The closing moments of the 51st Carifta Games at the Kirani James Athletics Stadium in Grenada witnessed a display of Jamaican dominance on the track, as they clinched victory in all four 4x400m relays, culminating in a thrilling conclusion to the event.
In a performance reminiscent of their earlier sprint hurdles dominance, Jamaica’s teams showcased their class, leaving spectators captivated and celebrating their prowess. However, the final race of the night, the Under-20 boys’ 4x400m relay, was not without its share of drama.
As Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas, and Grenada set off, they unexpectedly halted, anticipating a recall that never materialized. Despite the confusion, Trinidad and Tobago ultimately emerged victorious in the rerun, with the Bahamas finishing second. However, neither team could surpass Jamaica’s winning time of 3:10.58 from the original race. Trinidad and Tobago were later awarded silver, and Guyana secured the bronze medal.
In the Under-17 girls’ 4x400m relay, Jamaica’s team led by Britannia Bailey, Nastassia Fletcher, Kevongaye Fowler, and Tresha Lee Sutherland surged to victory in 3:41.84. The Bahamas secured silver, and Trinidad and Tobago claimed bronze.
Jamaica’s U17 boys executed flawlessly
Similarly, in the Under-20 girls’ 4x400m relay, Jamaica’s formidable quartet of Abigail Campbell, Shanique Williams, Kitania Headley, and Shanoya Douglas clocked a time of 3:34.69, securing another gold medal. Trinidad and Tobago and the Bahamas clinched silver and bronze, respectively.
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Jamaica’s U17 boys executed flawlessly, winning dominantly in a time of 3:18.43. Trinidad and Tobago won silver, and Grenada took bronze.
With an impressive medal haul of 45 gold, 23 silver, and 16 bronze medals, Jamaica emerged as the overall victor of the Carifta Games. The Bahamas finished second overall with nine gold, 13 silver, and as many bronze, followed by Trinidad and Tobago with four gold, 11 silver, and 12 bronze medals.
Additionally, Trinidad and Tobago’s Janae De Gannes won the prestigious Austin Sealy Award for her record-breaking jump of 6.50m in the U20 girls’ long jump.
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Jamaican sprinting dominance shines in 200m finals
Jamaica’s sprinting prowess was on full display on the final evening, as they clinched three out of four gold medals in the highly anticipated 200m races.
In the Under-17 girls’ 200m dash, Jamaica’s Natrece East battled hard to emerge victorious in a fiercely contested race, securing gold amidst stiff competition. Trinidad and Tobago’s Kadeem Chinapoo showcased his speed and determination in the Under-17 boys’ 200m, clinching victory.
In the U20 girls’ 200m race, Jamaica’s Shanoya Douglas surged late to emerge triumphant, solidifying Jamaica’s dominance in sprinting events. In the Under-20 boys’ 200m, Jamaica’s Gary Card blazed to victory in impressive fashion.
Jamaica and USVI claim 800m titles
Jamaica’s Kemarrio Bygrave and US Virgin Islands’ Michelle Smith produced excellent performances to claim the respective boys and girls Under-20 800m titles.
Bygrave led from start to finish to win the boys’ final, while Smith bided her time before producing a spirited final lap to take the girls title.
The Under-17 boys final saw Jamaica’s Keandre Kelly produce a mature performance to win, while Jamaica secured gold and silver in the Under-17 girls’ final through Kevongaye Fowler and Alikay Reynolds.
Jamaican excellence in field events
Jamaica’s Jamelia Young continued her excellent showing by winning gold in the U-17 girls’ discus throw. Jaeda Robinson produced record-breaking jumps to secure gold in the U-17 girls’ triple jump.
The Bahamas had an excellent start to the day with a dominant showing in the Under-17 girls’ javelin throw, while Jamaica enjoyed a 1-2 finish in the Under-20 girls’ high jump.
Trinidad & Tobago’s Janae De Gannes produced a standout performance in the Under-20 girls’ long jump, breaking records with her massive personal best.
Jamaica showcased its incredible depth in the sprint hurdles, clinching four gold medals amidst excitement and drama. Malayia Duncan and Habiba Harris led the charge for Jamaica in the respective categories, delivering standout performances. Michael Dwyer and Shaquane Gordon continued Jamaica’s dominance in the Under 17 boys and U20 boys categories, respectively.
Day Three Medals Table
Country G S B Total
Jamaica 45 23 16 84
Bahamas 9 13 13 35
Trinidad and Tobago 4 11 12 27
Guyana 4 3 1 8
Guadeloupe 2 1 2 5
US Virgin Island 2 0 1 3
Grenada 1 6 6 13
Cayman Islands 1 1 2 4
Antigua and Barbuda 1 0 3 4
St. Lucia 1 0 1 2
