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Considered as the new jewels of Seychelles athletics, Marius Vinda and Yannick Ernesta were the record breakers, while Danny D’Souza equalled the male senior 60m hand timing record of 6.5 seconds.

A former hockey player, D’Souza has now become the third athlete after Alex Faure (on March 23, 1996) and Danny Benoit (on February 21, 1998) to stop the clock at 6.5 seconds over the distance.

Marius Vinda seems to be following in the footsteps of his father François Vinda – a former sprinter. At only 12 years old, Marius Vinda knows that he has the potential to develop into a good sprinter and training with Joseph Volcy has been doing the tricks for him lately.

On Saturday at Stad Popiler, Vinda broke three hand timing records and equalled a fourth. His first record came in the 60m race where he clocked 7.5 seconds to improve the old colt category best of 7.8 seconds belonging to Yannick Ernesta. His time of 7.5 seconds also equalled the boy record being held by three individuals – Jean-Paul Poonoo (February 22, 1997), Terry Mellon (January 29, 2000) and Ivans Mellon (February 26, 2000).

In the 150m race, Vinda stopped the clock at 17.7 seconds to improve two records in the colt and boy categories. The old colt best time of 19.9 seconds belonged to Martin Morel (set on February 22, 1997), while Christopher Laurencine held the old boy time of 18.0 seconds set on February 28, 2004.

Speaking to Sports Nation, Vinda said:
“I did not expect to break the three records but even though I did not know the old times, I had the feeling that I was running fast and that the records could fall. I’m happy with my progress as training with coach Volcy (Joseph) has helped me to vary my training techniques. Now I want to rub shoulders with the likes of Danny (D’Souza), Yannick (Ernesta) and Mervin (Loizeau) just for me to see how fast I can run.”

Entering the meeting with a personal best time of 6.9 seconds, Yannick Ernesta finished the fourth 60m heat strongly to take second place behind winner D’Souza (6.5 seconds) and was credited with a hand time of 6.7 seconds.

Ernesta not only relegated senior sprinter Mervin Loizeau into third place, but broke his youth record of 6.8 seconds set on February 28, 2004.

A Secondary Five student of Belonie Secondary School, Ernesta, 15, was also in the starting blocks of the 150m race and he negotiated the bend well to cross the finish line in 16.3 seconds, one hundredth of a second faster than the previous best youth mark of 16.4 seconds belonging to Christopher Laurencine since February 18, 2006.

Ernesta’s time also equalled Mervin Loizeau’s 16.3-second junior mark set two years ago (on February 18, 2006).
“I’m happy I got the records and I hope to progress further as a sprinter,” said Ernesta.

Meanwhile, on the field, Ronny Bristol of the Top Racers club established a new hammer best distance of 27.09m in the boy category.

…………….

The complete results

Female 60m heat 1
1st Stephanie Agathe (Fast Track, youth) 8.4 seconds
2nd Meline Crispin (Fast Track, girl) 8.7 seconds
3rd Matty Molta (Top Racers, girl) 8.8 seconds
4th Jane Agathine (Fast Track, youth) 9.0 seconds
5th Christy Commettant (Belonie Star, colt) 9.5 seconds

Female 60m heat 2
1st Alice Khan (River Star, junior) 7.7 seconds
2nd Janet Boniface (Spartan, youth) 7.9 seconds
3rd Michelle Bristol (Spartan, junior) 8.1 seconds
4th Bergitta Sylla (Fast Track, youth) 8.3 seconds

 Male 60m heat one
1st Julio Brown (Top Racers, colt) 8.4 seconds
2nd Bertran Lajoie (Top Racers, colt) 8.5 seconds
3rd Kenner Nourrice (Top Racers, colt) 8.7 seconds
4th Neil Magnan (Top Racers, colt) 8.9 seconds

Male 60m heat two
1st Nicholas Etienne (Belonie Star, youth) 7.2 seconds
2nd Marius Vinda (Spartan, colt) 7.5 seconds (new colt record and equal boy record)
3rd Lester Augustin (Spartan, boy) 7.9 seconds
4th Dyland Nalletamby (River Star, youth) 8.1 seconds
5th Carlos Ernesta (River Star, youth) 8.5 seconds

Male 60m heat three
1st Ryan Benoit (River Star, youth) 7.3 seconds
2nd Carlos Marianne (River Star, youth) 7.4 seconds
3rd Travis Monthy (East Coast, youth) 7.7 seconds

Male 60m heat four
1st Danny D’Souza (River Star, senior) 6.5 seconds (equal senior record)
2nd Yannick Ernesta (River Star, youth) 6.7 seconds (youth record)
3rd Mervin Loizeau (East Coast, senior) 6.9 seconds
4th Yannick Vidot (River Star, youth) 7.3 seconds
5th Norris Ladouce (PLS.Sc, junior) 7.5 seconds
6th Ricardo Suzette (River Star, boy) 8.0 seconds

Male 150m heat one
1st Ryan Benoit (River Star, youth) 17.6 seconds
2nd Marius Vinda (Spartan, colt) 17.7 seconds (new colt and boy records)
3rd Carlos Marianne (River Star, youth) 17.8 seconds
4th Dyland Nalletamby (River Star, youth) 18.1 seconds
5th Steven Rath (River Star, youth) 19.7 seconds
6th Carlos Ernesta (River Star, youth) 20.2 seconds

Male 150m heat two
1st Yannick Ernesta (River Star, youth) 16.3 seconds (youth record and equal junior record)
2nd Travis Hardy (Fast Track, senior) 16.4 seconds
3rd Leeroy Albert (River Star, youth) 16.5 seconds
4th Ricardo Suzette (River Star, youth) 16.6 seconds
5th Yannick Vidot (River Star, youth) 20.1 seconds
6th Joel Rath (East Coast, youth) 20.3 seconds

Male 600m final
1st Randolph Prudence (East Coast, boy) 1:31.7
2nd Jordan Scott (East Coast, boy) 1:57.9

Female 600m final
1st Simone Japha (East Coast, senior) 1:47.9
2nd Stephanie Augustin (Spartan, youth) 1:53.2
3rd Marie-Antoinette Robert (River Star, youth) 1:57.3
4th Stephanie Underwood (East Coast, girl) 2:08.6
Natifa Youpa (River Star, youth) DNF

Female long jump
1st Janet Boniface (Spartan, youth) 5.45m
2nd Lisa Labiche (East Coast, youth) 4.88m
3rd Anna Barra (River Star, senior) 3.99m

Male long jump
1st Jude Sidonie (River Star, senior) 6.93m
2nd Hazeron Etienne (PLS.Sc. senior) 6.34m
3rd Lester Augustin (Spartan, boy) 5:53m
4th Mervin Battin (Spartan, junior) 5.39m
5th Alex Confait (East Coast, youth) 4.97m
6th Bertran Lajoie (Top Racers, colt) 4.43m
7th Julio Brown (Top Racers, colt) 4.39m
8th Neil Magnan (Top Racers, colt) 4.05m

Female hammer throw
1st Sheena Dogley (PLS.Sc, youth) 22.82 m

Male hammer throw
1st Ronny Bristol (Top Racers, boy) 27.09m (record established)

Female discus throw
1st Sheena Dogley (PLS.Sc, youth) 24.60m

G. G.