_{Photo: SCA – Nyasha Harris wins GOLD in 100m}

by William Ysaguirre

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, Thurs. Oct. 10, 2024

The Belize high school male (M) and female (F) athletes won 5 medals: 1 Gold, 1 Silver and 3 Bronze at the XXI CODICADER (Commission of Central American Integration for Sports and Recreation) Under-17 Scholastic Games at the INDES Jorge Magico Gonzalez Stadium in San Salvador from Monday to Wednesday, October 7-9.

Nyasha Harris of St. Catherine Academy won Belize’s first Gold medal in the (F) 100 meters in 12.31 on Monday evening, while Costa Rica’s Rihana Mora claimed the Silver in 12.55 secs, and Panama’s Alessandra Sarmales took the Bronze in 12.88 secs. Nyasha had won her first heat in 12.58 seconds in the morning, with Emani Sandoval clocking 13.90 secs to finish 6th in the 2nd heat.

Nyasha won Silver in the (F) 200 meters in 25.58 seconds on Tuesday, while Costa Rica’s Rihana Mora edged her at the same 25.58 secs for Gold, and Panama’s Ivanna McFarlane took the Bronze in 25.65. Nyasha had qualified by winning the first heat in 26.22 seconds. Sandoval ran 5th in 28.91 secs in the 2nd heat, but did not advance to the final.

Nyasha also won Bronze when she teamed up with Emani Sandoval, Odierre Bautista and Isis Casimiro to finish 3rd in the (F) 4×100 meters relay in 52.94 seconds, while Guatemala won the Gold in 51.14secs, and Costa Rica took Silver in 51.57secs.

Tamia Bennett of Wesley College flopped over the bar at 1.51 meters to win Bronze in the (F) high jump, while Costa Rica’s Valentina Brenes won Gold at 1.68m, and El Salvador’s Lucia Marinero took the Silver at 1.54m.

Austin Lennan of Sacred Heart College also won Bronze in (M) high jump, clearing the bar at 1.80m, while Guatemala’s Denceel Alvarez won the Gold at 1.90m, and Costa Rica’s Andres Nuñez took Silver at 1.83m.