Harrigan runs 11.37 to equal 100 meter National Record

BY DEAN GREENAWAY

It was another banner weekend for BVI track and field athletes as no less then three levels of national records were either broken or equaled. The territory’s top female sprinter Tahesia Harrigan, equaled her BVI 100 meter national record by winning her semi-final heat at the South Eastern Conference Championships in Nashville, Tenn., on Saturday, then placed fourth overall on Sunday, as she scored in three events—100, 200 meters and Long Jump.

Running in the third heat, Harrigan, an Alabama Crimson Tide Jr., was timed in 11.37 seconds, equaling the mark she established at the Big 10 Conference Championships in Madison, Wis., on May 19, 2002. She had an 11.44 seconds time in Sunday’s final.

“I more or less give the race up,” Harrigan said. “My start was brilliant and I was ahead of the pack. After 60 meters where I should have just kept my form, relax and let it go, I more or less pressed and that caused me the victory,” she explained.

Before her 100 meter final, Harrigan was eight in the Long Jump with a wind aided leap of 6.06 meters (19’10¾”)—the same distance she had at the April 16 Mt. Sac Relays in California. Harrigan who ran a 200 meter season’s best of 23.60, the second fastest time in her career on Friday—the seventh best time overall going in and finished seventh in the finals after running 24.09. “The 200 meters was a lost case, because my mind was already shot from the 100,” she pointed out.

Harrigan said she was depressed with what happened, but, will use her performance as a motivator for the NCAA Regional, where she’s eyeing an NCAA Championships berth. “At regional, I’m looking for 11.20 or low 11.30s or top three at least, but hopefully going home with the victory,” she pointed out. “I’m not thinking about the 200 meters though. I don’t think that is one of my strongest events.”

Harrigan will also contest the Long Jump at regional and is encouraged by her weekend performance, where she said on one of her jumps she fouled by what she described as ‘the size of a needle.’

“My jump was a little over 21’, so with that, I think I will be successful,” she noted. “I’ll just run the 100 and long jump, if I get my wish.” Harrigan competes in the Mid East Region in Bloomington, Indiana on May 27-28. In the region, she is currently ranked third in the 100 meters; 10th in the 200 and 21st in the Long Jump.

At the Big West Conference Championships in Irvine, Calif. Kevin Fahie advanced to the finals of the 200 and 400 meters on Friday, after third and second place finishes in his heat respectively. The Cal State Northridge Jr. posted times of 21.66 and 48.21 seconds. He was fourth in Saturday’s 200 meter final in 21.67, but had a disappointing 49.00 fifth place time in the 400 meters. “I was really tired,” Fahie said. “My legs were not having it but, I recovered for the team in the 200 that clinched the championship for us.”

University of New Orleans Jr. Ludence Smith failed to advance to the 800 meter finals of the Sun Belt Conference, after recording a time of 1 minute, 58.02 seconds, for fifth in his heat and 15th overall.

At the weekend Austin Sealy Classic in Barbados, a BVI national Youth Long Jump record and a Jr. Women’s and Youth 4 x 400 meter relay records were broken.

Sprinter Sanya Penn walked off with the meet’s Most Outstanding Female Athlete award. She placed second while breaking Tahesia Harrigan’s eight year old Youth Long Jump mark of 5.62 meters (18’5¼”) for athletes under 18 years, when she cut the sand at 5.85 meters (19’2¼”). The jump was a personal best effort and eclipsed the 5.46 (17’11”) established two weeks ago. Penn was also second in the 200 meters in 12.36 seconds after running a career best 12.35 in the semis then added another personal best 25.15 in the 200 meters, to surpass last week’s 25.44 mark in Puerto Rico. She qualified for the July, World Youth Championships in Canada, in all three events.

The quartet of Samantha John, Britney Wattley, Chantel Malone and Bianca Dougan, shattered the national Jr. 4 x 400 meter record of 4 minutes 5 seconds, set at last year’s St. Croix’s Crippiani Sprint Classic, by piercing the four minute barrier for the first time with a winning time of 3:59.41.

Coach Dag Samuels said besides the records, several athletes had season and personal best performances. “The kids really performed to their optimal level,” Samuels noted. “They need competition week in week out in order to be able to bring out the best in our athletes.”

Carifta Games bronze medalist Chantel Malone won the Under 15 division Long Jump and 400 meters before placing second to teammate Britney Wattley in the 200 meters.

“The whole group all in all did very well,” Samuels said.

BVI performances. 100 Meters, Under 17 Girls. 5. Shamora Penn. Boys: 1. Michael Butler, 11.51. Open: 2. Sanya Penn, 12.36. 3. Steina Fleming, 12.45. 4. Jackhel King, 12.86. Male: Ralston Henry, 11.31. Dwight Brookes, 11.54. Keone Maduro, 11.54.

400 Meters. U-17 Girls: 1. Chantel Malone, 59.3. 2. Bianca Dougan, 59.8. 6. Samantha John, 67.6. (Heats) Britney Wattley, 61.84. Kanishque Todman, 62.31. Open, Male: Shaun Williams, 51.50. Mitch Christopher, 52.44.

200 Meters U-15. 1. Britney Wattley, 25.94. 2. Chantel Malone, 26.54. 8. Keita Maduro, 28.36. 11. Threcia Phillips, 28.85. U-17 Boys; 2. Michael Butler, 23.46. Open Girls: 1. Sanya Penn, 25.15. 4. Jackhel King, 26.11. 5. Steina Flemming, 26.17. 12. Mitch Christopher, 23.44. Keone Maduro, 23.51.

800 Meters Open: 2. Bianca Dougan, 2 minutes 25.9. 4. Samantha John, 2:27.8. Male: Linden Peters, 2:07.41.

Long Jump; U-15: 1. Chantel Malone, 5.16 meters (16’11”). 3. Kanishque Todman, 4.55 (14’11”). Open Male: 2. Ralston Henry, 7.08 (23’2¾”). 3. Michael Butler, 6.23 (20’5¼”).

Javelin Throw; Open: 1. Omar Jones 49.98 meters, (164’0”). 2. Cliff Williams, 41.89 (137’5”). 3. Kyle Francis, 22.98 (75’4”).

Shot Put; Open: 2. Cliff Williams, 11.93 meters (39’1½”). 3. Kyle Francis, 11.58 (38’0”).