Home|Sports|The Bahamas shines at CARIFTASports
A pair of records highlight Team Bahamas’ performance at 50th Oaktree CARIFTA Games
Sheldon LongleySend an emailApril 11, 2023 443 12 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email
At the end of a thrilling weekend of competition, the 50th Oaktree CARIFTA Games will be remembered as one of the most action packed, engaging and all-inclusive editions of the junior regional sports meet in its history.
The action on the track and in the field was complemented with a lively cultural village and there was a grand opening ceremony, an upscale tea party for regional and global guests, and the ‘Let’s Move Bahamas’ CARIFTA Fun Run/Walk in which World Athletics President Lord Sebastian Coe served as the patron and also participated in the event.
The holiday weekend was capped off by fantastic performances on the track and in the field at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium in Nassau, The Bahamas.
The Bahamas finished second to Jamaica for a fourth straight time, winning eight gold, 13 silver and 20 bronze for 41 total medals. Jamaica won CARIFTA track and field for a 37 straight time, collecting 39 gold medals, 20 silver and 12 bronze for 71 total medals. Trinidad and Tobago was third behind Jamaica and The Bahamas with five gold medals, seven silver and 10 bronze for 22 total medals.
Kaden Cartwright got the gold medal haul started for The Bahamas with a huge throw of 64.07 meters (m) – 210’ 2” – in the under-20 boys javelin on Saturday. Dorian Charles, of Trinidad and Tobago, won the silver medal with a throw of 61.58m (202’) and Cameron Thomas of Grenada won the bronze with a throw of 60.12m (197’ 3”).
“It feels pretty good. I just want to thank God, my parents and my coaches. I came out here, trusting in my training and trusting the process. I’m proud of what I was able to do. To win the gold is a special feeling,” said Cartwright.
Jamiah Nabbie was special, winning gold in the under-17 girls 100m, matching a personal best time of 11.67 seconds, and striking also striking gold in the 200m with a time of 23.67 seconds. In the 100m, Naomi London of St. Lucia finished second in 11.72 seconds and Alexxe Henry of Trinidad and Tobago claimed the bronze medal in 11.81 seconds. The other Bahamian in that event, Shayann Demeritte failed to make the final, running 12.26 seconds in the semifinals. She was 11th overall.
“I wanted to go a bit faster, but I tripped twice and just had to do my best to recover. To come here, not run my best race, and still have a personal best time shows that I could definitely go faster. It also shows that hard work pays off. I’m glad that I was able to win the gold and to do it at home is a good feeling,” said Nabbie.
In the under-17 girls 200m, Nabbie was sensational again, winning her second individual gold medal of the 50th Oaktree CARIFTA Games. Nabbie was once again followed by St. Lucia’s Naomi London in second, crossing the finish line in 23.72 seconds. Natrece East, of Jamaica, won the bronze medal, finishing in 23.85 seconds.
Nabbie also compete in the long jump and finished fifth with a leap of 5.40m (17’ 8-1/2”) Her teammate Tylah Pratt finished seventh with a leap of 5.30m (17’ 4-3/4”).
The Bahamas finished with gold and bronze in the under-17 boys 200m as Cayden Smith came through for the gold in 21.70 seconds and Andrew Brown claimed the bronze in 22.03 seconds. Splitting the Bahamian duo for the silver medal was Ethan Sam, of Grenada in 21.96 seconds.
In the under-20 girls 200m, Amari Pratt won a bronze medal for The Bahamas, finishing in 24.17 seconds. Sanaa Frederick, of Trinidad and Tobago, won the gold medal in 23.60 seconds, and Kenyatta Grate, of the British Virgil Islands, was second, finishing in 24.11 seconds.
In the under-20 boys version of that race, Adam Musgrove won a bronze medal for The Bahamas, finishing in a personal best time of 20.96 seconds. It was a 1-2 sweep for Jamaica as Malique Smith-Band won the gold in 20.69 seconds and Javourne Dunkley secured the silver medal in 20.88 seconds.
The Bahamas came up short of the medal stand in all of the 800m events.
In the short hurdles, The Bahamas got a silver medal from Otto Laing and a bronze medal from Quinton Rolle.
Laing came through for silver in the under-20 boys 110m hurdles, crossing the finish line second in 13.49 seconds. Jamaican Demario Prince won the gold medal, finishing in 13.37 seconds, Laing was second, and Jamaican Shaquane Gioordon, finished third in 13.54 seconds. The other Bahamian in that race, Tayshaun Robinson, was fifth in 14.05 seconds.
In the under-17 boys 110m hurdles, Rolle won a bronze medal in 14.49 seconds. As it was for the under-17 girls and under-20 girls, it was Jamaican 1-2 sweep as Kahiem Carby won the gold medal in 13.49 seconds and Shakir Lewis secured the silver in 14.20 seconds. The other Bahamian in that race, Kenny Moxey Jr., was fourth in 14.58 seconds.
