Jamaica dominate medal table on day 1 of Carifta Track and Field championships

By Ricardo Chambers

Reporting from Grenada

Jamaica garnered 20 medals including 9 gold on the opening day of the 2016 Carifta Track and Field Championships in Grenada.

Speed merchant Nigel Ellis highlighted the evening session when he took Under-20 boys 100m honours in a personal best and world junior-leading 10.16 seconds with the bronze going to compatriot Raheem Chambers in 10.35 seconds.

Ellis was lowering his personal best for the seconc time in eight days, having recorded 10.18 seconds to win the Class 1 title at the Boys and Girls 'Champs' last week.

Patrice Moody and Shanice Reid were second and fifth respectively in the girls equivalent.

Jhevaughn Matherson 10.42 and Dejour Rusell 10.60 seconds made it a Jamaican quinella in the Under-18 boys event while on the girls side, Kimone Shaw clocked 11.56 seconds to land gold.

Among the other winners was World Youth Champion Christopher Taylor who defended his Uunder-18 boys 400 meter title in 47.29 seconds.

Akeem Bloomfield also defended his 400 meter title in the Under-20 section winning with a season’s best 46.01.              

Stacy-Ann Williams also won the Under-18 girls 400 meter title, clocking 54 seconds while Tiffany James had to settle for the bronze in the Under-20 equivalent.

Shevan Parks was also a gold medallist, taking victory in the Under-20 boys 1500 meters ahead of teammate Kristoff Darby who secured the silver.

Ashanni Robb also won the Under-20 girls 1500 meters while it was one-two in the Under-18 girls section with Cemore Donald winning ahead of Britnie Dixon. Keenan Lawrence took the silver the Under-18 boys event.

In the field,  Shiann Salmon leapt a personal best 1.82 meters to win the Under-18 girls high jump with compatriot Lamara Distin taking the silver with a personal best 1.77 meters.             

It was also one-two for Jamaica in the Under-20 girls Shott Putt where Jannell Fullerton took the gold with 14.52 meters while Sahjay Stevens secured silver with 13.74 meters. Aiko Jones also threw 14.32 meters for the bronze in the Under-18 girls shot put.

Jamaica’s medal tally at the end of day one stood at 9 gold, 8 silver and 3 bronze.

HITZ 92 FM will have live reports and commentary throughout the championships with reporter Ricardo Chambers in Grenada. The reports on Sunday will be aired at 10:30 am; 4:20 pm and 7:05–7:45 pm.