Barbados has its first medal of the 49th edition of the CARIFTA Games here in Kingston, Jamaica.
On a tough night for the team, 16-year-old Layla Haynes won bronze in the Under-20 girls’ 1500-metre.
With her parents and grandmother in the crowd at the National Stadium, the overseas-based middle-distance runner clocked 4 minutes 45.10 seconds. The Jamaican duo of Rickeisha Simms (4:44.18) and Samantha Pryce (4:44.77) won gold and silver, respectively.
Haynes, a former Harrison College student will have her eyes set on a second medal in the 800-metre event tomorrow.
Fynn Armstrong also produced a valiant effort to finish fifth in the Under-17 boys’ 1500 metre in his outing at the Games. He stopped the clock in 4:14.18 seconds as the event was won by Trinidad and Tobago’s Keeran Sriskandarajah (4:10.58).
In the girls’ equivalent, Barbados’ reigning middle distance junior princess Ashlyn Simmons, endured a tough time to come seventh in 4:59.81 minutes.
Ross Walrond narrowly missed out on bronze in the Under-20 400-metre as he finished fourth in 47.36 seconds ahead of teammate Josiah Parris (48.19). Hometown pair of Delano Kennedy (46.66) and Shemar Palmer (46.97) secured gold and silver for the hosts.
Kadia Rock showed she is one for the future with a brave fourth place finish in the Under-17 girls’ 400-metre final, clocking 57.69 seconds. (AGB)
