Juniors haul in record medals at Carifta Games

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

Jamaica's team to the 43rd staging of the Carifta Games created history by landing the country's best ever medal haul at the event, having secured 88 medals at press time at the three-day championships, which ended last night inside the Stade Municipal Pierre Aliker in Martinique.

The haul (42 gold, 34 silver, 12 bronze) betters Jamaica's medal return at the 2004 championships in Hamilton, Bermuda, and also ensured that the country topped the table for the 30th straight time and 37th overall since the inaugural championships in 1972.

Despite being beaten by Trinidad and Tobago in the Under-20 boys' 4x400m final, the Jamaicans closed the championships on a high note, winning three of the four 1,600-metre relays.

Trinidad and Tobago, 3:06.02, powered to a win in the Under-20 boys' 4x400m ahead of Jamaica, 3:07.71, and The Bahamas, 3:11.32.

In the Under-20 girls' 4x400m, Jamaica got the better of the field, winning in 3:38.20 over Trinidad and Tobago, 3:46.11, and The Bahamas, 3:47.64.

The Jamaicans took the Under-18 girls' 4x400m, stopping the clock at 3:37.65 ahead of The Bahamas, 3:41.90, and Guyana, 3:46.23.

Then 3:12.63 was the winning time for Jamaica's Under-18 boys, who crossed the line ahead of The Bahamas, 3:13.16, and Trinidad and Tobago, 3:13.77.

In the Under-18 girls' 200m final, Natalliah White powered to a personal best 23.36 to get the better of Barbados' Sada Williams, 23.43, and fellow Jamaican Shellece Clarke, 23.61.

Chad Walker, with a time of 20.99 (+2.3), led compatriot Jhevaughn Matherson, 21.13, to the line in the Under-18 boys' 200m, as The Bahamas' Javon Martin crossed the line in third place in 21.15.

Michael O'Hara was the strongest in the final 50m, winning the Under-20 boys' 200m in 20.50 ahead of 100m champion Jevaughn Minzie, 20.56, and Barbados' Levi Cardogan, 20.67.

Monique McPherson, 2:09.85, and Sasha-Gaye Whyte, 2:13.19, secured a one-two finish for Jamaica in the Under-20 girls' 800m final, with Guadeloupe's Cheryl Farial taking the bronze medal in 2:13.29.

The boys' Under-20 final also saw a Jamaican quinella, as Kevon Robinson, 1:51.01, got the better of Rajay Hamilton, 1:51.05, in a close finish. Trinidad and Tobago's Nicholas Landeau was third in 1:51.86.

In the Under-18 800m final, Ryan Butler took the gold medal with a 1:55.61 win ahead of Ryan Dunkley, 1:56.03, with Justin Pinder (Bahamas) taking third place in 1:56.37.

Jamaica took silver and bronze in the girls' Under-18 800m with Junelle Bromfield, 2:10.79, and Britnie Dixon, 2:13.33, finishing behind gold medal winner Kyrah Scraders (Bermuda), 2:10.68.

Jaheel Hyde secured his second individual gold medal at the meet, following his 400m hurdles triumph, with a win in the Under-18 boys' 110m hurdles in a wind-aided time of 13.10 (+2.2). Team-mate Roje Chin was second in 13.46, with Barbados' Michael Nichols, 13.69, finishing third.

Tyler Mason, 13.25, was second to Guadeloupe's Wilhem Belocian, who won the Under-20 boys' 110m hurdles final in a championship record 13.23. Ruebin Walters of Trinidad and Tobago, 13.57, was third with another Jamaican, Marvin Williams, finishing fourth in 13.81.

Jamaica's Safia Morgan, 1.78m, was second to Barbados' Akeela Jones, 1.84m, in the Under-20 girls' high jump final, with Martinique's Morgan Edvige, 1.65m, taking the bronze.

Jones also got the better of another Jamaican in the Under-20 girls 100m hurdles, winning in a time of 13.55, with Peta Gaye Williams taking the silver in 13.57 and Guadeloupe's Chrystie Lange, 13.59, taking the bronze.