The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE sixth annual Kids Athletics Road Race turned out to be another success story on Saturday.

The event was held on the grounds of the Bahamas Hot Rod Association’s car racing facilities and saw more than 300 participate in various races depending on their age groups from under-7 to the masters.

At the end of the meet, the athletes and spectators got cheers and laughs as they watched former middle distance runner Michael Armbrister pull away from Bahamas Association of Athletic Association’s first vice president candidate Carl Oliver. The Olympic and World Championships’ 4 x 400 metre team medallist made sure he didn’t finish last as he out-sprinted former distance runner Stephen Murray.

To his credit, Murray was busy all day getting the races started as he assisted his sister Sherry Francis, who is in charge of the Kids Athletic Club. “This was really good. I was pleased with the turnout and the kids performed very well,” said Francis, a former distance runner.

“You could see the effort they made. We’re still waiting for the results from the timing system that we used for the time this year, thanks to Davis Ferguson.

“Every year, we try to see if we can take the event to another level. We want to thank the Bahamas Hot Road Association for allowing us to see the facility free of charge. As you can see, the kids performed very well here. We see some repeat champions, so it’s always good to see those who did it.”

Francis was referring specifically to Ariel Thompson of the Road Runners and Niveah Mackey of the 3PA Stallions. They were among the competitors, who came back and successfully defended their titles.

Other winners, who may not have decided their titles, came across the board in the various age groups. A confident Nicole Smith of the Road Runners was the winner of the under-17 girls division. She also came through first in the combined under-17 and under-20 female race. “It was very challenging, but I paced myself and I stayed out front,” said the 15-year-old 10th grader at St John’s College. “I just thought about winning. It was very easy because I knew the people who I ran were not up to my speed.”

Mecedes Newbold should have competed in the under-17 division, but after they combined her division with the under-20, she was placed in the older age group. It didn’t matter as she pulled through as the second competitor to finish the combined race. “The race was good. At the first part of the race, I tried to pace myself and then I knew I had to bring it home,” said the 16-year-old 11th grader at Jordan Prince Williams High School. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to catch in the person in front, but I still bring it home. The competition was all right, but it could have been better.”

Cyclist Felix Neely, representing Swift Athletics, was the winner of the under-17 boys division. “I felt great about my race, but at the end it was very hard,” said Neely, a 15-year-old 11th grader at CR Walker. “I want to thank my coach Andrew Tynes for training me very well. At the last 400m, I started to get tight, but I just kepy on pushing and pushing and pushing. I want to thank God I made it. I love it. I hope I can make the CARIFTA team next year.”

Jason Symonette, a familiar face, continues to perform well in the off-season training races. He’s coming off a victory at the GSSSA cross country held three weeks ago at the Bahamas Golf Federation’s Driving Range. He gave himself an early birthday present. “All I am focusing on is my time,” said Symonette, who will turn 18 on Wednesday, November 21. “I want to thank my mother for helping me to achieve my goals and my father Jason Symonette Sr who encourages me to run for time in any race that I am in. But I would like to thank my competitors too for giving me the competition. That’s my story for the day.”

The top performers in the various age groups, which ran distances from 400m for under-7 to one mile for the under-15 to open male and female. The top performers in those age groups are as follows:

Under-7 female - 1. Ariel Thompson, Road Runners; 2. Nylah Collie, 3PA; 3. Anaiya Cooper, Striders; 4. Tiffany Miller, Road Runners; 5. Kayla Thompson, 3PA; 6. Adasa McCoy, X-Treme; 7. Saliyah Bullard, Hurry Murray.

Under-9 female - 1. Niveah Mackey, 3PA; 2. Cierra Delancy, 3PA; 3. Cartia Murphy, Hurry Murray; 4. Taylor Knowles, Sea Wind; 5. Jazae Johnson, Striders; 6. Brianna Bootle, 3PA; 7. Skylar McKinney, X-Treme; 8. Shannon Edwards, Road Runners; 9. Azaria Dean, 3PA; 10. Anthonique Pelican, Road Runners.

Under-11 female - 1. Daejha Mesidor, 3PA; Jade Knowles, X-Treme; 3. Jasmine Thompson, Road Runners; 4. Jakia Rolle, Road Runners; 5. Bretysia Kemp, Hurry Murray; 6. Breniece Kemp, Hurry Murray; 7. Rashan Bell, PA Stallions; 8. Deborah Wright, 4D Stallions; 9. Sasha Wright, Kids Athletics; 10. Ana Butlers, Champions.

