There was a ray of redemption and resolve for Kyle Gale last night at the 47th Flow CARIFTA Games.
His salvation was a silver medal in the Under-17 Boys’ 400 metres hurdles as Barbados’ athletes endured near medal misses on a lean second day at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium in Nassau.
Shattered by his disqualification after breaking Usain Bolt’s record to win the Under-17 Boys’ 400 on Saturday night, Gale returned a day later to snatch silver in 54.45 seconds, behind Jamaican Devonte Archer (52.85).
Showing inner strength and tenacity in the face of adversity, Gale conjured up extra energy and speed to run past Bahamian Raymond Oriaki (54.54), who had cleared the final hurdle nearly two metres ahead.
Following Under-17 girl Shanice Hutson’s golden discus throw of 41.56 metres in the morning session, it meant Barbados’ medal tally up to press time stood at five – one gold, two silver and two bronze.
This was because neither Rasheeme Griffith (51.05) nor Nathan Ferguson (52.72) got on the medal podium in the Under-20 Boys’ 400 hurdles despite an admirable effort from both.
Griffith, who fell in his semi-final heat but got up and ran hard to overtake two runners to reach the final, was denied a bronze medal when he was pipped on the line by Jamaican Malik James-King (51.00).
Ferguson, who set the early pace and seemed to be ahead after 200 metres, faded to be fifth, as Jamaican Rovane Williams triumphed in 50.69 seconds.
Rhea Hoyte (1:02.51) was fifth in the Under-20 Girls’ 400 metres hurdles, won by Jamaican Shiann Salmon in a new record time of 56.22 seconds from compatriot, Sanique Walker (57.97).
It was heartbreak for Nathan Crawford-Wallis in the Under-17 Boys’ High Jump, who by Jamaican Romaine Beckford with a leap of 2.00 metres.
Crawford-Wallis leapt 1.90 metres but was shut out of the medals by virtue of having more knockdowns than Bahamians Tyler Missick and Christian Sturrup, who also cleared 1.90 metres but got silver and bronze.
Dominique Wood was fifth in the Under-17 Girls’ long jump with a best distance of 5.50 metres, which was achieved on her second attempt.
None of Barbados’ two entrants Matthew Clarke (21.41) and Kuron Griffith (21.59) made it to final of the Under-20 Boys’ 200, finishing third in their semi-final heats and ninth and tenth overall.
Ashlee Lowe also failed to advance, finishing fifth in her Under-20 Girls’ semi-final heat in 24.63 seconds.
Darian Clarke, who won a bronze in the 100, was the third-fastest qualifying finalist, behind Jamaican Rajay Morris (21.15) and Trinidadian Avindale Smith (21.58) after winning his heat in 21.84 seconds.
The Under-20 Boys’ long jump and javelin, featuring Anderson Greaves and Zion Hill were still in progress at press time.
Sarah Belle was not entered for the Under-17 Girls’ 400 metres and will now only contest today’s 100 metres hurdles, along with the baby of the team, Anika Blackman. (EZS)