Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
Holmwood's Sonita Sutherland (right) grimaces in pain as she crosses the finish line to win the girls' Under-20 400m in a personal best 51.23 seconds ahead of UTech's Kaliese Spencer, who also did a personal best 51.57, at yesterday's JAAA Carifta Games trials held at the Stadium East complex. - Andrew Smith/Photography Editor
HOLMWOOD TECHNICAL'S Sonita Sutherland shone the brightest on yesterday's final day of the 2006 Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association's (JAAA) Carifta Games trials at the National Stadium East complex.
The little warrior from Manchester stamped her class on the 400-metre field, which indicated that she is ready for the 'big guns'.
In what many described as one of the best run they have seen on local soil, Sutherland stopped the clock in a sizzling 51.23, bettering her personal best of 51.96 done on Friday's opening day.
In the first round on Friday, Sutherland, who bettered her then PB of 52.10, said she was properly prepared.
"I was ready today," she said after the race yesterday. "My coach (Maurice Wilson) made sure that I warmed up properly.
"This is the best run of my life so I am very happy," she added.
Kaliese Spencer, who challenged Sutherland at the top of the straight, said she would have rather drawn behind the winner.
"I just wanted to go out hard ... I'm not good with the best person running behind me, I rather them in front of me. I just went out there and did my best. When I got to the 200m, she caught me there, but I guess it was a good run still," she said of her 51.6 for second. "I am very proud of myself; I haven't started my speed work yet ... so, I am very grateful for that."
In the boys' Under-20 event, the three top athletes, Allodin Fothergill of G.C. Foster (46.33), Jair Francis of Manchester (46.84) and Tarik Edwards (46.89), went under 47 seconds.
Akino Ming of Happy Grove (48.53) and Latoya McDermott of St. Andrew (53.64) won the Under-17 boys' and girls' races, respectively.
In the boys' Under-20 200m, Yohan Blake returned from a disappointing 100m run to win in 21.57.
Blake, the Carifta Under-17 sprint double gold medallist, said, "I just went out there and did my best".
In the 100m, Blake ran 10.46 for third behind Remaldo Rose (10.29) and Cawayne Jervis (10.45) and agreed with observers that his drive phase let him down.
"That was actually my let down, because I went out there with confidence in myself, but my drive phase was too long," Blake said.
Holmwood's Anastasia Le-Roy won the girls' Under-20 200m in 23.82 ahead of Naffene Briscoe of Edwin Allen (24.68).
Jura Levy of Vere (24.60) beat 100m champion Carrie Russell of St. Thomas (24.99) in the Under-17s.
The boys' Under-17 event went to Mannings' Darrion Bent (22.13) with Ramone McKenzie of Calabar (22.26) second.
