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Cross Country Championships

WINNING WAYS - The various divisional winners.

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER the closure of Fort Charlotte, the Bahamas Scholastic Athletic Association moved their cross country championships to Goodman’s Bay where the competition was bigger and better on Saturday.

The difference was the fact that not only members of the small schools association participated, but they were able to welcome a number of schools from the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association.

Hopefully, with the growth they’ve seen this year, organisers are looking forward to the inclusion of the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (private schools) next year.

“I think this year’s event was a really good success,” said Keno Demeritte, the meet director. “We could have more schools in the BSAA, but we have a lot of schools from the government schools and clubs.

“It was really exciting for the kids, having the experience of running on the sand and on the grass. They got to run on a different terrain, so it was really exciting. I only expect it to get better next year. Hopefully we can continue to use this course here.”

Kirk Greene, the BSAA first vice president, said they have been hosting their cross-country championship for the past nine years and every year they try to do something different.

“Initially when we started, we wanted to do something just for our schools,” he said. “Then when we opened our other events to the GSSSA and the BAISS, we invited those schools and the local track clubs to get involved. We want to thank Kewno Demeritte as the technical person for track and field. He got some of the other schools to get involved.”

As for the competition, Latahi Moxey brought the curtains down on the championships with his victory in the open boys one-mile race in 10 minutes and five seconds.

“I pushed my way through it and kept on going,” said Moxey, who came off a second-place finish in the University of the Bahamas’ cross country a few weeks ago. “The competition was good. I like competing in long distance races, so I knew I would do well.”

Steven Joseph, a former student of CI Gibson, now at Noble Preparatory Academy. came in second in 11.02.

“I just came out here to put the school on the map,” said Joseph, who converted from a runner to a basketball player for the Rattlers’ senior boy’s basketball team. “I felt I could have done better, but things happen. I will get them next time.”

Danielle Heastie ran away with the open girls’ title in 12.14, well ahead of second place finisher Rebecca Smith of Noble Preparatory Academy in 13.27 and Keyon Rolle of RM Bailey in 7.58.

“I felt like I did my best,” said Heastie, who is competing in her final year for Windsor Academy. “The competition was really nice because all of the athletes are training to compete in the upcoming track and field season, so you have to be ready.”

The competition was also keenly contested with Angeleah Knowles, a versatile athlete representing the Sea Wave Triathlon, said she’s happy with her second place behind RM Bailey’s champion Bernechia Nelson. Knowles, however, just wants to compete in more events to display her talent in her final year at Windsor Academy.

Dario Butterfield, a 14-year-old, rebounded from second place to win the under-15 division.

“This year I came stronger because I wanted to win,” Butterfield said. “The guy who was behind me really pushed me because I decided I didn’t want to come second again this year.”

Divisional winners are as follows:

Girls under-7 (800m) - Riley Munroe, X-Treme; Anna-Arya Knowles, X-Treme; Shadnae Gibson, X-Treme.

Boys under-7 (800m) - Landon, X-Treme; Kamaro Hunt, X-Treme; Omauon Oliver,X-Treme.

Girls under-9 (800m) - Queen Severe, Teleos Christian; Gianni Fernander, X-Treme; Casey Smith, X-Treme.

Boys under-9 (800m) - Clinton Brown, X-Treme; Antionne Rolle, X-Treme; Ethan Bradshaw, X-Treme.

Girls under-11 (1,200m) - Rayen Munroe, X-Treme; Kehligha Miller, X-Treme; Autumn Newbold, X-Treme.

Boys under-11 (1,200m) - Luden Knowles, X-Treme; Anthony Knowles, Sea Wave Triathlon; Samuel Patter, X-Treme.

Girls under-13 (1,200m) - Paris Armbrister, CH Reeves; Fredricka Anguste, CH Reeves; Keturah Watson, CH Reeves.

Boys under-13 (1,200m) - Travon Moncur, CH Reeves; Tron Turner, Sea Wave Triathlon; Matherew Derius, CH Reeves.

Girls under-15 (one mile) - Nevaeh Mackey, C.H Reeves; Lendrea Davis, CH Reeves; Brendia Barrette, CH Reeves.

Boys under-15 (one mile) - Dario Butterfield, Noble Preparatory Academy; Densel Clarke, CH Reeves;Yahshua Dementle, CH Reeves.

Girls under-17 (one mile) - Bernechia Nelson, RM Bailey; Angeleah Knowles, Sea Waves Triathlon; Kaechan Munroe, X-Treme.

Boys under-17 (one mile) - Christopher Edwards, C I Gibson; Brian Burrows, CR Walker; Keyon Rolle, RM Bailey.

Open Girls (one mile) - Danielle Heastie, Sea Wave Triathlon; Rebecca Smith, Noble Preparatory Academy; Tashanae Bernard, Noble Preparatory Academy.

Open Boys (one mile) - Lataji Moxey, RM Bailey; Steven Joseph, Noble Preparatory Academy; #108.