It was the expected avalanche of podium finishes on the final day of the 44th CARIFTA Games as Team Jamaica’s medal quest went into overdrive ending with a sweep of the mile relays. Medal Table The real question at the start of the Day 4 (as it has been from Day 1) was whether Team Jamaica could surpass the 89 medals won in 2014. The final medal count showed that Jamaica failed by 4 medals to equal last year’s haul. The team won a total of 85 medals which included 41 Gold, 25 Silver and 19 Bronze. The Bahamas secured 31 medals which consisted of 8 Gold, 13 Silver and 10 Bronze. Barbados (16) won fewer medals than Trinidad and Tobago (22) however finished 3rd overall on the basis of quality medals won having secured 7 Gold medals compared to 6 in the coffers of the twin island republic. The medal tally included those won in events where there were less than three countries represented. Records Team Jamaica accounted for at least 9 of the records that were broken at the 2015 CARIFTA Games. Those records included the U18 Girls Shot Put won by Sahjay […]
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45 Medals and counting Team Jamaica began Day 3 of the 44th CARIFTA Games with 30 medals and were poised to significantly add to their ‘bling’. At the end of the penultimate day, the medal chest was beginning to bulge with 23 Gold, 12 Silver and 10 bronze for a total of 45 medals. This count does not include medals won in the Pole Vault and the 400m hurdles for the U18 and U20 girls as there were insufficient entries (each event must have at least 3 countries for results to be included in overall medal tally). Head Coach Orville Brown satisfied with Day 3 performance Head Coach of Jamaica’s team to the CARIFTA Games Orville Brown was in a buoyant mood at the end of proceedings on Day 3. ‘It was a pretty good day.The championships is going along quite well and we are looking forward to having a good day tomorrow’ said Brown In an exclusive interview with Jamaica Olympics. Brown, while praising the efforts of all the athletes, singled out U18 Boys Javelin Silver medalist Kevin Nedrick for mention. ‘The most heart-warming performance for me was that of Kevin Nedrick and the Silver medal in […]
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Team Jamaica’s GOLD RUSH accelerated as expected on Day 2 as the CARIFTA Games continued with 17 finals being decided. Jamaica closed the day with 15 Gold, 6 Silver and 9 Bronze for a total of 30 medals. Double Gold in Boys High Jump, Christoff Bryan equals CARIFTA Record National Junior Record Holder for the High Jump, Christoff Bryan was in a class of his own as he made up for his 2nd place finish last year by winning the U20 Boys High Jump and in the process equaled the Games Record of 2.21M. Laquarn Nairn of the Bahamas was the runner up clearing 2.14M. Ace Louis of St. Lucia edged defending champion Clayton Brown of Jamaica on count-back for the Bronze after both cleared 2.11M. Bryan was disappointed at not getting the record after three failed attempts at 2.24M but indicated in an interview with Jamaica Olympics that the wind wasn’t a bother and that it was more ‘competition rust’. Bryan when asked about his plans for the rest of the season said he wanted to ‘make the finals at the IAAF World Championships and to jump at least 2.30M by the end of the season’. Lushane […]
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Devia Brown got Jamaica’s ‘Gold Rush’ on the way at the 44th CARIFTA Games. Brown who won the bronze in 2014 led a Jamaican 1-2 with a throw of 48.78M to win the U18 Girls Discus ahead of team-mate Shyledeen Smith with 44.83M and Serena Brown of the Bahamas (44.20M). Jamaica’s 2nd Gold medal came in the Pole Vault Open as Akeem Kerr (4.10M) emerged the winner ahead of Jessy Voiter of Martinique. There were only two athletes participating in the Pole Vault. Tamara Moncrieffe battled very windy and cold conditions to retain the Girls U20 Triple Jump Title, securing Team Jamaica’s 3rd Gold medal of the opening day. The newly minted ‘Champs’ record-holder won with a leap of 13.44M. Moncrieffe who told Jamaica Olympics that she came ‘with a mindset to get her personal best’ expressed disappointment at not accomplishing that mission but was satisfied with her efforts given the prevailing conditions. Ave-Anna Venair put in a creditable performance in the U18 girls Triple Jump but failed to grab a podium spot. Team Jamaica’s competitors in the 400m semi-finals all progressed to the final. The overwhelming favourite for the U18 Boys Christopher Taylor (48.58) cruised to an easy […]
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The Easter weekend (April 3-6) will see Jamaica’s athletic prowess once again on display at the 44th annual CARIFTA Games to be held at the Silver Jubilee Athletic Stadium in Bassettere, St. Kitts. Jamaica has dominated the CARIFTA Games topping the medal tables on all but five occasions and it should be business as usual. Some 26 countries will be competing. Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and The Bahamas are the countries best equipped to take the fight to Jamaica. Strong Contingent Jamaica’s 80-strong contingent is led by the likes of World Youth and Youth Olympic champions Jaheel Hyde, Michael O’Hara, Yanique Thompson and Natalliah Whyte. The Jamaicans will be looking to surpass the 89 medals won last year in Martinique. The squad includes 12 athletes who won titles at the 43rd CARIFTA Games. Day One Action The Games gets under way on Friday evening with action on the track and in the field across both the U20 and U18 categories. The U20 division will see the Pole Vault, the girls Triple Jump and the semi finals of the 400m for boys and girls while the U18 will participate in the girls Triple Jump and the boys and girls […]
