GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands, CMC – Grenadian sensation Kirani James completed the double by winning the 200 metres while Trinidadian Jehue Gordon set his second record of the 39th CARIFTA Games here yesterday in winning the 110 metres hurdles to also grab his second gold of the championships.
The outstanding 17-year-old James, who breezed to a new record in the 400 metres on Saturday night, repeated his brilliance at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex by cruising to 20.76 seconds in the Under-20 boys’ event.
Producing good rhythm throughout the backstretch, the freshman at the University of Alabama emerged from the turn ahead of his field and gradually extended his lead to reach the finish virtually unchallenged.
“It was a bit tough this week but I’m so glad I pulled it off,” James told CMC Sports immediately afterward.
“I know that I could have done it (double). I did it at World Youth and I won both of them so why not give it a try here.”
A fast-finishing Rachmil Van Lamoen of the Netherland Antilles clocked 20.90 to be second while Shakeim Greaves was third in 21.29 seconds.
Gordon, meanwhile, who brushed aside his field on Sunday night in winning the 400 metres hurdles in record time, sealed his double gold by clocking a new championship record time of 13.41 seconds.
It ensured he eclipsed the old mark of 12.42 set by Barbadian World champion Ryan Brathwaite three years ago.
The lanky 18-year-old emerged from a very slow start to power through the field and reach the finish with room to spare.
“I felt a little pain in my hamstring but I tried not to study it. I went out there and kept focused and did what I had to do,” Gordon said.
Barbadian Greggmar Swift, who led for the first 50 metres, finished second in 13.75 seconds while Stefan Fennell of Jamaica claimed bronze in 13.76 seconds.
The impressive Under-17 Jamaican sprinter Odane Skeen also completed the sprint double, putting the exclamation mark on a fine championships by posting a new record in the 200 metres.
He produced a dominant display of sprinting to dismiss his challengers with ease, clocking 20.84 seconds to eclipse fellow countryman Jahazeel Murphy’s 20.97 at last year’s Games in St Lucia.
Bermudian Jeneko Place was second in 21.27 with Jamaican Odail Todd third in 21.55 seconds.
Jamaica extended their dominance to the Under-17 girls 200 metres when Shericka Jackson clocked 23.64 seconds to hold off her teammate Saqukine Cameron in capturing gold while Allison Peter took the Under-20 girls version.
The Caribbean track and field superpowers also swept three of the four sprint hurdles events.
Megan Simmonds led a Jamaican one-two with Shenel Fancis as she clocked 13.64 seconds to win the Under-17 girls event while Samantha Elliott sped to a new championship record time of 13.42 in winning the corresponding Under-20 race, ahead of teammate Tonique Sobah.
In the Under-17 boys hurdles, Davian Dennis just got the better of fellow Jamaican Omar Graham to win in 113.28 seconds.