After chasing the national record and CARIFTA record for a couple years, Brenden Vanderpool finally got the breakthrough he was searching for, on Saturday night, winning gold in the open boys pole vault with a height of 5.06m (16’ 7-1/4”), breaking both records. The old national record of 4.89m (16’ 0-1/2”) was set by his father Brent Vanderpool in 1987 and was one of the oldest national records on the books. The old CARIFTA record of 5.05m (16’ 6-3/4”) was set by Thiery Baptiste of Martinique in Nassau in 2018. The Bahamas also got a bronze medal in that event as Tyler Cash leapt 4.45m (14’ 7-1/4”). Jeremiah Felix, of St. Lucia, spilt the two Bahamians with a leap of 4.60m (15’ 1”) for the silver medal.
Not to be outdone, Kamera Strachan endured a tough battle with her teammate Dior-Rae Scott and emerged as the new champion and CARIFTA record holder in the under-17 girls javelin. She had a massive throw of 46.07m (151’ 2”) for the gold medal to surpass the record setting throw of 44.57m (146’ 2”) from Scott in Kingston, Jamaica, last year. Scott settled for the silver this time with a personal best heave of 45.13m (148’ 1”) and Naya Jules, of St. Lucia, won the bronze medal with a throw of 42.92m (140’ 10”).
It was the only event of the weekend in which The Bahamas finished first and second.
The Bahamas won a couple of gold medals in the relays on Saturday night.
The under-17 boys 4x100m relay team of Trent Ford, Andrew Brown, Cayden Smith and Ishmael Rolle, in that order, won a stunning gold medal in 41.46 seconds. Jamaica was second on the track, but was later disqualified. Grenada ended up with the silver medal, crossing the finish line in 41.95 seconds, and Trinidad and Tobago won the bronze medal in 42.51 seconds.
The first mixed 4x400m relay in CARIFTA history proved to be a welcomed addition for Team Bahamas as the quartet of Javonya Valcourt, Lacarthea Cooper, Tumani Skinner and Shimar Bain, in that order, won gold in 3:24.62. Grenada was second in 3:27.22 and Jamaica won the bronze medal in 3:29.25.
The Bahamas won silver and bronze in the under-20 girls 400m on Saturday night. Valcourt gave Jamaican Rickiann Russell a push but had to settle for the silver in a personal best time of 52.12 seconds. Cooper followed her to the line, finishing third in a personal best time of 53.12 seconds. Russell won the gold in 51.84 seconds.
“I just wanted to get out and hold it. I’m excited with the time and happy with the silver,” said Valcourt. “I knew we had a shot to come out here and win two medals and I’m just happy that we were able to do that. It’s a blessing to come here and perform the way we did for The Bahamas.”
Cooper said: “Coming on to the home stretch, I realized that I had a chance to win a medal and I just pushed as hard as I can. Hearing the crowd noise just made me want to run faster. I’m glad that we were able to get it done – winning two medals. Now, it’s on to the relay. We’re looking forward to that.”
The Bahamas also finished second and third in the under-20 boys 100m. What was suppose to be one of the marquee events of the meet was missing both Jamaicans as world junior leader Bouwahjgie Nkrumie pulled up with an injury in the heats and defending champion DeAndre Daley false started in the semifinals. In their absence Davonte Howell, of the Cayman Islands, won the gold in 10.30 seconds, and The Bahamas’ duo of Carlos Brown Jr. and Adam Musgrove settled for second and third in times of 10.38 seconds and 10.44 seconds respectively.
“I just wanted to get out hard, keep my composure and push as hard as I can,” said Brown. “After sustaining a lot of injuries, to be able to come out here and perform like this is a good feeling. We got medals out of it and I’m happy with that. It’s a good feeling.”
Musgrove said: “This is an amazing feeling, and to do it in front of the home crowd is crazy. I dreamt about this moment since I started running track. I want to say thank you to God, to my coach, my family and everyone who supported me through this journey. Last year, at the CARIFTA Trials, I didn’t make the final, so to come back this year and be on the podium at CARIFTA, it’s a great feeling.”
In the under-17 boys 100m, Ishmael Rolle won a silver medal, finishing in a personal best time of 10.62 seconds. Jamaican Tramaine Todd won the gold in 10.52 seconds, Rolle was second, and Ethan Sam, of Grenada, finished third in 10.71 seconds.
“Well the key was not to worry about the competition and just run my race and I was able to do that. It’s a personal best time and a silver medal and I’m happy with that,” said Rolle.
