26TH CARIFTA GAMES Jamaica dominates, Mothersil out of 200
About the article
This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from April 1997.
Brought to you by
Bailey, a 200-metre finalist at last year's World Junior Championships in Australia, powered home in a blistering 20.48 seconds to erase his compatriot Everod Samuel's mark of 20.64 seconds which stood since 1982.
Another Jamaican Steve Slowly (20.95) was not as fast as Bailey but took the silver medal ahead of Martinique's Cedric Gold-Dalg (21.18). Two other records were set on the second day when 20 finals were contested.
Martinique's Christelle Bornill's toss of 48.36 metres in the under-20 girls discus wiped out Bahamian Denise Taylor's 1984 record distance of 46.96 metres while Jamaican Omar Gardener's height of 4.31 metres in the open pole vault eclipsed the 4.26 metres joint mark of Jamaican Mark Godfrey and Bahamian Brent Johnson, which was established in 1987.
The Jamaicans, who captured 23 medals on Friday's opening day, dominated the track events, especially in the 800 metres, where they made a clean sweep, to move their overall medal tally to 48, comprising 20 gold, 17 silver and 11 bronze.
Host country Barbados, inspired by 13-year-old debutant Shernelle Nicholls' gold medal effort of 34.18 metres in the under-17 girls discus, maintained their second position with 24 medals, including nine gold, eight silver and seven bronze.
The Bahamas are third with 14 medals, consisting of four gold, four silver and six bronze while Trinidad and Tobago, boosted by gold medals from Sheldon Black (under-17 boys javelin), Dave Stoute (under-20 boys shot putt) and Fana Ashby in the junior girls 200 metres, pushed their tally to 10 for fourth place.
The Trinidadians have four gold, three silver and three bronze while the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique have nine medals each. Ashby, who won the 100m on Friday, completed the sprint double, winning in a time of 24.23 from Lucy Ann Richards (24.31) of Barbados and Marcia Dorsett (24.46) of the Bahamas.
The junior boys' 200m gold medal went to Andre Murray of Jamaica (21.6 hand-timed). Kevin Bartlett (21.7) of Barbados and Richard Nicely (21.7) got the silver and bronze respectively.
Jamaican Aileen Bailey, who was second in the senior girls 100m, capitalised on the absence of Cayman Islands' Cydonnie Mothersil, who had to seek medical attention for a chest problem, to win the 200m in 23.65 seconds from compatriot Chanelle Marshall (23.83).
Jamaican won all four 800 metres events. Tameica Brown won the junior girls race from Barbadians Sheena Gooding and Letitia Gilkes in a time of 2:13.39 minutes.
Perhona Tomlin completed the 800-1500 metres double among the senior girls, clocking 2:11.22 minutes to stave off the challenge of Barbadian Janelle Inniss (2:12.43) and the fast-finishing Ailene Smith (2:12.52) of Jamaica.
Another 800-1500 double winner was Jamaican Aldwyn Sappleton, who raced to a commanding victory in 1:58.59 minutes while Dwayne Miller (1:54.78) past his Jamaican compatriot Carlon Harrison (1:54.79) on the line, after he had prematurely raised his arms in celebration.
Barbados won both the juniors girls (300m) and boys (400m) hurdles through Renee Layne (43.17 seconds) and Ryan Smith (54.64) while Jamaica performed a similar feat among the seniors, with David Lloyd winning the boys' 400m hurdles in 53.43 seconds and Peta Gay Gayle (59.28) capturing the girls' 400m hurdles.
On the field, Jamaica's Christine Brown captured the under-20 girls triple jump with a distance of 12.56 metres, Bahamian Leevan Sands won the under-17 boys equivalent in 14.73 metres and Barbadian Keitha Moseley took gold in the junior girls high jump with a leap of 1.65 metres.
