Smith sends out Mile warning
Chayce Smith has shattered his qualifying time for the KPMG Invitational Mile and put down a marker for the Elite event.
The Bermudian finished his recent trial run in four minutes, 18.5 seconds, easily eclipsing the 4:27.60 seconds he ran in qualifying last year.
Smith was a whopping 29 seconds ahead of second-place qualifier Gary Raynor (4:47.69) with Steven Allen third in a time of 4:53.14 in the men’s open trial.
Raynor won the men’s open race last year out but that was because Smith competed in the Elite Mile when his time of 4:20.95 was good enough for fourth, .75 seconds behind Elite winner Phllip Lagat (4:20.20).
Organisers have yet to confirm if Smith will be allowed to compete in the Elite Mile next month. However, if he doesn’t he would be a firm favourite to win the local men’s race.
In the women’s trial race on Sunday at the National Sports, Centre Tamika Williams ran 4:17.89 to finish nearly 10 seconds ahead of last year’s Open mile winner Jennifer Alen (5:27.75), while Deon Breary was third in a time of 5:49.49.
Alen comfortably beat Williams to first place in the Invitational Mile in last January, however Williams clocked a time of 5:37.60 then and her most recent run would suggest she is better equipped to challenge Alen this time out.
In the senior boys’ race, Juma Mouchette’s qualifying time of 4:44.58 is likely to make him a favourite to win now that Shaquille Dill who pipped him at the finish line last year is ineligible to run.
There will also be a new winner in the senior girls’ race next month with Taylor-Ashley Bean, who won in 2009 and 2010, having graduated from High School.
Kyrah Scraders (5:42.11) and Shuntae Hendrickson (5:47.53) both laid down markers at the trials, although Rachel Fox, who finished third in 2010, will be a contender.
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Published Dec 8, 2011 at 8:29 am (Updated Dec 8, 2011 at 8:27 am)