In the under-17 boys 400m on Saturday, Andrew Brown ran a personal best time of 48.68 for the bronze medal. Nickecoy Bramwell, of Jamaica, won the gold medal in 47.86 seconds and Jaylen Bennett of St. Kitts and Nevis claimed the silver in 48.59 seconds. The other Bahamian in that race Zion Shepherd finished fourth in 49.30 seconds.
“The race was good for me. I came out of it injury free and I was able to run a PB (personal best time) – can’t ask for anything more than that. I thank God and everyone who supported me along the way. I was ready to run so I just came out here and did what I had to do,” said Brown.
In the under-17 girls 400m hurdles the following day, Darvinique Dean won a silver medal with a time of 1:02.50. Jamaican Jody-Ann Daley won the gold in 1:01.05 and her teammate Rhianna Lewis won the bronze medal in 1:02.61. The other Bahamian in that race Bayli Major finished fourth, just outside of the medal picture, in 1:02.92. Dean was eighth overall in the 400m the day before, finishing in 58.25 seconds.
In the under-20 boys version of the 400m hurdles, Shimar Bain made sure he won a medal in his final CARIFTA Games, finishing third in 52.48 seconds. Jamaican Roshawn Clarke won the gold in 49.92 seconds and his teammate Antonio Forbes secured the silver with a time of 51.72 seconds. Bahamian Clinton Laguerre didn’t start the event.
In the under-17 girls 1500m, Erin Barr won a bronze medal for The Bahamas, finishing in a huge personal best time of 4:54.09. Ashlyn Simmons, of Barbados, won the gold in 4:51.65 and Dena-Marie Barby of Curacao claimed the silver in 4:52.57.
“My coach told me to get close to the front from the beginning. That’s what I did,” said Barr. “I feel like I was able to execute the way I wanted to run it and it feels good to get a medal. I knew I had to be strong and run faster than I did at the CARIFTA Trials. It feels very good to bring home a medal for my country. I just went out there and ran my kind of race to the best of my ability and it paid off.”
In the open girls 3000m, Akaya Lightbourne won a bronze medal for The Bahamas, finishing in 10:47.01. Jamaican Kaydeen Johnson won the gold medal in 10:41.11 and Attoya Harvey, of Guyana, won the silver medal in 10:45.74.
In the open boys octathlon, Lavardo Deveaux battled Jamaican Courtney Williams right down to the last event over the two days of competition, but had to settle for the silver with 5,197 points. Williams won the gold with 5,253 points after going into the final event, the 1500m, with just a two-point lead. Jauza James, of Bermuda, finished third with 4,850 points.
In the under-17 boys shot put, Reuben Bain won a bronze medal for The Bahamas, finishing with a best throw of 13.78m (45’ 2-1/2”). Jamaican Ronaldo Anderson won the gold medal, with a throw of 15.52m (50’ 11”) and Denzel Phillips, of St. Lucia, won the silver medal with a throw of 15.17m (49’ 9-1/4”).
Lanaisha Lubin won a silver medal for The Bahamas in the under-20 girls triple jump. She had a best jump of 12.40m (40’ 8-1/4”). Jade-Ann Dawkins, of Jamaica, won the gold medal with a jump of 13.05m (42’ 9-3/4”), Lubin was second, and Kaysssia Hudson, of French Guiana, won the bronze medal with a jump of 12.22m (40’ 1”). The other Bahamian in the field Apryl Adderley finished fifth with a jump of 11.53m (37’ 10”).
Lubin and Adderley were back in action in the under-20 girls long jump. Lubin finished fourth, just outside of the medal picture, with a jump of 5.43m (17’ 9-3/4”) and Adderley finished sixth with a leap of 5.24m (17’ 2-1/4”).
In the under-17 girls triple jump event, Bayli Major won a silver medal for The Bahamas with a jump of 11.60m (38’ 0-3/4”). Tessa Clamy, of Guadeloupe, won the gold medal with a distance of 11.67m (38’ 3-1/2”), Major was second, and Sabrina Atkinson, of Jamaica, won the bronze medal, with a distance of 11.52m (37’ 9-1/2”). The other Bahamian in the field Zoe Adderley finished seventh with a jump of 11.23m (36’ 10-1/4”).
In the under-20 boys triple jump, Laquan Ellis won a silver medal with a leap of 14.92m (48’ 11-1/2”). Jamaican World Junior Champion Jaydon Hibbert won the gold medal with a jump of 16.11m (52’ 10-1/4”). Trevon Hamer, of Guyana, won the bronze medal with a leap of 14.89m (48’ 10-1/4”). Bahamian Johnathan Rodgers was fourth, finishing with a best leap of 14.48m (47’ 6”).
