Keliza Smith Smashes National 200m Record to Cap Blazing Week for Guyanese Sprinters at NCAA Regionals
By Delwin Neblett | HGP Nightly News |
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY — Following a spectacular personal record by teammate Malachi Austin, Guyanese international track star Keliza Smith went a step further on Thursday afternoon. The 23-year-old Louisiana State University (LSU) standout shattered a nine-year-old milestone to establish a new women’s 200-meter national record during the outdoor first-round qualifiers at the 2026 NCAA Division I East Regionals, hosted at the University of Kentucky.
Powering out of the blocks in the sixth heat of the preliminary tier, Smith maintained excellent velocity around the curve before executing a dominant linear sprint down the final 100 meters.
Smith crossed the finish line in a blistering 22.78 seconds with a legally permitted tailwind of 0.9 m/s. The remarkable time eclipsed the previous Guyanese senior national outdoor benchmark of 22.94 seconds, set by Olympian Brenessa Thompson in 2017. Smith’s third-place finish in her heat automatically punches her ticket to the regional quarterfinal brackets scheduled for Friday evening.
ATHLETICS: Lloyd McCurdy Leaps to Gold and New Personal Record at Icahn Stadium
Guyana’s horizontal jumpers also made major waves on the East Coast on Wednesday during the 2026 USATF NY Open & Masters Track & Field Championships, held at the iconic Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island, New York.
National triple jumper Lloyd McCurdy delivered a highly technical masterclass on the runway, timing his hop, step, and jump phases perfectly to storm to an uncontested victory. McCurdy locked down the gold medal with a flying leap of 16.18 meters, registering a new personal record in the event and signaling strong competitive form as international selectors compile matrices for upcoming regional games.
CRICKET: West Indies Women Crush Ireland by 8 Wickets in Tri-Series Opener
The West Indies Women’s cricket team launched their 2026 Evara International T20 Tri-Series campaign with a completely dominant, eight-wicket victory over host nation Ireland at the Clontarf Cricket Club ground in Dublin on Thursday.
After winning the toss and electing to field, the Windies’ bowling attack applied intense pressure. Left-arm spinner Qiana Joseph dismantled the middle-order, delivering a stingy spell to finish with match-winning figures of 3 wickets for 8 runs across two overs as Ireland collapsed to 103 all out in 17 overs.
The chase was a mere formality for West Indies captain Hayley Matthews, who put on an absolute masterclass in boundary hitting. Matthews systematically picked apart the Irish fielders, hammering a brilliant, unbeaten 82 runs off just 44 deliveries. Backed by clean power-hitting, the Windies reached 104 for the loss of just two wickets in 11.3 overs to secure a comfortable win.
CRICKET: Windies Women Make it Back-to-Back Wins with 25-Run Triumph Over Pakistan
Sticking with the international tri-series in Dublin, the West Indies Women returned to the Clontarf Cricket Club crease earlier today to preserve their unbeaten run, logging a gritty 25-run victory over a resilient Pakistan lineup.
| Innings Phase / Team Track | Total Runs / Wickets | Maximum Individual Contributor |
| West Indies Women (Batting First) | 199/6 (20.0 Overs) | Jannillea Glasgow – 42 Runs |
| Pakistan Women (Chasing Target) | 174/8 (20.0 Overs) | Aliya Riaz – 37 Runs |
Opting to bat first after a successful toss, the West Indies side set a mammoth total of 199 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs. Lower-order batter Jannillea Glasgow led the scoring with a fast-paced 42, providing late-innings acceleration alongside valuable cameos from Stafanie Taylor (39) and Chinelle Henry (33*).
Faced with a demanding required run rate of 10.0 per over, Pakistan’s chase frequently stuttered against regular breakthroughs. Experienced batting all-rounder Aliya Riaz fought hard with a top score of 37, but the Windies’ bowling discipline proved decisive. Seamers Shawnisha Hector (2 for 21) and Chinelle Henry (2 for 13) choked the scoring lanes during the death overs, capping Pakistan at 174 for 8 to close out a comprehensive victory.
FOOTBALL: Soesdyke Falcons and Herstelling Raiders Advance in Elite Qualifiers
Local club football returned to the East Bank Demerara corridor on Wednesday afternoon, as the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) staged two highly anticipated matchups in the 2026 Elite League Qualifiers at the GFF National Training Center in Providence.
While the opening fixture concluded abruptly with the Herstelling Raiders taking home full walkover points due to a structural forfeit by Friendship FC, the secondary encounter delivered plenty of action. The Soesdyke Falcons secured a comfortable 3–1 victory over the Mocha Spartans. Striker Terrence Glasgow led the charge with a clinical double, while teammate Shakum Billison found the back of the net to seal the match and keep the Falcons flying high in the tournament standings.
