ANOTHER RECORD GOES

JAMAICA, LED by Shaquane Gordon’s record-breaking 13.19 seconds, dominated the sprint hurdles on the final day of the 52nd staging of the Carifta Games at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Trinidad and Tobago yesterday.

The Jamaicans won three of the four titles on offer, with an epic battle between Gordon and teammate Daniel Clarke in the boys’ under-20 110-metre hurdles, the highlight.

Clarke laid down the gauntlet earlier in the semi-finals, winning his heat in 13.23 seconds and setting the stage for a showdown.

In the final, defending champion Gordon got off to a lightning start and despite a late surge from Clarke, held on to win and post a new record. Clarke’s second-place time of 13.21 seconds was also under the previous record of 13.23 set by Guadeloupe’s Wilhem Belocian in 2014.

Tahj Brown of The Bahamas claimed bronze in 13.82 seconds. The race was run into a negative wind of 1.4 metres per second.

In the girls’ under-20 100-metre hurdles, Tiana Marshall remained unbeaten this season, striking gold in 13.50 seconds. Mata Rolling of Barbados claimed silver in 13.89 seconds, while Jamaica’s Bryana Davidson secured bronze in 13.82.

Earlier, in the girls’ under-17 100-metre hurdles, Malayia Duncan was brilliant in winning gold for Jamaica in 13.34 seconds. She was followed by countrywoman Nickayla Russell in 13.71.

In the boys’ under-17 110m hurdle, Jamaica’s Brandon Barrett finished second in 14.08 seconds, with teammate Mark Daniel Allen third in 14.30. Jahcario Wilson of The Bahamas won gold in 13.70 seconds.

Even with all the achievements on the track, by the end of the night, one name stood tall — Jamaica’s Kamari Kennedy.

Kennedy continued to show Jamaica’s rise in field events, counting himself as the best athlete of the games with the award of the Austin Sealy Trophy for breaking the championship records in the boys’ under-17 discus and shot put events.

Kennedy broke the under-17 shot put record on Sunday, hurling the implement 18.90 metres to beat the 18.80 mark set by Javontae Smith, also of Jamaica, last year.

Yesterday, he broke another Jamaican’s record. Kobe Lawrence’s under-17 discus record of 53.32 metres, set in 2019, is no more after Kennedy threw 60.87 metres in a series, any of which would have broken it.

Kennedy threw 54.53, 56.63, 59.00, and 54.26 metres, all of which would have put his name in the record books.

World under-20 200-metre bronze medallist Shanoya Douglas completed a sprint double in fine style.

Following her 100m gold on the opening day, she was dominant again in the half-lap, clocking 23.02 seconds. There was a tight finish for the minor medals, with Trinidad and Tobago’s Sala Fredrick claiming silver in 23.43 seconds, just ahead of Jamaica’s Sabrina Dockery, who took bronze in 23.45 seconds.

Douglas left the meet with four gold medals — having anchored Jamaica’s girls’ under-20 4x100-metre relay team to victory on Sunday, she returned to do the same in the 4x400, which they won in 3:37.75. The other team members were Jovi Rose, Abrina Wright, and Annastacia Hall.

There was also a sprint double for St Lucia’s Jady Emmanuel, who captured the girls’ under-17 200m in 23.47 to add to her 100m title from Saturday.

In the boys’ under-20 200m, Tyreece Foreman (20.95) and Junior Gallimore (21.01) won silver and bronze, respectively, as Jaydon Green of Barbados took gold in 20.93 seconds.

Jamaica struck gold again in the girls’ under-17 800m as 2023 champion Alikay Reynolds defended her title in 2:12.57. Kevongaye Fowler finished second in 2:14.01 to complete another Jamaican quinella.

Sisters Cindy and Jovi Rose finished second and third, respectively, in the girls’ under-20 800m with times of 2:08.49 and 2:10.97.

Michelle Smith of the US Virgin Islands won the event in 2:07.23 to defend her title, completing a double after also winning the under-20 400m hurdles on Sunday.

Shavon Thomas added another gold for Jamaica in the boys’ under-20 800m, clocking 1:51.19.

In the closing events, Jamaica’s girls claimed both 4x400m relays.

The boys were second behind The Bahamas in both events.

The under-17 girls’ quartet, led by Shameika McLean, won in 3:39.39, ahead of The Bahamas (3:45.27) and Trinidad and Tobago (3:47.25).

Jamaica’s under-17 boys clocked 3:13.28, behind The Bahamas’ championship record of 3:12.72.

The Bahamas stopped the clock in the under-20 event in 3:06.18, with Jamaica second in 3:07.44.

In the morning session, Jamaica continued dominating the field events with one-two finishes in the girls’ under-20 high jump and boys’ under-17 long jump events.

In the high jump, Danielle Noble and Shanniqua Williams battled to the end, both clearing 1.80 metres — a personal best for the latter — before the former was adjudged the winner on countback.

In a dramatic finish in the boys’ under-17 long jump, Amani Phillips — who had already won triple jump gold — used his final attempt to leap 7.49 metres for the win, after initially sitting in second with 7.28.

Teammate Michael Graham had taken the lead with 7.33 after being in fourth, but settled for silver. Michael Paul of Trinidad and Tobago claimed bronze with a 7.03-metre effort.

Later in the day, Despiro Wray won gold in the boys’ under-20 shot put with 19.66 metres. Wray’s teammate Devonte Edwards was second with 18.73, while Dylan Logan of Grenada earned bronze with 17.80.

Shamoyea Morris took silver in the girls under-20 discus with 50.60 metres, while shot put gold medallist Marla-Kay Lampart finished third for bronze with 50.35.

Shot put silver medallist Annae Mackey of The Bahamas won the event.

Jamaica ended the meet at the top of the table with 78 medals — 30 gold, 27 silver, and 21 bronze.

The Bahamas were next best with 16 gold, 13 silver, and eight bronze for 37 medals.

The top three were closed out by Trinidad and Tobago, who ended with 25 medals, nine gold, six silver, and 10 bronze.