Atkinson wins in record time

MAYAGUEZ, Puerto Rico, CMC – Jamaican Alia Atkinson headlined the evening session of the Central American and Caribbean Games on Sunday as she picked up gold in the women’s 200 metres breaststroke in record time.

The 21-year-old, who contested the event at the Beijing Olympics two years ago, clocked two minutes, 30.99 seconds to win the event, bettering the previous record she set earlier in the heats by almost three seconds.

She finished ahead of the Mexican pair of Byanca Rodriguez (2:35.82) and Arantxa Medina (2:36.67) who finished second and third respectively.

The Caribbean had cause for celebration in the men’s 100 metres backstroke when Barbadian Nicky Neckles claimed silver.

Neckles, who has competed in three Olympic Games, touched the wall in 56.44 seconds narrowly ahead of Mexico’s Miguel Castro who was in third in 56.45. The event was won by Venezuelan Albert Subirats in a time of 56.06 seconds.

Shaune Fraser of the Cayman Islands clocked 50.26 seconds to clinch bronze in the men’s 100 metres freestyle, trailing home behind winner Subirats who finished just outside his record in the event.

In the women’s 4×200 metres freestyle relay, the Bahamas took third spot in a time of 8:36.28 as Venezuela took victory in 8:20.08.