Four-time defending champions Barbados surrendered their title in the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Age Group Championships last Sunday evening in Willemstad, Curacao.
Barbados, who have won the biennial championships since 2005, finished third overall with 27 756 points. The Bahamas, who have been runners-up for those past four editions, took the title with 28 545 points and Trinidad and Tobago were second with 27 816. Guadeloupe were fourth with 27 654 and Jamaica fifth with 27 253.
Barbados were second in the girls behind The Bahamas and seventh among the boys, which was won by Venezuela. They were first in the 11 to 12 girls’ and sixth in the boys. The 13 to 14 girls were fourth and the boys seventh.
Unlike 2011 when Barbados won three of the four divisions, Charissa Moore of Harrison College/HPP was the only individual champion, winning the girls’ 11 to 12 division with 2 860 points. Zekiah Lewis of Bermuda was second with 2 773 and Beyonce DeFreitas of the British Virgin Islands third with 2 770. Akalya Morris was ninth with 2 549 points.
Both of the Barbadians improved on their points totals since the final trial.
Moore improved in all of her events except the 60 metres dash and after moving into second place last Saturday evening, and turned in a strong performance in the 800 metres to take first place.
Torian Waldron of Coleridge and Parry and Rising Stars’ Shem Williams were ninth and 12th, respectively with 2 967 and 2 843 points among the boys.
Daniel Mejicano of Venezuela won the boys’ 11 to 12 age group with 3 301 points. Jeremy Berquier of Guadeloupe took the silver medal with 3 214 points and bronze went to Bahamian Blaize Darling with 3 167.
Barbados were fourth overall in the combined relay.
The 13 to 14s had a rough baptism, placing sixth in the relay, and among the boys, Micah Shepherd of Harrison College/HPP was 11th (4 682) and Anderson Greaves of Coleridge and Parry 18th with 4 536.
Puerto Rico’s Sebastian Romero won the division with 5 302 points from Guadeloupe’s Enzo Hodebar who amassed 5 226 points. Tyriq Horsford of Trinidad and Tobago was third with 5 214.
Two years ago, Tiana Bowen of Rising Stars was the 11 to 12 age group champion. She was sixth with 3 785 points in the 13 to 14 division and Shonita Brome of Elite Distance 18th with 3 534.
St Vincent and the Grenadines didn’t have a full team, but they had a gold medallist in Shafiqua Maloney who took that division with 4 204 points. Doneisha Anderson of The Bahamas was second with 4 151 and Iman Berthelot of Guadeloupe third with 4 058 points. (SAT)
Team Barbados performances:
Charissa Moore (1) 2 860 points: 60m (8.47); High jump (1.43m); Baseball throw (42.86m); Long jump (4.79m); 800m (2:38.03)
Akayla Morris (9) 2 549 points: 60m (8.26); High jump (1. 35m); Baseball throw (35.07m); Long jump (4.68m); 800m (3:03.81)
Torian Waldron (9) 2 967 points: 60m (8.53); High jump (1.56m); Baseball throw (57.96m); Long jump (4.74m); 1 000m (3:47.96)
Shem Williams (12) 2 843 points: 60m (8.30); High jump (1.30m); Baseball throw (49.71m); Long jump (4.69m); 1 000m (3:28.28)
Tiana Bowen (6) 3 785 points: 80m (10.37); Long jump (4.67); Shot put (8.78m); 60mh (10.54); High jump (1.40m); Baseball throw (39.04m); 1 000m (3:23.52)
Shonita Brome (18) 3 534 points: 80m (11.05); Long jump (4.64); Shot put (8.15m); 60mh (10.15); High jump (1.30m); Baseball throw (42.70m); 1 000m (3:39.53)
Micah Shepherd (11) 4 682 points: 80m (10.14); Long jump (5.77); Shot put (12.04m); 60mh (11.72); High jump (1.60m); Baseball throw (83.11m); 1 000m (4:25.23)
Anderson Greaves (18) 4 536 points: 80m (9.90); Long jump (5.61); Shot put (12.69m); 60mh (11.91); High jump (1.60m); Baseball throw (77.24m); 1 000m (5:07.93)
