NASSAU – Mario Burke and Akela Jones both delivered gold for Barbados to make up for a bittersweet first day of the 42nd CARIFTA Games here at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium.
As expected, Burke sped to gold in the Under-17 boys’ 100 metres in 10.61 seconds, while Jones won back-to-back gold medals in the Under-20 girls’ long jump with a leap of 6.19 metres last night.
Burke didn’t get the start that he wanted, but he went into the race with the fastest time of 10.55 seconds, then powered his way through the field, chasing down Jamaican Jelani Walker who took the bronze with 10.93 seconds and Bahamian Keanu Pennerma who was second in 10.85.
Jamaican Raheem Chambers, who was expected to contend for a medal was disqualified.
It was Barbados’ first gold medal in this race since Obadele Thompson won at the old stadium here in 1992 and the only once since Xavier Roach was second to Yohan Blake in 2005.
Jones led the long jump for most of the way. She had the gold medal in her grasp with a leap of 6.04 metres, but took firm control on the fourth attempt with 6.19m. Official results for the other competitors were not immediately available.
In the Under-17 girls’ race, Tristan Evelyn could not duplicate her morning run of 11.80 seconds, and was fourth with 12.10.
Jamaica’s Natalliah Whyte won the gold medal in the Under-17 girls’ event with 11.88 seconds. Nelda Huggins of the British Virgin Islands won her third CARIFTA medal, silver with 11.94 and Shellece Clarke gave Jamaica bronze with 12 seconds flat.
Timeka Jordan did not reach the final with a time of 12.42 seconds in the heats.
Levi Cadogan went into the Under-20 boys’ final with the second fastest time of 10.59 seconds, and was clearly disappointed when he finished sixth in 10.53 seconds.
The race was very close, with Anguilla’s Zharnel Hughes stopping the clock at 10.44 seconds, defending champion Jazeel Murphy of Jamaica taking silver with 10.48 seconds. Antigua’s Tahir Walsh was third in 10.49.
After clocking 11.88 in the Under-20 girls’ semis, Shavonne Husbands also could not repeat in the final, and was seventh overall in 12.05 seconds. The stadium was rocking as Bahamians Devynne Charlton and Carmiesha Cox were first and second, respectively in 11.60 and 11.61 seconds. Jamaica’s Monique Spencer was third in 11.64.
Earlier in the evening, NCAA indoor champion Shaunae Miller sent the home crowd into a frenzy when she won the Under-20 girls’ 400 metres in 51.63 seconds, clearly in a class by herself.
Chris-Ann Gordon of Jamaica was second in 53.22 seconds and Kadecia Baird of Guyana third in 54.28 seconds and Ariel Jackson fourth in 55.34.
They were on the edge of their seat expecting a second gold medal in the men’s race, but Trinidadian Machel Cedenio stunned crowd favourite Stephen Newbold (46.01). Chasing down and passing both him and Jamaican Jovan Francis (46.00) to win in 45.93 seconds.
Jamaica won both Under-17 races through Tiffany James and Martin Manely who did 55.13 and 47.72, respectively.
Tiana Bowen was seventh with 58.75, as was Ramarco Thompson (51.71) who was stretchered off the track.
Instead of waiting with the field, Guyana’s Cassey George went to the front to dictate the pace in the Under-17 girls’ 1 500 metres. She sprinted away from Faheema Scraders (4:36.67) of Bermuda to win in 4:39.47. Minutes later, Guyana won their second gold medal when Jevina Straker crossed the finish line in 4:43.27 to take the Under-20 girls’ event.
Jamaica took both gold and silver in the Under-17 boys’ race through Jauavney James (4:06.63) and Shevon Parks (4:07.50) as bronze went to Bahamian Benjamin Najman in 4:17.52.
For a brief moment, Barbadian Joshua Hunte went to the front of the 16-man senior field, but was unable to hold on, especially over the final 600 metres when the pace went to another level and was ninth in 4:13.26.
Moving up from third place last year, Mark London of Trinidad and Tobago took gold in 4:01.07.
Ashley Williams was eighth in the shot put with 11.87 metres, gold going to Guadeloupe’s Christine Gavarin with 13.04 metres.