Horsford, John, Hannibal
Tyriq Horsford (Signal Hill Sec/Zenith) improved his national under 18 javelin record to 73.17m. Horsford also surpassed Carifta qualifying standard (59.00). Safiya John (Scarborough Sec/Kaizen Panthers) went over the girls under 18 long jump (5.45) mark and Clarence Hannibal (Signal HIll Sec/Tobago Falcons) bettered the boys under 20 discus  barrier. (47.00m). Photo courtesy: CLAYTON CLARKE
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Carifta champ Horsford opens season with national record throw

by Athletics T&T, athleticstnt@gmail.com​​; 18.2.17

Secondary Schools' Track & Field 

Two-time reigning Carifta boys under 18 javelin champion and record-holder Tyriq Horsford (Signal Hill Secondary/Zenith) opening his 2017 season in the grandest possible way, breaking the national record.  Horsford threw the javelin out to 73.17m to win the boys under 18 event at the Eight NAAA Development Meet at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Mucurapo on Sunday, February 12. Horsford threw 69.67m on his first effort before releasing the mammoth throw in the second round in the competition. He then opted out of  on his remaining four efforts. His new mark is superior to the previous national record of 73.00m which he set in winning his second straight boys under 18 javelin title at the 2016 Carifta Games in St. Georges, Grenada in April. The Parlatuvier resident easily went over the 59.00m qualifying standard for this year's Games and was more than 20 metres ahead of runner-up Kareem Peters (50.76) and third place Xavier Frederick 44.98), all of Zenith Athletics club.

There is some concern that Horsford's record mark may not be ratified by the National Association of Athletic Administration (NAAA), the local track and field body, as the distance was not measured with the required equipment, a steel tape.  When contacted NAAA president Ephraim Serrette told Athletics TnT that the ratification process is underway.  "We are presently reviewing whether the necessary procedures were carried out to ensure correctness of this result."

SSTF only

Horsford's performance was the highlight of the meet. Safiya John (Scarborough Secondary/Kaizen Panthers), Clarence Hannibal (Signal Hill Secondary/Tobago Falcons), Asha James (Signal Hill Secondary/Zenith), Shaquillle Benjamin (Bishops High/Kazien Panthers), Ianna Roach (Bishops Anstey/Memphis Pioneers) all produced Carifta qualifying performances.  John surpassed the girls under 18 long jump standard of 5.45m with a leap of 5.48m to win the the event. Hannibal went over the body under 20 discus (47.00m) mark with a throw of 48.28m. James attained the girls under 20 javelin barrier (39.00m) for the second time in the season with a distance of 42.60, improving on the 41.48m mark she achieved at the Third NAAA Meet at the same venue on January 15. Benjamin matched the boys under 18 high jump standard (1.90m) for the fourth time for the year. His first 1.90m  clearance was achieved at the First NAAA Meet at the Dwight Yorke Stadium on December 11. He hit the mark again at the Third NAAA Meet and at the Bishops High School Sports Meet at the Dwight Yorke Stadium on February 6. Roach beat the girls under 18 shot put distance (13.50) for the second time tho season with a 14.28m toss. The reigning Carifta silver medallist previously threw 13.62m on the first day of the NAAA Development Combined Meet at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on January 28.

Horsford, John and Hannibal now join a list of 11 athletes who have so far achieved qualifying performances for this year's Carifta Games set for Williamsted, Curacao from April 14-17. Ayla Stanislaus (Scarborough  Secondary/Zenith) dipped below the girls under 18 200m standard of 25.15 when she clocked 25.11 at the Third NAAA Development Meet. Stanislaus was inadvertently not listed as a qualifier previously. Athletics TnT wishes to apologise for error. 

Otis Barker (Toco Secondary/Toco Titans), Savion Joseph (Mason Hall Sec/Zenith),  Anson Moses (Bishops High/Tobago Falcons) and Kymoi Noray (Signal Hill Secondary/Zenith) missed out on qualifying marks at the Seventh Development Meet. Barker won the men's 5000m in 16 minutes 21 seconds (16:21.0-hand time), one seconds off the 16:20.00 standard. Joseph captured the boys under 18 long jump with a distance of  6.70m, 10cm shy of the 6.80m requirement.  Moses took the boys under 18 400m hurdles in 55.97 seconds, just adrift of 55.00 standard. Noray was 1.40m short of the 40.00m distance for the girls under 18 javelin with her winning effort of 38.60.

CARIFTA QUALIFIERS
Shaquille Benjamin (Bishops High/Kaizen Panthers)-boy under 18 high jump (1.90)

  • 1.90m-1st NAAA Development Meet, Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, Sunday, December 11 (2016)
  • 1.90m-3rd NAAA Development Meet, Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, Sunday, January 21
  • 1.90m-Bishops High School Meet,  Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, Monday, February 6
  • 1.90m-8th NAAA Development Meet, Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, Sunday, February 12


Rae-Ann Serville Rae-Ann Serville (St. Joseph Convent-POS/Memphis Pioneers)-girls under 18 200m (25.15) & 400m (57.00)

  • 24.82 sec-2nd NAAA Development Meet, Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, Saturday, January, 14.
  • 56.19 sec-6th NAAA Development Meet, Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, Sunday, February 5,
  • 55.01-7th NAAA Development Meet, Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, Saturday, February  11


Jacob St. Clair  (Queen's Royal College/Abilene Wildcats)-boys under 20 200m (21.40)& 400m (47.80)

  • 47.75-4th NAAA Development Meet, Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, Saturday, January 21
  • 21.40-7th NAAA Development Meet, Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, Saturday, February  11


Ianna Roach (Bishops Anstey/Memphis Pioneers)-girls under 18 shot put (13.50m)

  • 13.62m-4th NAAA Development (Combined Event) Meet-Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, Saturday, January 28
  • 14.28m-8th NAAA Development Meet, Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, Sunday, February 12


Asha James (Signal Hill Secondary/Zenith)-girls under 20 javelin (39.00)

  • 41.48m-3rd NAAA Development Meet, Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, Sunday, January 21
  • 42.60m-8th NAAA Development Meet, Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, Sunday, February 12


Tyriq Horsford (Signal Hill Secondary/Zenith)-boys under 18 javelin (59.00m)

  • 73.17m-8th NAAA Development Meet, Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, Sunday, February 12


Clarence Hannibal(Signal Hill Secondary/Tobago Falcons)-boys under 20 discus (47.00)

  • 48.28-8th NAAA Development Meet, Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, Sunday, February 12


Safiya John (Scarborough Secondary/Kaizen Panthers)-girls under 18 long jump (5.45m)

  • 5.48m-8th NAAA Development Meet, Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, Sunday, February 12


Avindale Smith (Queen's Royal College/Abilene Wildcats)-boys under 18 400m-49.25

  • 49.06-4th NAAA Development Meet, Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, Saturday, January 21


Jerod Elcock (Queen's Royal College/Abilene Wildcats)-boys under 20 200m (21.40)

  • 21.26-6th NAAA Development Meet, Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, Sunday, February 5


Ayla Stanisclaus (Scarborough Secondary/Zenith)-girls under 18 200m (25.15)

  • 25.11-3rd NAAA Development Meet, Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, Sunday, January 21



​The Ninth NAAAA Development Meet is carded for the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella on Sunday, February 19.