NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – Alexis James and Kahiem Carby established new records as Jamaica swept the sprint hurdle titles, the regional powerhouses also running away with the distance relays to climax a final rainy night of the 50th CARIFTA Games here Monday.
On another drama-filled day at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium, Bahamian Jamiah Nabbie completed the girl’s under-17 sprint double when she stormed to victory in the 200 meters final, Jamaica surprisingly shut out of all but one.
Controversy attended the half-lap, however. St Kitts and Nevis’ Jaylen Bennett, the silver medallist in the boys Under-17 400m on Sunday, missed out on the 200m final due to a technical hiccup but was allowed to do a timed run for a place on the podium.
The announcement came with all events completed, the 200m medal ceremony had already taken place, and the final presentation nearing an end.
Needing to run at least 22.03 to secure a medal, Bennett produced a sterling effort but came up short at 22.07.
This added to the earlier controversy surrounding the boy’s Under-20 sprint relay, which organizers said had to be re-run following a successful protest by Barbados.
Jamaica won the event on Sunday night ahead of the Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago. Still, fourth-placed Barbados argued they had been disadvantaged after the race was recalled halfway through the first leg when the Bahamas were left in the blocks.
With the final set to be re-run just after 3 pm, the competing teams opted out, leaving the event’s final result needing clarification.
Jamaica also found themselves on the wrong end of disqualifications, which left their boys and girls Under-17 sprint relay teams disqualified for unlawful baton exchanges.
The boys had won silver and the girls gold in Sunday night’s finals.
However, James and Carby’s exploits went a long way in removing any sour taste from the Jamaicans’ mouths.
James successfully defended her Under-20 title when she raced to a time of 13.06, breaking the old record of 13.08 set by countrywoman Amoi Browne five years ago here in Nassau.
Asharria Ulette ensured a Jamaican one-two when she grabbed silver in 13.24, while Barbadian Nya Browne produced a personal-best 13.80 for bronze.
“I just keep a clear mind and think about what I want, and I wanted the gold medal, so I kept it in mind and came first,” said James, who also took silver in Saturday’s 100m final.
Carby was also brilliant, destroying his field in the boy’s Under-17 final with a new mark of 13.49, which broke fellow Jamaican Deshaun Lamb’s 13.54 four years ago in the Cayman Islands.
Shakir Lewis also made it a one-two for the Jamaicans with silver in 14.20, Bahamian Quinton Rolle taking silver in 14.49.
“I just came out here and told myself I was going to execute well and finish the race with my fellow teammate (Lewis),” Carby said.
In the girl’s Under-17 final, Bryanna Davidson also completed a successful title defense to win in 13.31, with teammate Camoy Binger second in 13.51. At the same time, in the boy’s Under-20, Demario Prince chased down Bahamian Otto Laing (13.49) to win gold in a personal best of 13.37.
Nabbie proved herself a star when she clocked 23.67 in winning the Under-17 200m, outduelling the impressive St Lucian Naomi London, who pushed the winner to the line before settling for silver in 23.72.
“It feels awesome,” said Nabbie, who edged London in Saturday night’s 100m final.
The corresponding boys’ final was captured by Bahamian Cayden Smith in 21.70, with Grenadian Ethan Sam taking home silver in 21.96.
Meanwhile, Trinidadian Sanaa Federick won a chaotic girls’ Under-20 final at 23.60 after Antiguan La’nica Locker and Sabrina Dockery of Jamaica were disqualified for false starts.
Malique Smith-Band produced Jamaica’s solitary success when he jetted to capture the boys Under-20 title in 20.69, taking teammate Javourne Dunkley (20.88) with him as runner-up.
“They (false starts) threw me off at first, but I realized I had to focus on my race and make sure that I executed right,” said Fredericks, who was sandwiched between Locker in lane three and Dockery in lane five.
“[The execution] felt good. I didn’t have anybody to run off so I just had to push myself and run my own race.”
The 800m titles were shared around, Jamaican Alikay Reynolds taking the girl’s Under-17s in two minutes, 14.67 seconds, and Guyanese Javon Roberts winning the corresponding boys’ title in 1:56.64.
Michelle Smith delivered the girl’s Under-20 crown for the British Virgin Islands with a time of 2:09.72, while Nathan Cumberbatch secured another gold for Trinidad and Tobago with a 1:51.34 clocking.
Jamaica’s Roshawn Clarke, who successfully defended his boys Under- 20 400m hurdles title and became only the second athlete to dip below 50 seconds (49.92) at the region’s premier track and field meet, was honored with the Austin Sealy Award.
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