TT athletes bag 24 medals at Carifta

TT athletes bagged 24 medals overall as the 48th annual Carifta Track and Field Championships ended, on Monday night, at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex, George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.

In the three-day event, TT collected four gold medals, eight silver and 12 bronze, a slight improvement on their 2018 display at the Thomas Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas, when they claimed 17 medals (four gold, six silver and seven bronze).

For the 35th straight year, and 43rd in the competition’s history, Jamaica topped the medal count with a whopping 85 (36 gold, 33 silver and 16 bronze), while the Bahamas were second with 26 (nine gold, seven silver and ten bronze).

Tyriq Horsford recorded his fifth successive javelin gold when he won the Under-20 category, on Monday, with a throw of 71.45 metres.

On Sunday evening, Safiya John prevailed in the women’s heptathlon with a tally of 5,143 points. Also on Sunday, Shaniqua Bascombe romped to victory in the women’s Under-17 200 metres in 23.36 seconds.

Devin Augustine claimed TT’s first gold when he whipped his rivals in the men’s Under-17 100 metres, in 10.62 seconds.

On the final night of action, TT registered five medals – one silver and four bronze.

The silver medal came in the in the men’s Under-17 4x400m relay. The quartet of Jessiah Jones, Ryan Campbell, Rinaldo Moore and Jordon Pope notched a time of three minutes 18.71 seconds, behind Jamaica’s 3:16.56, with St Kitts/Nevis third in 3:25.84.

The women’s Under-17 foursome of Malika Coutain, Taejha Badal, Christie Maharaj and Natasha Fox placed third in the 1600m relay in three minutes 44.91 seconds.

Jamaica triumphed in three minutes 41 seconds, followed by the British Virgin Islands, who ran three minutes 44.89 seconds.

And, in the women’s Under-20 mile relay, the team of Tamia Badal, Tatianna Martinez, Nicola Pesnell and Rae-Ann Serville completed the race in three minutes 41.67 seconds, trailing Jamaica (3:36.76) and the Bahamas (3:40.51).

Ianna Roach was third in the women’s Under-20 shot put, with a throw of 13.51 metres. The 19-year-old produced her best with her first attempt. Kelsie Murrell-Ross of Grenada won with a best of 14.22m, with Thamera Mannette of Martinique next with 13.53m.

Jayden Scott got bronze in the men’s Under-17 discus, after an effort of 47.50m (also with his first throw). Jamaica had the top two spots courtesy Kobe Lawrence (53.32m) and Christopher Young (51.34m).

Final medal count:

Jamaica 85 (36 gold, 33 silver, 16 bronze)

Bahamas 26 (9 gold, 7 silver, 10 bronze)

TT 24 (4 gold, 8 silver, 12 bronze)

Guyana 10 (4 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze)

Barbados 11 (3 gold, 4 silver, 4 bronze)