Also on the final night of competition, Danielle Nixon won a bronze medal for The Bahamas in the under-17 girls discus. She finished with a best throw of 31.60m (103’ 8”). Dionjah Shaw, of Jamaica, won the gold medal with a toss of 44.37m (145’ 7”), and Clementine Carias, of Guadeloupe, won the silver medal with a throw of 32.86m (107’ 10”). The other Bahamian in the field Kenyce Scavella finished sixth with a throw of 27.55m (90’ 5”).
In the under-17 girls shot put, Terrell McCoy won a bronze medal for The Bahamas with a distance of 13.31m (43’ 8”). Dionjah Shaw, of Jamaica, won the gold medal with a throw of 14.48m (47’ 6”) and Peyton Winter, of Trinidad and Tobago, secured the silver with a best throw of 13.66m (44’ 9-3/4”). The other Bahamian in the field, Nixon, finished sixth with a throw of 12.27m (40’ 3”).
In the under-17 boys high jump, Joshua Williams won a bronze medal for The Bahamas with a clearance of 1.90m (6’ 2-3/4”). The top two finishers in that event both cleared 1.95m (6’ 4-3/4”). Michael Neil, of Jamaica, won the gold medal based on fewer knockdowns. Kaleb Campbell of Trinidad and Tobago won the silver. The other Bahamian in that event Erris Pratt finished fifth with a clearance of 1.85m (6’ 0-3/4”).
Mateo Smith was not going to be left out of the medal picture in the under-20 boys long jump. He leapt 7.44m (24’ 5”) to win the bronze. Andrew Stone, of the Cayman Islands, leapt 7.54m (24’ 8-3/4”) for the gold and Jamaican Demario Prince won the silver. He had an identical leap as Smith, 7.44m, but won the silver by means of having a better second-best leap. The other Bahamian in that event Johnathan Rodgers finished sixth with a distance of 7.15m (23’ 5-1/2”).
In the under-20 girls javelin, Vanessa Sawyer won a bronze medal for The Bahamas with a throw of 43.37m (142’ 3”). Anisha Gibbons, of Guyana, won the gold medal with a throw of 47.96m (157’ 4”) and Korann Colet, of French Guiana, claimed the silver with a throw of 45.32m (148’ 8”). The other Bahamian in that event G’Shan Brown finished 10th with a distance of 34.18m (112’ 2”).
In the relays on Saturday night, The Bahamas’ team of Dean, Nabbie, Major and Demeritte, in that order, won a silver medal in the under-17 girls 4x100m after the Jamaicans were disqualified. The Bahamas crossed the finish line third but ended up with the silver. Jamaica crossed the finish line first but were left out of the picture after the disqualification. Trinidad & Tobago emerged as the victor in 46.18 seconds. The Bahamas was second in 46.43 seconds and Bermuda ended up third in 48.12 seconds.
In the under-20 girls version of that race, The Bahamas’ team of Melvinique Gibson, Shatalya Dorsett, Quincy Penn and Amari Pratt, in that order, finished third in 45.55 seconds. Jamaica won the gold in 44.01 seconds and Trinidad and Tobago was second in 45.35 seconds.
The under-20 boys 4x100m final was one of the more thrilling races of the three-day meet. Daley anchored the Jamaican team home to the gold medal, passing Brown in the final 20 meters of the race. They won in 39.68 seconds. The Bahamas’ team of Zachary Evans, Musgrove, Zion Campbell and Brown, in that order, finished second in 39.78 seconds and Trinidad and Tobago finished third in 40.83 seconds.
The Bahamas won three medals in the 4x400m relays to close out the three-day meet.
In the under-17 girls division, the team of Major, Ta’mia Taylor, Akaree Roberts and Dean, in that order, finished third in 3:51.60. Jamaica won the gold in 3:43.43 and Barbados brought home the silver in 3:50.49.
In the under-17 boys 4x400m relay, The Bahamas’ team of Eagan Neely, Andrew Brown, Javano Bridgewater and Zion Shepherd, in that order, won a silver medal in 3:20.47. Jamaica once again won the gold medal, finishing in 3:19.04. Trinidad and Tobago won the bronze medal in 3:23.74.
In the under-20 girls 4x400m relay, The Bahamas’ team of Quincy Penn, Shatalya Dorsett, Melvinique Gibson and Nya Wright, in that order, won a bronze medal in 3:47.68. Jamaica won the gold medal, finishing in 3:33.35, and Trinidad and Tobago won the silver medal in 3:44.19.
In the final race of the meet, the under-20 boys 4x400m relay, The Bahamas’ team of Tumani Skinner, Shimar Bain, Clinton Laguerre and Philip Gray Jr., in that order, finished fourth in 3:12.96. Jamaica won the gold medal, finishing in 3:07.68, Trinidad and Tobago won the silver medal in 3:09.97, and Grenada captured the bronze medal in 3:10.59.
The three-day meet wrapped up last night with The Bahamas finishing second to Jamaica for a fourth straight time.