Jamaica swept the 400m hurdles and sprint relays to stretch their lead on the medals’ table on Sunday’s penultimate day of the 2018 Carifta Games in Nassau, Bahamas.
Entering Easter Monday’s final day, Jamaica have so far secured 47 medals, 25 gold, 16 silver and six bronze. They lead host Bahamas with five gold, 12 silver and eight bronze and Trinidad and Tobago, three gold, two silver and four bronze.
Shainn Solomon’s 56.22 record run in the U20 girls’ 400m hurdles to beat her teammate Sanique Walker, 57.97secs, highlighted the afternoon’s session.
Rovane Williams topped the U20 boys’ 400m hurdles final in 50.69 while his teammate Malik James-King claimed bronze in 51.00. Curacao’s Ramsey Angela was second in 50.75.
Jamaica’s Devonte Archer won the U17 boys’ one-lap obstacle event in 52.85 while Calisha Taylor was triumphant in the girl’s equivalent in 1:01.04.
In the 4x100m relay sweep for Jamaica, the U17 girls’ quartet of Briana Williams, Serena Cole, Sashieka Steele and Tia Clayton, won gold in record time of 44.95secs.
The girls’ U20 team of Ockera Myrie, Michae Harriott, Ray-donna Lee and Amoi Brown, topped their event in 44.73 ahead of Bahamas, 45.14.
On the boys’ side, Ryiem Robertson, Christopher Taylor, Xavier Narine and Michael Bentley combined for the day’s only sub-40secs with 39.56 to beat Trinidad and Tobago, 40.29.
Jahvel Granville, Vashaun Vascianna, Rajay Morris and Terrique Stennett formed the U17 quartet for Jamaica to take victory in 41.04 ahead of Cayman Islands 44.29.
Jamaica also enjoyed a very good day in the field.
Wayne Pinnock, 7.46m and Safin Wills, 7.28m went 1-2 in the Under -20 boys’ long jump, so too the Jamaican pair of Leone Farquharson, 12.24m and Lotavia Brown, 12.23 in the U20 girls’ triple jump.
Ackelia Smith, 5.91m and Velecia Williams, 5.73m were also first and second respectively in the U17 girls’ long jump.
Zackery Dillon, 16.40m and Ralford Mullings, 15.49m also secured top two finishers for Jamaica in the U17 boys’ shot put.
Jamaica’s Romaine Beckford cleared 2.00m in the U17 boys’ high jump final to take the top spot.
In the 200m prelims, all eight Jamaicans led by Taylor in the U20 boys’ section and Williams, the U17 girls’ 100m champion, are through the Sunday’s finals.
