olympic Games.
Other impressive performances came from Ruth Sanmoogan, who won the female long jump (6.02m), Cleveland Thomas, who won the 1500m in 4:13.56s, and Juvonna Cornette (25.41 seconds) to win the open female 200m ahead of Shaquan Daniels (25.93s).
The male open 200m went to Nicholas Denhert of New Amsterdam in 22.07s, while Osrick Pellew (22.11s) and Akeem Stewart (22.56s) came second and third respectively.
