Jul 5 2008
Lucozade and Morne Stars win Big at Nationals 2008
By Kendell “Scady” Eugene

Morne Stars Athletics Club on Sunday June 22, 2008 made sponsors Lucozade extremely proud after their participation in the National Track and Field Championships produced a total of 9 gold, 9 silver and 7 bronze medals, totaling 25. Mandela Clifford was also the joint winner of the Senior Victor Ludurom Award after winning 2 gold medals in the 100 m and 200 metre events with times of 10.34 and 21.22 s respectively.

Morne Stars was represented by a contingent of local and overseas based athletes led by Mandela Clifford who is currently enrolled at Mid America Nazarene University in Olathe Kansas, Burke Leonce of Troy University in Troy Alabama, Travis Joseph of Grambling State University in Lousiana, a former national junior champion and Leander Ernest from Missouri State University in Springfield U.S.A. Locally the team was captained by the experienced national record holder in the Long and Triple Jump event and supplemented with the likes of Chad Phillip, Curby Anthony, Richard Lovence, Kevin Lesporis, Kenicia Darcia, Kenson Nicolas, Jod Charles and Danny Adley. Special mention must also be made of the 13 and under athletes, Shakim Alexander, Jody Samuel and Jahniah Daniel.

It was an all round performance by the stars in yellow. Leander Earnest lived up to her expectations winning gold in the 200 m and 400 metres (24.12 & 56.72 s) respectively. Morne Stars dominated the male sprint events and gold in both sprint relays as well as a clean sweep of all medals in the senior male 200 metre event featuring Mandela Clifford, Burke Leonce and Curby Anthony. Another clean sweep for Morne Stars was highlighted in the Triple Jump open event, Travis Joseph (14.61 m), Kenson Nicolas (13.90 m) and Quentin Anthony (13.41 m). Danny Adley won gold in the men’s discus event (33.19 m) as well as Kenisha Darcie in the women’s discus (25.65 m) Other notable performances were performed by Kevin Lesporis who won gold in the 110 m hurdles (16.11 s) and Jod Charles with a silver in the men’s shot putt event (11.44 m)
The last event for the day showcased the powerful quartet of Mandela Clifford, Richard Lovence, Curby Anthony and Burke Leonce who won in the 4 x 400 m sprint relay (3:27.68). Lucozade congratulates Morne Stars Athletics Club on a job well done.