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Jamaica dominated the 50th Carifta Games held in Nassau, Bahamas, between 8-10 April, topping the medal table with 78 medals including 40 gold, 22 silver and 16 bronze.
Individual winners included Alana Reid in the 100m, Alexis James in the 100m hurdles, Roshawn Clarke in the 400m hurdles and Jaydon Hibbert in the triple jump.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, an annual visitor to the Games, was in attendance along with Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis and Mike Sands, President of the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association, plus Sir Austin Sealy, founder of the Carifta Games.
Mixed results for sprint stars
Reid, Jamaica’s co-captain and U20 world leader authoritatively won her first Carifta title in the girls’ U20 100m. Reid overcame bad weather and a demanding schedule, which saw the heats, semifinals and final contested on the opening day, and won impressively in 11.17 (-1.0m/s) ahead of her teammate James in 11.53.
“This is something I’ve waited for, to become Carifta champion,” said Reid. “This is my first title and I did my best to achieve it.”
There were a few tremors in the boys’ U20 100m sprints and among the biggest casualties were Jamaican favourites Bouwahjgie Nkrumie and DeAndre Daley, the defending champion, who suffered injury and a false start, respectively.
Caymanian sprinter Davonte Howell, who placed sixth last year, was a surprise winner. Howell, who shifted gears mid-race to finish with a flourish in 10.30, just 0.01 outside his lifetime best, paid tribute to the Jamaican absentees.
“I saw when the defending champion (Daley) got disqualified and before that when the world leader (Nkrumie) went down and I decided I had to win this for them because they are my friends,” said Howell. “I’m happy to be Carifta champion and I’ll be back next year to defend the title.”
SOURCE: Noel Francis for World Athletics
