Combermere’s double celebration

Cawmere! Cawmere! Cawmere! That was the chant of the day at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex during the fourth day of the Powerade-Dasani Barbados Secondary Schools Athletic Championships (BSSAC) where Combermere won the girls’ and boys’ divisions of the Chefette Frosteez Esther Maynard Zone. Four hundred and sixty-three points were enough for Combermere to beat nearest challengers Christ Church Foundation School (453) and top the girls’ standings. In third place were The Alleyne School who finished with 360 points. The margin of victory was wider in the boys’ division as Combermere won by 65 points, 480 to Foundation’s 415. Once again, The Alleyne School rounded off the podium, this time with 395 points. Combermere’s star performer in the girls’ division was Chanecia Bryan whose excellent performances this season earned her the opportunity to represent Barbados in the CARIFTA games next month. Competing in the Under 15 category, Bryan smashed the five year 400m zone record of 59.95 seconds (set by Springer Memorial’s Tionce Walrond in 2018) when she posted a time of 58.24 seconds. The accolades did not stop there as she won the junior girls  1500 metres with a time of (5:28:21) as well, which along with her 800m victory on Tuesday exemplified her dominance in this age group. Without a doubt the most spectacular performer on display was 15-year-old Aniya Nurse of The Alleyne School. Off the back of setting two zone records in the 100 (12.08) and 400 (56.67) metres events on Tuesday, Nurse set another in the Under-17 category. This time, it was the 200m that succumbed to the fleet her footedness as she clocked 24.61 seconds, way beyond the grasp of nearest challenge Nyema Taylor from Graydon Sealy (26.54).  Jaliyah Denny set the previous zone record of 24.85 in 2017. With another year left to compete in the Under-17 category, Tristan Evelyn may be nervously looking over her shoulder as her BSSAC 200 metres record of 24.13 seconds, set back in 2014. Lakazia Hunte of St George Secondary won the Under-13 girls 400m (68.79) to record her second victory of the zone having won the 800m on day one. Foundation stormed the field in the Under-13 and 15 girls’ 100 metres sprints through Jadyn Vaughn (14.47) and Sharifa Nicholls (12.71). Jayden Greene had the Foundation supporters in raptures when he won the Under-17 boys 200 metres in 23.49 seconds as clear daylight separated him and Graydon Sealy’s R’jai Gittens who finished second with 23.78. Tylan Mayers (1.92m) soared highest in the Under-20 boys’ high jump. In the long jump event, it was Leemiah London of Alleyne who triumphed in the Under 15 event with a mark of 4.96m. Alleyne teammate Julian Willoughby backed up London’s efforts when he took first place in the Under-15 boys’ long jump with a best mark of 5.48 metres. The Ann Hill School, located in Pine Plantation Road, St Michael, did not finish with any points, but commendation must go out to the students and staff who competed well and made their presence felt in the stands on both days. Final Points Standings: Girls: Combermere 463 points

1. Christ Church Foundation School 453
2. The Alleyne School 360
3. Alexandra school 197
4. St George Secondary 182
5. Grantley Adams Memorial 85
6. Graydon Sealy Secondary 85
7. Providence 13

Boys:

1. Combermere 480 points
2. Christ Church Foundation School 415 points
3. Alleyne 395
4. St George Secondary 215
5. Alexandra 178
6. Grantley Adams Memorial 95
7. Graydon Sealy Memorial 92
8. Providence 18