World Athletics president impressed after Carifta day two throws up big performances
A NUMBER of athletes from several countries have echoed the sentiments of World Athletics president, Lord Sebastian Coe, who, during day two of the 50th Carifta Games, at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas, said the Caribbean event shows the strength of the world track and field.
According to Cole, the absence of retired World 100m and 200m record holder Usain Bolt left doubts about the future of athletics, but those doubts have been dispelled by visits to the Caribbean.
“Get on a plane, go to the Carifta Games and you’ll have your answer,” said Coe, when talking about the performances he had seen on day two of the Games.
Coe, while impressed with Belize’s Demetire Meyers, who won the boys’ under-17 1500 metres and the 3000 metres equivalent, running from the front, was also speaking about the performances of Jamaicans, who while suffering some setbacks throughout day two, were impressive on the medal table.
One of the big setbacks on the day was the no-show of Alana Reid in the women’s under-20 200-metre semifinal.
While there has been no official response from the Jamaica camp, a word from sources close to the team, suggests Reid was pulled as a precautionary measure.
Another setback came earlier in the day when both Kemarrio Bygrave and Ainsley Brown failed to finish the men’s 800-metre semifinals, the latter taken from the field by the dreaded wheelchair.
It was strange to see Bygrave face the starter in the semifinal after he had been taken off by wheelchair when he competed in the 1500m the day before.
The Jamaicans would rebound with gold medals in the women’s heptathlon and men’s octathlon through the efforts of Sherika Christie and Courtney Williams.
RARELY SEEN FEAT
While Christie and Williams were on their way to multi-event gold, another Jamaican, Roshawn Clarke, was pulling off a rarely seen feat at these 50th Carifta Games, defending a title.
Clarke, who won the men’s 400-metre hurdles in Kingston, Jamaica last year, stormed to a 49.92 second win despite a stumble over the last hurdle.
The race also saw Jamaica’s Antonio Forbes join Clarke on the podium in a silver-medal-mining performance. Forbes clocked 51.72 to finish ahead of the Bahamas’ Shimar Bain, 52.48.
In the men’s under-17 shot put, Ronaldo Anderson threw the implement 15.52 metres to grab gold for Jamaica ahead of St Lucia’s Denzel Phillips, 15.17m, and Bain, 13.78m. Jamaica’s Javontae Smith was just off the podium with his throw of 13.58m.
Early into the afternoon session, the Jamaicans were again in action, with Jody-Ann Daley leading a gold and bronze combination in the women’s under-17 400-metre hurdles.
Daley clocked one minute, 01.05 seconds to get the better of the Bahamas’ Darvinique Dean, 1:02.50, and her teammate Rihanna Lewis, 1:02.61.
More gold was on offer for Jamaica in the men’s under-17 400-metre hurdles, with Nickecoy Bramwell, dismissing the field to clock 47.86 seconds, finishing ahead of St Kitts and Nevis’ Jaylen Bennett, 48.59, and the Bahamas’ Andrew Brown, 48.69.
Jamaica was again on the podium in the women’s under-20 400 hurdles, the pair of Tonyan Beckford and Alliah Baker finishing behind a commanding performance from first-year under-20, Michelle Smith of the United States Virgin Islands.
Smith ran an aggressive backstretch, pulling away from Beckford, 58.94 for second, and Baker, 59.55, to clock an impressive 57.69.
The Jamaicans are also in some finals today with Natrece East, 24.16, and Shanoya Douglas, 24.54, through to the final of the women’s under-17 200 metres.
Among the men, Donte Mendez and Dontae Watson are through to the semifinals of the 200m, while their seniors among the under-20s, Malique Smith-Band, and Javourne Dunkley, will line up in the final.
Among the under-20 women, Sabrina Dockery will be the lone representative in the final in the absence of Reid.
The Jamaicans would end the night on a high, winning three of the four 4x100m relays.
Among the under-17 women, Jamaica led from start to finish, clocking 45.36 seconds to finish ahead of Trinidad and Tobago, 46.18, and the Bahamas, 46.43.
The Bahamians would turn the tables on the Jamaicans among the under-17 boys, winning in 41.36.
POOR BATON CHANGE
Jamaica, who were in pole position, had a poor baton change between the second and third leg and were never able to recover, finishing second in 41.63. Grenada was third in 41.95.
Among the under-20s, some questions were answered, with Alana Reid turning up to help Jamaica to gold.
A slim Bahamian advantage was overhauled down the backstretch with Reid’s storming run. The run led to a fast 44.01 for the Jamaicans with Trinidad and Tobago, second in 45.35. The Bahamas could not be left off the podium, finishing third in 45.55.
Another big moment took place in the boys’ under-20 4x100m.
Jamaica won the event courtesy of a monster anchor leg from DeAndre Daley, who missed the final of the individual 100m, courtesy of a false start.
Jamaica ended winners in 39.68 after Daley made up 10 metres on the anchor leg, getting past Carlos Brown of the Bahamas before looking across at him to emphasise the difference between the fast men.