Under-13 female - 1. Jasmine Mackey, BDYCC; 2. Deandra Sears, Hurry Murray; 3. Iesha Hanna, Road Runners; 4. Anjaleah Knowles, Sea Wind; 5. Stacyann Humes, Hurry Murray; 6. Edgecopmbe, Road Runners; 7. Dastanne Curtis (T-Bird) and Trinity Pennerman, X-Treme; 9. Tasha Johnson, Striders; 10. Glenria Goodridge, DW Davis; 11. Royann Turner, Hurry Murray.

Under-15 female - 1. Breyanna Kemp, Hurry Murray; 2. Esther Simms, Champions; 3. Deajha Brown, Temple Christian; 4. Melvanique Gibson, T-Bird; 5. Estia Maycock, X-Treme; 6. Tamara Green, 3PA; 7. Sheroniqua Sears, Road Runners; 9. Tonnice Stubbs, Road Runners; 10. Shamica Carey, Striders.

Under-17 female - 1. Nicole Smith, Road Runners; 2. Tiopia Turnquest, X-Treme; 3. Nena Bazile, Doris Johnson; 4. Eliah McKenzie, Doris Johnson; 5. Logan Neely, X-Treme; 6. Crashan Ferguson, X-Treme; 7. Renae Munnings, Doris Johnson.

Under-20 female - 1. Mecedes Newbold, Road Runners; 2. Rochelle Tibby, HP; 3. Zoe Henry, 3PA.

Under-7 male - 1. Davonti Johnson, Kids Athletics; 2. Donald Simon, Road Runners; 3. Franklyn Gibson, Striders; 4. Shavez Winder, Hurry Murray; 5. Donald Braynen, X-Treme; 6. Deon Johnson, X-Treme; 7. Avery Johnson, Road Runners; 8. Gabriel Forbes, 3PA.

Under-9 male - 1. Cameron Henfield, Kids Athletics; 2. Tavon St Louis, T-Bird; 3. Kyle Sears, Road Runners; 4. Cordell Munroe, KAA; 5. Mathias Turnquest, KAA; 6. Adrian Woodside, T-Bird; 7. Zion Roker, T-Bird; 8. Theo Bethel, X-Treme; 9. Isiah Wilson, KAA; 10. Davon Newry, X-Treme.

Under-11 male - 1. Sandy Pratt, T-Bird; 2. Godfrey Brown, Hurry Murray; 3. Gabriel Johnson, Hurry Murray; 4. Kaleb Chandler, KAA; 5. Justiz Butler, X-Treme; 6. Georgie Nottage, T-Bird; 7. Trayvon Beneby, Road Runners; 8. Tayshon Taylor, X-Treme; 9. Tyrique Wilson, Hurry Murray; 10. Christon Thomas, Champions.

Under-13 male - 1. Raywind Winder, Hurry Murray; 2. Bryson Rolle, T-Bird; 3. Christopher minors, Hurry Murray; 4. Garvin McKenzie, T-Bird; 5. Breck Kemp, Hurry Murray; 6. Dion Hepburn, 4-D Stallions; 7. Christopher Roker, Champions; 9. Ryan Ferguson, KAA; 10. Jamal Lewis, T-Bird.

Under-15 male - 1. Jay-onn Joseph, T-Bird; 2. Takai Davis, DW Davis; 3. Kaelem Knowles, Champions; 4. Bradein Ingraham, X-Treme; 5. Andre Campbell, X-Treme; 6. Daniel Emerilus, Road Runners; 7. Sharon Roker, T-Bird; 8. Baneko Nixon, Road Runners; 9. Tafai Strachan, 3PA; 10. Mateo Strachan, Temple Christian.

Under-17 male - 1. Felix Neely, Swift; 2. Jackson Osias, Road Runners; 3. Nathan Duncan, T-Bird; 4. Kemzie Knowles, BHPA; 5. Kenneth Greenslade - Swift; 6. Amadeo Cartwright, Silver Lightning; 7. Isiah Farrington, KAA; 8. Yonyae McCoy. Doris Johnson; 9. Anthony Edwards, HP; 10. Taria Kemp, 4-D Stallions.

Under-20 male - 1. Jason Symonette, Road Runners; 2. Davonte Newbold, T-Bird Flyers; 3. Miguel Hopkins, Doris Johnson; Marvin Johnson, Temple Christian; 5. Daniel Gibson, Hurry Murray; 6. Raheem Roker, T-Bird; 7. Theophelus Coakley, X-Treme; 8. Jude Murray’ BHPA.

Open Male - Michael Armbrister; Carl Oliver; Stephen Murray.