Athletics’ major talent exhibition CARIFTA Games concluded in Nassau’s Thomas Robinson Stadium. Jamaica collected a total of 70 medals in three-days festivity to finished first as some new names emerge from different island nations.
The 2023 edition was 50th championships celebration in Bahamian capital with presence of more than 400 athletes from 29 teams, where they contested for 68 events. Last year’s host Jamaica has retained their persistent leadership in the event even they were experienced minor shocks in some events. Despite their no-show in U20 Men’s 100 metres final after World U20 leader Bouwahjgie Nkrumie have got injured in the heats and DeAndre Daley has disqualified in semis. Also in 4x100 U17 final, Jamaican quartet disqualified by change error.
The sprinters of younger Jamaican team have less impact to audience though, some others were compansated the show. Alana Reid added her portfolio two CARIFTA golds there, including a blistering 11.17 in 100 metres – which was 10.92 shown at first sight accidentaly before it corrects. Reid also helped Jamaica’s 44.01 win over Trinidad and Bahamas in 4x100 relay in U20 age group.
Roshawn Clarke, another World U20 medallist as Reid, stormed to win in his respective event 400 metres hurdles. Clarke ran brillantly executed race in the final where he clocked second-ever under 50 seconds mark (49.92) at the event history despite tumbling in the final hurdle before the finish. He grabbed another gold in the 4x400 team which ended up the final race of the Games with 3:07.68 win.
Last year’s phenomenon Adaejah Hodge of British Virgin Islands, has been signed up for five events, but withdrew from the competition due to “fragility” after long lay-off in the connected flights to Nassau. Meanwhile, another Virgin Islander – but US affiliated one – was fill the gap by making unusual double in 400 hurdles and 800 metres win, who is Michelle Smith, 16, an outstanding newcomer. Smith, already seniors NR holder in 800 metres, wins well-distanced 400m hurdles before 800 metres crown in closing day. Interestingly, she has been completed very same double last year in U17 age group.
The Bahamas’ largest CARIFTA team in history have gathered 41 medals in their home event, most since 1984, highlighted by 16-year old talent Jamiah Nabie’s sprint double and Brenden Vanderpool’s astonishing 5.06 jump in men’s open category pole vault. Vanderpool has 4.78 personal best before the final, then broke 5-meter barrier on the first attempt of 5.06 metres, which mark surpassed Bahamian seniors national record held by his father Brent Vanderpool since 1987. He established CARIFTA championships record as well by one centimeter.
Yet another good story came from Belize’s 15-year old boy Demetire Meyers, whose talent praised by World Athletics boss Seb Coe during the interview in Sunday. Meyers brought to Belize first CARIFTA titles by securing gold medals in 3000 and 1500 metres.
