NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – DeAndre Daley made amends for his blunder in the 100 meters semi-finals by producing an astonishing final leg in the boys Under-20 sprint relay final to lead Jamaica’s domination on the second night of the 50th CARIFTA Games here Sunday.
Receiving the baton behind local Bahamian star Carlos Brown, the 18-year-old Daley motored down the final 80 meters, overhauling his rival inside the last 20 meters, to clinch his first gold of the meet and steer Jamaica to victory in a time of 39.68 seconds.
“It’s a great feeling. I didn’t come out here to do it for myself. I went out to do it for my teammates …,” Daley said.
He had suffered massive disappointment on Saturday’s opening day at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium when he false-started in the 100m semi-finals after entering as defending champion and the heavy favorite.
The Bahamas finished with silver in 39.78, Browne collecting his second runners-up medal in as many days after coming up short in Saturday’s 100m final, while Trinidad and Tobago clinched bronze in 40.83.
Jamaica’s success was one of three in the sprint relays as they also captured gold in the girl’s Under-20 and Under-17 finals.
The impressive Alana Reid followed up her triumph in the girl’s Under-20 100m final by unleashing a storming second leg to help Jamaica win the Under-20 sprint relay in a time of 44.01.
The Bahamas enjoyed an excellent start and looked to take control down the backstretch until Reid exploded on her leg to give Jamaica the ascendancy.
By the time Alliah Baker took the baton on the final leg, Jamaica was well ahead, and she was without a rival over the last 70 meters.
“It’s something we’ve been working towards. We’re all from different schools, so we had to put our minds together, come out here and do our best, and that’s what we did,” Reid said.
Trinidad and Tobago were second in 45.35, edging out the Bahamas, who took bronze in 45.55.
Jamaica’s girls’ Under-17 team brushed aside their competition; meanwhile, Shemonique Hazle anchored them to gold in a time of 45.36.
The Bahamas prevented a Jamaican clean sweep of the relays, winning the boy’s Under-17 final in a time of 41.46, ahead of their Jamaican rivals in 41.63, while Grenada took bronze in 41.96.
In the 400 meters hurdles, the regional powerhouses again found their attempt at a clean sweep thwarted, even though they still managed to win two of the four finals.
Roshawn Clarke clocked 49.92 seconds to win the boy’s Under-20 final, leading a Jamaica one-two, with Antonio Forbes clinching silver in 51.72.
And Clarke’s teammate girls Under-17 counterpart, Jody-Ann Daley, took the top spot in her division with a time of one minute, 01.95 seconds, ahead of Bahamian Darvinique Dean (1:02.50) and Jamaican Rhianna Lewis (1:02.61).
St Kitts and Nevis tasted gold in the corresponding boy’s category when Akanye Samuel-Francis returned a time of 54.14 to get the better of the Jamaican pair of DeAndre Gayle (55.10) and Demarco Bennett (55.27).
Gayle led into the stretch, but Samuel-Francis took command ahead of the final set of hurdles to power to the line and deliver their first gold of the games for his country.
“I came into the race feeling very good,” said Samuel-Francis.
“I know I would’ve placed, but I didn’t expect the gold. But I did my best and did what I had to do. It’s a huge achievement for my country.”
Michelle Smith of the United States Virgin Islands also tasted gold in the girls Under-20 final, clocking 57.69 to beat the Jamaican duo of Tonyan Beckford (58.94) and Baker (59.55).
On the field, Jamaica was not to be shut out, Ronaldo Anderson tossing the shot put 15.52 meters to win the boys Under-17 final.
Dominica also secured gold when Addison Alickson James threw the javelin 60.16m to take home the boy’s Under-17 title.
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