Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Providenciales, Turks & Caicos:

The rivalry between Jamaica and the Bahamas in the stands is hot, but on the track, the former continues to dominate the proceedings at the 36th Carifta Games at the Turks and Caicos National Stadium.

While there were consistent shouts of 'Jamaica gold', 'Bahamas gold', singing and waving of flags from both countries, Lanice Hall, Kathie-Lee Laidley, Dwayne Extol, Shawna-Gaye Tracey and Kimberly Williams were making gold medals of their own on the track and in the field.

At press time, Jamaica added another five gold, three silver and three bronze to their first-day tally of 25 medals to be way out front with 12 gold, 15 silver and nine bronze for a total of 36 medals.

Trinidad & Tobago - 17 medals (5G, 5S, 7B), Bahamas - 7 (4G, 2S, 1B) and Barbados - 10 (4G, 1S, 5B) followed the Jamaica into today's final day.

Tracey, who won the Under-17 300m hurdles last time, said it was pleasing to step up into the senior ranks and win.

Wining first attempt

"It's a great feeling to know that I won at my first attempt at the Under-20 400m hurdles," she said.

She won in 58.77 seconds ahead of her teammate Andrea Reid (59.79).

"I am a bit disappointed with the time but I am happy for the gold," she added.

Andrea said: "I am pleased with my performance, especially since I am not 100 per cent."

She is suffering from a back injury, but said: "I went out there and gave it my best."

Keiron Stewart (51.52) and Ryker Hylton (51.58) took second and third, respectively, behind Bahamian Nathan Arnett (51.11) in the 400m.

In the Under-17 boys event, Extol won in 55.75 ahead of Neimi Burnside of the Bahamas (56.30) and his teammate Kavean Smith (56.87).

Extol was somewhat pleased, saying: "I am very happy, elated I made a lot of mistakes. I had to just make up for it in the straight. I was not impressive because my personal best is 52.3 and I wanted to break the record, but that did not happen," he said.

Smith was happy.

"I am pretty pleased with my performanc I thought that I could have done better."

Hall took the 300m hurdles in 43.04, while Sidoney Brown was fifth in 45.31.

Williams took the triple jump, her second straight title, with a leap of 12.85m ahead of her teammate Roseann Jones (12.41m).

Laidley cleared 1.71m to take the girls Under-17 high jump while her teammate, Shanieka Thomas, who, like the top-four athletes, cleared the sam was fourth on the countback.

anthony.foster@gleanerjm.com