56TH NATIONAL SCHOOLS’ CYCLING, SWIMMING AND TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS UPPER DEMERARA/KWAKWANI CREATES HISTORY AT NATIONAL SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Upper Demerara/Kwakwani creates history at National Schools Championships District 10, Upper Demerara/ Kwakwani, created history by becoming the most successful team with their 15th title win when the 56th National Schools’ Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships ended on November 25, 2016. The team’s success came after one week of grueling rivalry, which culminated at the Guyana National Stadium,
Providence. By winning their 15th title, the Upper Demerara/Kwakwani team eased ahead of North Georgetown who they were tied with on 14 titles apiece. The Lindeners cantered to victory by tallying 65 points to win the overall title again. They were ahead of North Georgetown with 59 points, South Georgetown which was in third with 55 while West Demerara finished fourth with 53. Corentyne was next on 50, East Georgetown 44.5, Bartica 41, East Coast Demerara 40.5, North West 40, New Amsterdam and Essequibo Coast/Pomeroon 32.5, East Bank Demerara 31, West Coast Berbice 30, Rupununi 18 and Potaro/Siparuni on 15 points. The Lindeners dominated the athletics segment of the championships and despite finishing second in both the cycling and swimming, they did enough on the track to etch their names in the history books of the event. On the track, outstanding performances were recorded by Compton Caesar of District 10 who anchored his team to glory in the Boys’ U-20 4x100m. East Georgetown’s Linton Mentis (50.5s) gave his team
gold ahead of New Amsterdam’s Stayon Williams (50.6s) in the U-20 Boys’ 400m. In the Girls’ race, West Demerara’s Kezra Murray (1:01.9s) beat restricted West Coast Berbice’s Denita Jackson (1:02.9s), who had won the 100m and 200m races into second. North Georgetown’s Samuel Lynch won the Boys’ U-18 400m race in 50.7s. Chantoba Bright, who is a double CARIFTA Games silver medalist, showed her class by brushing aside her rivals to win the Girls’ U-18 race in 59.9s.
Corentyne’s Samuel Jordan leaped to a massive record of 7.20m in the Boys’ U-18 Long Jump as well as the competitive High Jump which saw a ding dong battle between himself and Linden’s Daniel Williams. Jordan would go on to win that event with the better jump of 191m. Essequibo Islands/West Demerara’s Torque Boyce (188m) placed 3rd. In cycling, Andrew Hicks and Shenika Teixeira led defending champions District Six Corentyne to glory by winning the 40km and 25km male and female road races. Hicks powered his way to victory in a time of 1 hour 4 minutes 56.07s in the race that attracted 26 starters. It started at Ocean View on the East Coast and progressed to Belfield before returning to the starting point for the finish. The female event attracted 13 starters and progressed to Strathspey before returning to Ocean View. Teixeira’s winning time was 55 minutes 46.02s. In the pool, North Georgetown (District 11) continued their dominance at the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal. They amassed 401 points while rivals Upper
Demerara/ Kwakwani (District 10) placed second with 273 points. Dominant for the champions was Daniel Scott in the boy’s Under-17 category, winning the 100m backstroke (1:11.57s), 50m butterfly (29.29s) and the 50m backstroke (32.53s) while also helping his team to the 200m freestyle relay team to gold. Anna Isaacs was the top female performer for North Georgetown winning the girl’s Under-20 100m backstroke (1:25.79s), 50m butterfly (38.91s), 50m backstroke
(39.20s) and the team gold in the 200m freestyle relay. Jamaal Skeete was also in top form for North Georgetown winning both the boy’s Under-20 100m backstroke (1:21.31s) and the 100m freestyle (1:05.84s). Amy Grant was also dominant with wins in the girl’s Under-15 50m freestyle (31.14s) and the 50m backstroke (37.75s). Upper Demerara/ Kwakwani’s standout swimmers were Nikita Fiedtkou in the girl’s Under-17 100m breaststroke (1:28.75s) and the 50m breaststroke (41.38s). Kevin Dare took the boys Under-20 50m backstroke (35.92s) and 50m butterfly (34.15s). All the athletes expressed their delight at being able to represent their respective districts at the highest level in the school system as they set platforms for exciting careers at the club and national levels. photo in new folder as linden- The overall winners Upper Demerara Kwakwani as corentyne- District Six Corentyne retained their cycling title as Compton- District 10 Compton Caesar anchored his team to victory in the boys U20 4x100m.
