THE NORTH AMERICAN Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Senior Championship is already shaping up to be a good one for Barbadian athletes who are in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Sprinters Ramon Gittens and Levi Cadogan both advanced to today’s final of the men’s 100 metres after recording sizzling runs during yesterday’s first day of competition.
Gittens won the first semi-final in a wind-aided 10.01 seconds. Sheldon Mitchell of Jamaica was second in 10.09 while the United States’ Remontay McClain was third in 10.12 seconds.
The second semi-final was even faster with Kemar Hyman of the Cayman Islands winning in 9.85 seconds. Jason Rogers of the United States was third in 9.98 seconds while Beejay Lee of the United Stated was third in 10.00 seconds. Levi Cadogan was fifth in 10.01 seconds, but he is through to the final. The athletes were aided by a stiff 3.0 metres per second tailwind.
Sade Sealy advanced to the finals of the women’s 400 metres after finishing second in her preliminary in 53.19 seconds. Courtney Okolo of the United States led everyone with 50.82 seconds. Unfortunately, Nadia Cummins-Burton finished third in her heat in 52.88 seconds and did not advance to the final.
The hurdlers also had a good day yesterday with all of them advancing to finals. Kierre Beckles and Akela Jones are both through to the women’s 100 metre hurdle final with Beckles winning her heat in 13.01 seconds and Jones finishing second in hers in 13.09 seconds. Favourite Lolo Jones of the United States was the day’s fastest qualifier with 12.82 seconds.
Greggmar Swift advanced to the men’s 110 metre hurdle final after finishing third in his heat in 13.52 seconds. Pan American Games silver medallist Mikel Thomas won in 13.43 seconds while Tyler Mason of Jamaica was second in 13.46 seconds.
In the evening session, three more athletes advanced to the finals.
Anthonio Mascoll won his heat of the men’s 800 metres in 1 minute 51.58 seconds and will line up in Sunday’s final while Sonia Gaskin (2:07.15) is also in the women’s event.
Nicholas Deshong reached the men’s 200 metres final with a personal best 20.65 after clocking 20.77 in the heats. Burkheart Ellis’s lowered his preliminary time of 20.81 to 20.78, but did not advance to the final.
Pan Am Juniors bronze medallist Tia Adana-Belle also did not reach the final of the women’s 400 metres hurdles with a time of 61.05 seconds. (PG/SAT)
