K'Cei Moses set a new PB in his 100m sprint, crossing the with a time of 11.13. Photo: BVIAA

Khybah Dawson in the Long Jump. Photo: Provided

Arianna Hayde goes over the bar to win the High Jump on her way to a new National Youth Record in the Heptathlon. Photo: BVIAA

Dijimon Gumbs establishing yet another National Youth Record in the shot put with a throw of 16.43m was the highlight of the opening day, (the previous record was 16.33m at the 2016 Carifta Games in Grenada.), but there were many others as Athletics begins to build up into the heat of the season.

Joshua Hill established a personal best in the under 18 Boy’s 800m with a time 2:01.49, Adriano Gumbs established a personal best in the Open male 400m with a time of 49.37 and on the female side, L’T’Sha Fahie established a personal best in the 400m with a time of 58.16.

However, it was Arianna Hayde who shone the brightest, established a PB and a Youth National record in the heptathlon scoring 4,057 points. Her High Jump, competing against Xiamora Malone and Z’Niah Hitchinson as the bar reached 1.55m was full of tension as the girls duked it out, but it was Hayde who made the clearance that mattered to win the event.

Jelani Norman established a new Octathlon record with 4,239 points.

Xiomara Malone established a PB in the Heptathlon scoring 3,430 points.

Other results

Elsewhere and Overseas, Rikkoi Brathwaite ran the 55m in 6.63 seconds to place 4^th out of a total of 128 competitors at the David Oliver Invitation in Winston-Salem NC. Brathwaite also ran the 300m in 37 seconds to place 19^th out of 153 competitors.

Ashley Kelly opened her season in the 200m with a time of 24.15s at Boston University.

13 year old Nechanti Thomas placed 3^rd (out of 38 competitors) in the 60m dash with a time of 8.45s in Birmingham Alabama.

Jonel Lacey placed 6^th in the 200m with a time of 25.06s and aided her teammates in the 4X400m to secure 2^nd with a time of 3:44.98 at the Ocean Breeze Complex, Staten Island.

Trevia Gumbs placed 2^nd in the weight throw with a toss of 17.43m at the Findlay Throwers meet.

Tynelle Gumbs established a PB in the shot put with a throw of 13.23m.and also had an opportunity to compete in the elite section of the Weight Throw event to place 2^nd with a throw of 20.53m.

Tarique Moses placed 1^st in his heat in the 600m with a pb of 1:22.70 seconds to improve his previous 1.25 seconds at Paradise Valley in Phoenix.

The next development meet will continue on Saturday February 4, 2017.