It was a bittersweet Easter Sunday morning for Barbados on the second day of the Flow CARIFTA Games at the Thomas Robinson Stadium here in Nassau.
Whereas Shanice Hutson blessed Barbados with a gold medal in the short morning session, Saturday’s record-breaking gold medallist Kyle Gale was unfortunately disqualified for a line infringement.
Hutson struck gold with her first throw of 41.56 metres in the Under-17 Girls’ discus while the other Barbadian in the event, Rowland Kirton-Browne was fourth with a best effort of 32.84 metres.
Gale, who had won the Under-17 Boys’ 400 metres in a new record time of 47.07 seconds, was penalised by the Jury of Appeal under rule 163 (3a) which states “In all races run in lanes, each athlete shall keep within his allocated lane from start to finish. This shall apply to any portion of a race run in lanes”.
Video replays of the race, seemed to show that Gale, who was running in lane five, step on the inside line on the curve a couple of times, coming off the curve while entering the home straight.
Gale will now be looking to make amends in Under-17 Boys’ 400 metres hurdles during the evening session on Sunday.
Trinidadian Avindale Smith, who had finished second in 47.75 seconds was promoted to the gold medal position.
In the Under-20 Boys’ 400 metres hurdles semi-final heats, there was a scare for Barbados when Under-18 gold medallist for the past two years Rasheeme Griffith fell as he attempted to clear the first hurdle.
But he got back up quickly and continued running and clearing the remaining hurdles. Such was determination that he overtook two competitors and finished second in 55.90 seconds, behind Jamaican Rovane Williams in 51.23 seconds.
In the preceding heat, Nathan Fergusson advanced to the final when he finished second in 53.15 seconds to Jamaican Malik James-King (50.91).
Defending champion Jonathan Jones and Tafari Bishop advanced to Monday’s final in the Under-20 Boys’ 800 metres.
Both were second in their semi-final heats with Jones clocking 1:53.95 minutes behind Turks and Caicos’ Ken Reges (1:53.33) while Bishop, making his debut, clocked 1:53.22 as Jamaican Kemar Farquharson (1:52.86) overtook him over the last 40 metres. (EZS)