By Saikou Jawo
The much-anticipated athletics competition in Basse kicked off with an electrifying atmosphere as spectators turned out in large numbers to witness some of The Gambia’s finest young sprinters in action. The first day of the event showcased intense competition among secondary school athletes, setting the stage for an exciting showdown in the finals.
100m U18 Girls Heats
In the Senior Secondary School (SSS) category, ScanAid’s Haddy Jarju dominated the first heat, claiming first position ahead of Aminata Beyai from Maahad and Sally Foon from Mingdaw, who finished second and third, respectively.
The second heat saw Hawa B Kuyateh from Brikamaba taking the top spot, with Aisha Camara of St. George’s and Awa Kebbeh from Farafenni securing second and third place.
100m U18 Boys Heats
The boys’ U18 heats were equally competitive. Hatab Touray from Maahad sprinted to victory in heat one, leaving Abubacarr Jammeh of St. Peter’s and Musa Kujabi from Jamisa to settle for second and third place.
In heat two, Tijan Sallah of St. George’s emerged as the fastest, followed closely by Louie Mendy from Essau and Buba Ceesay of Niamina.
100m Open Girls Heats
Maahad’s Serreh Sanneh stole the show in the first open girls’ heat, finishing ahead of Kaddijatou Balajo from Mingdaw and Isatou Manka from Nemasu, who secured second and third place.
100m Open Boys Heats
The boys’ open heats also delivered thrilling moments. Simon Mendy from Bansang clinched first position in heat two, with Tijan Janneh from Farafenni finishing second and Mustapha Jawara of St. George’s taking third.
4x100m Open Boys Relay
The relay heats concluded the day with a spectacular performance from Maahad, who finished first in the 4x100m open boys’ relay. Jamisa secured second place, while Latrikunda Sabiji (LK Sabiji) finished third.
Shocking Disqualification of Amadou Sabally
The biggest shock of the day came in the 100m open boys’ heats, where Latrikunda Sabiji’s star sprinter, Amadou Sabally, was disqualified for a false start. Sabally, a fan favorite and one of the event’s top contenders, saw his hopes of reaching the finals dashed. His disqualification was a major blow to both his supporters and the competition, as many had traveled to Basse specifically to watch him in action.
With day one wrapped up, all eyes now turn to the finals on Saturday, where the best athletes will compete for ultimate glory. Stay tuned for more thrilling action from the Basse Mini Stadium!
