BARBADOS WON GOLD AND SILVER on the opening day of the 9th NACAC Under-23 Championships in El Salvador.
Akela Jones, who has qualified for the Rio Olympic Games, won the women’s high jump with a new championship record of 1.91 metres.
In besting the field, she replaced the 12-year mark of 1.87 metres set by American Kaylene Wagner.
The silver medal went to American Loretta Blaut who cleared 1.81 metres and Canadian Georgia Ellenwood took bronze with 1.78 metres.
Meanwhile, sprinter Levi Cadogan, another Olympic qualifier, shared the silver medal with Dominican Republic’s Stanly del Carmen after the photo finish cameras were unable to separate them in the men’s 100 metres. Both were clocked at 10.37 seconds in a headwind of -0.9 metres per second.
Kendal Williams of the United States won gold in 10.23 seconds.
Shavonne Husbands finished 11th in the women’s 100 metres and did not advance to today’s final.
In action today will be Sonia Gaskin in the women’s 400 metres, Tramaine Maloney in the men’s 110m hurdles, Kion Joseph in the men’s 400m hurdles and Janeil Craigg in the javelin. (SAT)