Jamaica swept the sprint relays, the sprint hurdles and the 4x400m relays on Sunday’s final day to close out the 2019 Carifta Games in emphatic fashion.
Jamaica won a total of 85 medals – 36 gold, 33 silver medals and 16 bronze – to secure yet another victory. The Bahamas finished with 26 medals nine gold, seven silver and 10 bronze medals while Trinidad and Tobago won five gold, seven silver and 12 bronze medals.
Guyana won four gold, two silver and four bronze medals, while Barbados with three gold, four silver and four bronze rounded out the top five teams.
Jamaica might not have equalled the 44 gold medals they won last year in the Bahamas, but their dominance was clear for all to see.
Kay-Lagay Clarke (3.68), Ackera Nugent (13.24), Deshaun Lamb (13.54) and Rasheed Broadbell (13.26) each won their sprint hurdles events with Crystal Shaw (13.72) and Neil Matthew Sutherland (13.61) picking up silver medals in the u17 events while Vashau Vascianna (13.32) getting the runner-up spot in the u20 event.
The four gold and three silver medals came on the heels of the four gold won by the Caribbean athletics powerhouse in the sprint relays.
Jamaica’s boys won the u17 mile relay in 3:16.56 ahead of Trinidad and Tobago (3:18.71) and St. Kitts and Nevis (3:25.84). The girls obliged winning in similarly easy fashion in 3:36.76. The Bahamas were 40m behind and crossed the line in 3:40.51 with Trinidad and Tobago farther back in 3:41.67.
The u20 boys found themselves in a duel with Barbados but their better quality in depth eventually proved the difference with the Jamaicans pulling away to win in 3:07.82. Barbados’ fight yielded a good time of 3:08.98. The Bahamas who were out of contention from as early as the second leg eventually claimed the bronze medal in 3:14.54.
The u17 girls also ran out easy winners in 3:41.00 over the brave British Virgin Islands (3:44.89) and Trinidad and Tobago (3:44.91).
Jamaica also took a 1-2 finish in the u17 triple jump where Rajaun Ricketts (14.26m) took gold ahead of his teammate Jaheim Cox (14.01).
Kevroy Venson coasted to victory in the 5000m in a new record of 15:21.30. Gabriel Curtis of the Bahamas who tried to make a race of it before fading badly over the last 300m claimed the silver medal having crossed the line in 15:23.15 while Venson’s compatriot Fabian Campbell took the bronze medal in 16:00.03.
In the field, Cobe Graham won the u20 shot put with a new record of 18.62m. The silver medal went to Grenada’s Johann Jeremiah who threw 18.53m.
Jamaica’s Kai Chang, the winner of the discus on Saturday picked up a bronze medal for his efforts that yielded a throw of 17.57m.
Jamaica’s Cedricka Williams won the u17 girls discus with 47.94m, a new record. Her compatriot Damali Williams won the silver medal with 40.87m. Treneese Hamilton of Dominica was third with her best effort of 39.29m.
Even though it may have seemed like it, Jamaica did not win all the gold medals on Sunday.
Guyana’s Matthew Gordon won the u17 3000m in 9-12.43 with Bermuda’s Nathan Armstrong picking up the silver medal crossing the line in 9:13.13s. Mitchell Curtis of the Bahamas won the bronze medal in 9:16.86.
Meanwhile, the 3000m open for girls was won by Bermuda’s Isabell Dutranoit, who led from pillar to post to close in10:21.63 well clear of Jamaica’s Kelly-Ann Beckford 10:28.13 and Claudrice McKoy of Guyana whose time of 10:37.43 won her the bronze medal.
Grenada’s Kelsie Murel-Ross won the u20 shot put with her mark of 14.22m. Thamera Manette of Martinique picked up the silver with13.53m. Ianna Roach of Trinidad and Tobago (13.51m) took home the bronze.
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