TORONTO, Canada, CMC – St Lucia were celebrating their first-ever Pan American Games gold medal after veteran Levern Spencer won the women’s high jump as the Caribbean swept the podium spots in the event at the ongoing showpiece here yesterday.
Competing in the morning session at York University, the 31-year-old Olympian measured 1.94 metres to snatch first place ahead of Antigua and Barbuda’s Priscilla Frederick who was second in 1.91, with Barbadian Akela Jones taking bronze also with 1.91.
Spencer easily dealt with the bar at 1.88m and 1.91m but after twice failing, cleared 1.94 on her third attempt to take the top spot.
For Spencer, it was her second Pan Am Games medal, following her capture of bronze in the same event in the 2007 edition in Brazil.
The success also added to her gold medal in the event at the Central American and Caribbean Games last year.
Earlier this month in Madrid, Spencer showed glimpses of coming into form when she jumped 1.94, to qualify for next month’s World Championships in Beijing.
Spencer has participated without success at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the London 2012 Olympics.
Frederick and Jones, meanwhile, racked up personal bests and posted new national records, as they took the lower spots on the podium.
