KALVIN MARCUS won Barbados’ first medal at the 46th Flow CARIFTA Games in the Under-20 Boys’ javelin throw here Saturday.
The 18-year-old Marcus struck silver in his very first throw when he hurled the spear 60.40 metres.
Competing in extremely tough and windy conditions on the adjacent field outside the Ergilio Hato Stadium, Marcus, who won a bronze medal last year, fouled three of his next five attempts.
But his other two legal throws were measured at 58.88 and 57.50 metres.
Keyon Burton of Dominica grabbed the gold medal with a throw of 62.14 metres with Jamaica’s Kevin Nedrick (58.33) taking the bronze.
Shanice Hutson (10.97) finished ninth among the 14 competitors in her first appearance at the Games in the Under-18 Girls’ shot put, which was won by Trinidad and Tobago’s Ianna Roach in 14.43 metres.
Dominica’s Treneese Hamilton (14.12 metres) was second and Martinique’s Tamera Manette (13.86 metres) third.
Barbados’ Shanice Hutson had one legal heave of 10.97 metres in the Under-18 girls’ shot put.
Barbadian multi-eventer Aaron Worrell made a solid start to his quest for the gold medal in the Boys’ Octathlon. After two events, he held a slender six-point lead with 1 636 points over Wikenson Fenelon of Turks and Caicos, who has 1 630.
Worrell came first in the 100 metres with 10.84 seconds to gain 897 points. He added a further 739 when he was second in the long jump with 6.68 metres, behind Fenelon, who had a best leap of 6.83 metres.
Aaron Worrell of Barbados was second in the long jump, but currently leads the octathlon.
Three Barbadians, Jonathan Jones, Tiana Bowen and Antoni Hoyte-Small advanced to the finals of their respective 400 metres while first-timer Kyle Gale narrowly missed out.
Jones was the fourth fastest qualifier in the men’s race as he cruised to the finish line in 48.16 seconds. Jamaica’s Christopher Taylor was the fastest qualifier after jogging home over the last 80 metres in 47.21 seconds.
Bowen was the second fastest qualifier in the Under-20 Girls’ race with 55.37 seconds, as she finished second in her heat behind Jamaica’s Junelle Bromfield (54.46).
Hoyte-Small easily won his Under-18 Boys’ heat in 48.64 seconds to be second fastest qualifier overall as Colby Jennings of Jamaica also triumphed in his heat with 48.36 seconds.
The 15-year-old Gale was third in his heat after crossing the line in 49.38 seconds to be tenth overall.
The finals are set for tonight during the evening session which will get under at 3 p.m. with the official opening ceremony. Apart from the 400 metres, the 100 metres and 1500 will also be contested on the track. (EZS)
Trinidad and Tobago’s Ianna Roach won the Under-18 girls’ shot put with 14.43 metres.
