Naomi MacGuinness lays waste to Duffy record
The BSSF Middle School Athletics Championships at Flora Duffy Stadium were the scene for joyous celebration among the island’s finest young stars of tomorrow, but particularly for Naomi MacGuinness, who shattered a track record held by our eponymous heroine.
Dame Flora Duffy evolved from the track into the multidisciplinary sphere of triathlon en route to becoming Olympic champion in Tokyo four years ago. Before she had ideas of swimming, cycling and running faster than anyone in the world, the former Warwick Academy student put down a marker in the girls 1,500 metres that stood until MacGuinness strode upon the scene.
With a waspish efficiency reminiscent of her predecessor, MacGuinness not only conquered her peers in the under-12 division but was fastest male or female at the meet while obliterating Duffy’s record by 11 seconds in a time of 5min 2.32sec. It came after she had broke the 800 record the previous week.
This performance alone was not enough to make MacGuinness champion girl, as that honour went to Ava St Luce, of Saltus, who won the 100 metres and long jump, and finished second in the 200.
Saltus Knights successfully defended their overall team title with 607.5 points, with Whitney Institute second on 516 and Sandys Secondary third with 414. Saltus edged Bermuda High School in wining the girls division, while Whitney comfortably won the boys division, with the Knights second.
Other top performers included Ajani Trott, of Saltus, who broke the 400 record on his way to winning the under-12 boys title in 1:10.60; Sukanya Jobson, who swept the board in the 400, 800 and 1,500 at under-13 level; Leydi Raynor with a 100-200 double; Whitney’s A’Daj O’Brien, who had the pace to claim the 100 and 200, and still the brawn to win the shot put; Carifta Games participant Amaya Samuels, who pulled an identical treble in the over-13 girls category; and Timothy Pearman, of Whitney, who was unstoppable in the 400, 800 and 1,500.
Overall
1 Saltus 607.50
2 Whitney 516
3 Sandys 14
4 Warwick Academy 390
5 BHS 284
6 Somersfield Academy 240.50
7 Mount Saint Agnes 150
8 Dellwood 125
9 Bermuda Institute 70
10 Francis Patton 43
11 Purvis 21
Girls
1 Saltus 289.50
2 BHS 284
3 Warwick Academy 209.50
4 Sandys 179
5 Whitney 173.50
6 Somersfield Academy 129
7 Mount Saint Agnes 76.50
8 Dellwood 46
9 Purvis 18
10 Bermuda Institute 16
11 Francis Patton 12
Boys
1 Whitney Institute 342.50
2 Saltus 318
3 Sandys 235
4 Warwick Academy 180.50
5 Somersfield Academy 111.50
6 Dellwood 79
7 Mount Saint Agnes 73.50
8 Bermuda Institute 54
9 Francis Patton 31
10 Chatmore Academy 4
11 Purvis 3
• Individual results can be found in the print edition on Wednesday
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