Bajan hockey lasses pick up bronze

BARBADOS have their ninth medal at the Central American and Caribbean Games.Keisha Jordan and Nakira Downes hit second-half strikes to break open a close contest as the women’s hockey team upended the Dominican Republic 3-1 in yesterday’s bronze medal match in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.The third-place victory gave Barbados a fourth bronze at the games to go with three gold and two silver over the previous 12 days of competition. Nicole Brathwaite opened the game’s scoring on a first-half field goal in the 27th minute before the Dominican Republic responded just seven minutes after intermission via a penalty corner.But Jordan (48th) and Downes (54th) netted in quick succession to lift the Bajan lasses to their third successive bronze medal at this level.Their male counterparts are also in line to win another bronze in today’s contest against the Netherland Antilles at 2 p.m.National high jump record-holder Henderson Dottin and reigning national champ Thorrold Murray failed in their quest to improve Barbados’ medal tally when they finished fourth and sixth respectively in the final of the vertical leap last night.Murray couldn’t clear the bar at 2.13 metres and Dottin exited at the next height (2.16) when the field was narrowed to five competitors.Former World champion Donald Thomas, fellow Bahamian Trevor Barry and Wagner Miller of Colombia were still battling it out for gold up to press time.Corey Greenidge finished last in the eight-man field for the final of the men’s vault. (JM)