The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

SHATALYA Dorsett came to town and demonstrated that she’s ready for the journey to Kingston, Jamaica, for the return of the CARIFTA Games over the Easter holiday weekend.

On Sunday at the Red- Line Youth Time Trials at Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, the Grand Bahamian speedster clocked 24.57 seconds to dip under the under-17 girls’ 200 metre qualifying time of 24.58.

It was the only standard attained during the one-day meet that came on the heels of the completion of both the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations and Government Secondary Schools Sports Associations High School Track and Field Championships over the previous three days.

But fellow Grand Bahamian Zion Campbell came within three tenths of a second of achieving the under-20 boys’ 200m standard. He won the race in 21.18, but was just shy of the qualifying mark of 21.15. Both competitors are looking forward to returning for the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ Final CARIFTA trials April 1-2 to solidify their appearances on Team Bahamas going to Jamaica.

“I felt it was great, but I know I could have ran faster,” said Dorsett, a 15-year-old 11th grader at Sunland Baptist Academy. “I just have to better my start and my ending because I like to cruise through the line.

After leading from start to finish, Dorsett was never really challenged, as the second place finisher Bayli Major of Red-Line Athletics, followed in pursuit a distance behind in 26.04. Payton Knowles of Unique Athletics was third in 36.75.

Having already attained the standard in the 100m in another meet, Dorsett got a double dose of victory in this meet, claiming the 400m title just before the 200m. But her winning time of 57.95 in the one-lap race was short of the CARIFTA standard of 55.48. “In the 400m, I cruised the first 300m and just ran the last 100m,” she said. “I should not have done that. I should have started running from the break.”

After producing the fastest qualifying time of 10.64 in the preliminaries, Campbell opted not to contest the final, which was won by Fast Forward’s Zachary Evans in 10.84 over Unique Athletics’ Michael Cartwright (10.98) and Swift Athletics’ Logan Major (11.02).

But Zion Campbell came back in the 200m and pulled through in 21.18 to hold off a showdown with Swift Athletics’ Carlos Brown, who did 21.43. Red-Line Athletics’ Shimar Bain was third in 21.64.

Although it was off CARIFTA standard, Campbell said he was pleased with his performance.

“I know that I have the potential to run the qualifying times,” said Campbell, adding that he will make it happen at the CARIFTA trials. “I know what I have to do and I’m going to be prepared for the task when I come back.”

Swift Athletics’ head coach Andrew Tynes said not only will Campbell be prepared to run, but he doesn’t want anybody to count out Brown. He noted that coming off a hamstring injury, Brown is progressing very well and will be prepared to run.

“He will be okay,” Tynes said. “So will the other athletes from Swift Athletics, who have the ability to make the team.

One of his Swift Athletics’ athletes was Ishmael Rolle, who also came close in the under-17 boys 100m in running 11.20, which was off the qualifying standard of 11.02.

Red-Line’s Tumani Skinner was second in 11.33 and Swift Athletics’ Johnathan Rogers was third in 11.34.

DTSP Wolfpack’s William McKinney took the under-17 boys 200m in 23.07 with Red-Line’s Morgan Moss second in 23.24. McKinney’s teammate Dana Rolle was third in 23.06.

Fast Forward’s Paige Archer took the tape in the under-20 girls’ 100m in 11.84, which was off the qualifying standard of 11.69. Star Trackers’ Amari Pratt placed second in 12.19 and Red- Line’s D’Arjha was third in 12.39.

Asya Stanislaus of Quick Step was quicker than her rivals to the finish line in the under-20 girls 200m in 25.76. The Carifta standard is 23.95. Lydia Clarke (26.26) and Aliyah Marshall (26.82), both from STSP, got second and third.

Red-Line Athletics’ president and head coach Tito Moss said although the meet came off, there were a number of hiccups that he had to endure up to the 11th hour before it was finally agreed that the meet will take place at the TAR National Stadium and not the Track and Field Stadium as originally planned.

“I’m glad that we got the meet off. I’m holding this meet for the development of the youth in the country, but right now I’m upset because of the round-around in determining our location, which ended up costing us more money than we had bargained for,” Moss said.

“I’m just glad that with all of the things that transpired in the past 20 hours, we were able to pull it off. The kids were excited and the parents came out to support their children and they enjoyed the meet. We also had some athletes in from Grand Bahama, which helped to boost the competition.”

Th meet was designed for the younger age group competitors and many of them took advantage of the opportunity to compete, this time with a lot more fans in the stsnds cheering them on.

Red-Line’s Jazmyn Demeritte dominated the under-7 girls division, winning the 60m in 12,00 and 120m in 23.46. Swift Athletics’ Javardo Musgrove took the boys’ 60m in 12.29 and the 120m in 24.00.

Unique Athletics’ Tanaz Davis was a double threat in the under-9 girls division, winning the 150m in 22.94 and the 300m in 57.19, while Beginners Track’s Kamona Dormeus captured the under-9 girls 75m in 12.70.

On the boys’ side, Swift Athletics’ George Brown shined in the 75m in 11.95. But Another Level’s Dontae Maycock was a little swifter in the 150m taking the crown in 23.83 ahead of Brown’s 24.15. Swift got a 1-2 punch from Jude Ferguson (58.03) and Pachino Sherman (1:05.96) in the 300m.

Kenneth Wilson provided some excitement for the T-Bird Flyers by snatching the titles in the boys under-11 100m in 15.04 and the 200m in 31.41, while Cassaddy Pratt of Beginners Track prevailed in the girls sprints in 14.57 in the 100m and 30.17 in the 200m.

Ariel Thompson, also of Beginners Track, doubled up in the girls under-11 400m in 1:12.61 and the 800m in 3:14.47. Swift Athletivcs’ Patreco Sherman took the boys’ 400m in 1:09.29 and Ronald Simon of Beginners Track took the 800m in 2:51.65.

Brianna Bottle of 3pa Stallions swept the girls under-13 100m in 13.12 and the 200m in 27.36. Swift Athletics’ Lavario Ferguson clocked 12.94 in the 100m, but had to play second fiddle in the 200m in 26.95 as his teammate Jireh Woodside nipped him at the line in 26.67. Their teammate Justin Shepherd was third in 29.63.

Boost Athletics’ Symiah Strachan won the under-13 girls 400m in 1:05.05 and teammate Damali David won the 800m in 3:08.52. Arjay Roberts was the winner of the boys’ 400m in 1:03.33 and Swift Athletics’ Patrero Sherman came through first in the 800m in 2:45.12.

There was also a sweep of the sprints in the under-15 division.

4D Stallions’ Darvinique Dean clinched the 100m in 12.92 just ahead of Red-Line’s Madison Moss (12.95), and they produced the same results in the 200m with Dean coming out on top in 26.58 over Moss’ 26.73.

Swift Athletics’ Rolinny Labranche took the boys’ 100m in 11.72 over Red-Line’s Jaden Clarke, who did 12.51. Labranche also got the 200m in 22.98 with Red-Line’s Aiden Curry coming in second in 23.85.

Deborah Cassy of 4D Stallions triumphed in the girls under-15 400m in 1:02.81 over Road Runners’ J’Kaiyah (1:03.58) and Red-Line’s Eagan Neely took the boys’ 400m in 53.84 with Shevano Nixon second in 55.25.

Red-Line’s Maddison Major won the girls 800m in 3:01.56 over teammate Symiah Crawley (3:01.59). Their teammate Quincy Rolle won the boys’ race in 2:25.05. Fast Forward’s Kennise Major won the 400m hurdles in 1:14.57 and Red-Line’s Morgan Moss claimed the boys’ race in 59.61.