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Day 4 of ‘Champs’ closed with a promise of a drama-filled, record-breaking last day showcasing the best Jamaican high school athletes in final after final and the destination of the Boys’ and Girls’ titles still to be decided. Track royalties Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce and Donovan Bailey (1996 – Atlanta Olympics Gold Medalist) were among the 30,000+ spectators at the National Stadium, the thousands viewing at home in Jamaica and via streaming throughout the diaspora. JamaicaOlympics as it has done with its pre-champs coverage and since the start of action on Tuesday was also on hand to bring the final day’s truly special and at times incredible performances as they unfolded to its thousands of followers. The final day of Champs 2015 lived up to all expectations with title favourites and defending champions Calabar High School and Edwin Allen retaining their titles in contrasting fashion. Edwin Allen (321 points) was in a league of its own brushing aside the challenge of St. Jago (221.33), Hydel (221) and Holmwood (206). Calabar (280.5 points)thwarted the persistent challenge of perennial rivals Kingston College (265 points) to win their 4th consecutive Champs Title. Jamaica College, St. Jago and STETHS completed the top […]
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Many, especially the throngs of Calabar supporters believe its all over bar the shouting with only an unlikely calamitous collapse on Day 5 standing between the Red Hills Road standard bearers and their 4th consecutive lien on the Mortimer Geddes Trophy, the coveted symbol of boys high school track and field supremacy in Jamaica. Calabar is indeed in pole position after Day 4 and with a 23 point lead and the calibre of athletes the school has in finals on Day 5, one cannot fault those who believe its over. Supporters of a rejuvenated KC believe that they can steal the title on the last day having secured quality entries in many of the finals on the last day. Edwin Allen lead with 131.50 points with Hydel in second on 113 and St. Jago in third on 86.33 points. Holmwood (75) and Vere (46) complete the top 5. (Points tally subject to change) Calabar is set to score heavily in the sprint hurdles with Michael O’Hara and Seanie Selvin in Class One, favourite Dejour Russell and Alex Robinson in Class Two and Craig Brown in Class Three. KC doesn’t have the quality in the sprint hurdles but should score well […]
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Edwin Allen High kept on course to defend their title closing Day 4 on top after some dramatic and keenly contested action on the track and in the field events. The Frankfield based institution enters the final day in the driving seat but history has taught them that complacency is not an option. Despite the resounding win in 2014, the demons of 2013 have not been completely exorcised as back then the school closed the penultimate day in front before failing to withstand a late charge by a rampaging Holmwood Technical. Edwin Allen lead with 131.50 points with Hydel in second on 113 and St. Jago in third on 86.33 points. Holmwood (75) and Vere (46) complete the top 5. (Points tally subject to change) Day 4 saw two longstanding records being broken. The talented Peta-Gay Williams of St. Jago (13.56 seconds – Class One 100m Hurdles) broke Melaine Walker’s 13 year old record of 13.68 seconds in the sprint hurdles semi-finals. The very versatile Tamara Moncrieffe of Holmwood Technical (13.63M -Triple Jump Open) shook off the disappointment of the High Jump to write her name in the record books after eclipsing the 8 year old mark set by 2014 […]
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Defending champions Edwin Allen fired on all cylinders to easily win Girls Champs in 2014. However, they lost a number of stalwarts including Monique Spencer, Camira Haughton, Marleena Eubanks and Claudette Allen to name a few but such is the depth of the squad that many expect them to take the title back to Clarendon. The Michael Dyke coached team has looked very good all season and will be tough to beat especially with the likes of Sequkine Cameron, Shellece Clarke and Rochelle Fraser leading the charge. Kevona Davis and Shanique Rowe are the leading lights in Class Four. St. Jago High School’s title credentials have been on display all season. The Monk Street Girls have been in the wilderness for a while but that could change as they have the firepower and quality to wrestle the title from Edwin Allen. The leading lights for St. Jago are Peta-Gay Williams, Natalliah Whyte, Shanice Reid, Kimone Shaw, Genekie Leith and Andrenette Knight to name a few. St. Jago will get quality points from Classes One and Three. They may have enough ammunition in the other two classes but lack star power in the field events which could be their undoing. Holmwood […]
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At the end of Day 3, Kingston College (KC) appeared down for the count having suffered a potentially fatal body blow in their quest to tame the lions and cubs of the Calabar. KC’s ace Class Two sprinter Jhevaughn Matherson pulled up in his semi-final of the 200m as supporters of the North Street giants looked on in stunned silence. Meanwhile the Calabar Lions continued to roar ferociously with their cubs in Class Three taking a cue and rising above pre champs predictions. Calabar was responsible for the two records to fall on the day with last year’s 4th place finisher Shakiel Chattoo breaking the Decathlon record amassing 6988 points in the grueling 10-event competition and 13 year old Lamar Reid’s record jump of 1.99m surpassing the record of 1.98m set over 22 years ago. The Red Hills Road institution lost the Class One Discus title when Demar Gayle of Edwin Allen threw 50.70m to take the Gold ahead of Calabar’s Warren Barrett Jnr. and Sanjae Lawrence of Petersfield High. KC did not end the day empty handed as Rasheeda Downer with a throw of 16.47 won the Boys’ Class two Shot Put ahead of the Calabar pair of Andre […]
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