HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC – Jamaica and the Bahamas were once again forced to share honours as they split the sprint relays late Sunday night at the National Sports Centre here at the 41st CARIFTA Games.
The powerful Jamaicans captured the Under-17 events in both the boys and girls categories, leaving the Bahamians to sweep the senior events.
Jamaica, however, had it virtually all their way in the 800 metres, winning three of the four events to extend their traditional dominance.
In the exciting nightcap events, however, Jamaica kicked off their success when the team of Saqukine Cameron, Yanique Thompson, Samara Spencer and Shauna Helps stormed to victory in a time of 46.52 seconds in the junior girls event.
The Bahamian team of Kadeisha Hield, Juannae Lewis, Makeya White and Keianna Albury claimed silver in 46.66 seconds while the British Virgin Islands were third in a time of 48.22.
Jamaica followed up by taking the junior boys crown with the team of Xandre Blake, Okeen Williams, Karey Kelly and Michael O’Hara clocking 41.64 seconds to get home first.
The Bahamas were again second in 41.98 seconds while Trinidad and Tobago’s team of Ron Wright, Jonathan Farinha, Jamell Dacon and Andwuelle Wright, snatched bronze in 42.01 seconds.
However, it was the Bahamas who stepped up in the senior categories, beating the Jamaicans into second on both occasions.
Their team of Devynne Charlton, Carmiesha Cox, Rashan Brown and Anthonique Strachan clocked 45.02 seconds to win the girls contest, finishing ahead of the Jamaica unit of Shawnette Lewin, Monique Spencer, Cardine Copeland and Shericka Jackson who were clocked at 45.02 seconds.
The Bahamian boys followed up with the team of Teray Smith, Blake Bartlett, Jonathan Farquharson and Shane Jones edging the Jamaicans in a time of 40.42 seconds.
Jamaica’s side of Keniel Grant, Jevaughn Minzie, Odail Todd and Yanick Hart claimed silver in 40.72 seconds.
The Jamaicans stood tall in the 800m, however. In the girls category, Tiffany James won the Under-17 crown in a time of two minutes, 18.11 seconds while Simoya Campbell clocked 2:08.48 to win the Under-20s.
In the boys Under-17, Ricardo McKenzie took gold in 2:02.73 before Trinidadian Mark London broke the sequence of Jamaican wins by taking the Under-20 title in 1:55.65.
