Veteran sprinter Cline wins 100 meter race in California

BY DEAN GREENAWAY

An environmental change and greater frequency of competition has Keita Cline, the BVI’s most seasoned sprinter, coming into his own this season where he’s within 1/100 of a second off his 100 meter career best.

Like every elite athlete chasing a World Championships qualifying standard, Cline, the sprint veteran recorded a season’s best performance to win the Occidental College Invitational 100 meters on Saturday, in Eagle Rock, California, then followed up with a second place finish in the 200 meters.

“The hundred was OK. My coach and training buddies all had it at 10.3, but there’s no fooling the fully electronic timer,” Cline who currently represents New Era Track Club said after pushing his body to a 10.45 seconds run—the fastest by and BVI athlete this year, just missing his 10.44 best from two years ago.

The BVI’s Long and Triple Jump record holder then came back to stop the clock at 21.21 seconds in the 200 meters, his second fastest time this season, behind last week’s 21.19.

“In the 200, it should have easily been sub 21, but, a bad stumble out of the block had me running from behind to start,” noted Cline of his consistency. “All in all, I’m not overly disappointed, but eager for the next few runs. I just wish I could have had the opportunity to come home and run on the track that was to be.”.

Elsewhere, University of New Orleans Jr. Ludence Smith, produced a season’s best 1 minute 56.27 seconds 800 meter time, the second fastest of his career, behind his 1:55.79 from 2004. Smith, who will compete in the Sun Belt Conference championships at his home track, was fifth overall.

Adriana Herbert, the University of Texas-Pan American sprinter and second fastest BVI female sprinter this year, ended her season at Saturday’s Houston Invitational, with a collegiate 400 meter debut and a career best one minute 1.44 seconds over the one lap run. She recorded a time of 26.19 in the 200 meters, well off her 25.08 season’s best. “I was very tired after that 400,” Herbert said. “I went out in 25 seconds over the first 200 meters, and man, I really died in the last 100 meters. But, my coach said I’ll have to run more 400s next year.”

At the Puerto Rico Sr. Circuit meet in San German, Sanya Penn lowered her 200 meter best to 25.39 with a second place finish. She equaled her week old Long Jump best of 5.46 meters (17’11”) to win the event. She fourth in the 100 meters in 12.61 seconds, behind teammates Jackhel King’s second place finish in 12.53 and Steina Fleming’s 12.57. King became the 10th BVI performer under 26 seconds in the 200 meters, with her third place run of 25.89. Karene King and Fleming were fifth and sixth in 26.47 and 26.67 respectively.

Bianca Dougan was second in the 400 meters in 59.38, while Leniece Lewis lowered her best to 1:00.20. Dougan came back with a personal best 800 meter effort of 2 minutes, 26.52 seconds.

Among the men, Aliston Potter was fourth in the 100 meters in 11.02 and had a 22.39 time in the 200 meters. Ralston Henry recorded a times of 11.30 and 24.92 and was second in the Long Jump with a mark of 7.11 meters (23’4”). Dwight Brookes covered his 100 meters in 11.43; Mark Kendall, 11.53 and Keone Maduro, 11.81. Kendall ran his 200 meters in 22.70; Maduro, 23.32; Shaun Williams, 23.52 and 52.60 in the 400 meters. Linden Peters had an 800 meter best of 2:00.69.

Starting yesterday, University of Alabama Jr. Tahesia Harrigan competes at the SEC Championships in Nashville, Tenn. Harrigan has a season’s best of 11.42 seconds in the 100 meters which has her tied for seventh on the conference list. Her 200 meter season’s best of 23.93, is the 20th best performance in the Mid-east Region, while her 100 meter time is fifth overall.