Record haul at CAC

Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer

Santo Domingo, Dominica Republic:

JAMAICA'S junior athletes saved their best for the final day of competition at the Junior Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Championships in Santo Domingo yesterday, as the quartet of Jodyann Muir, Jeneive Russell, Danielle Dowie and Ristananna Tracey produced a world leading 3:34.41 to win the girl's Under-20 4x400 metres relay in the penultimate event of the day.

The quartet, led by a good opening leg from Muir, saw Russell extending the lead, which was even further extended by a smooth leg from the vastly-improved Dowie, and Tracey powering home as the Jamaicans came close to the meet record of 3:34.00, which was established by a Jamaican quartet in 1994.

Jamaica Under-17 quartet of Olivia James, Shericka Jackson, Sanikee Gardener and Yanique McNeil, also won their 1600-metre relay, in 3:43.08.

Jamaica ended with a record 62 medals, surpassing the 60 they got four years ago in Trinidad and Tobago.

The tally included 25 gold, 19 silver and 18 bronze.

Bahamas' Under-17 4x400 boys team also ran a record, 3:16.30, to break the old mark, 3:16.61, which was held by a Jamaican team led by Usain Bolt in 2002. Jamaica finished third in 3:18.67.

Jamaica played second fiddle to a Jehue Gordon-led Trinidad and Tobago team in the Under-20 4x400m. The Trinidadiand won in 3:08.19, as Jamaica finished second in 3:09.18.

Besides the girls' 4x400s, Jamaica won four more gold medals yesterday, pushing their tally to 24.

GOLD RUSH

The gold rush started in the morning session when Sheena McDonald threw the discus 36.70 metres to win the girl's Under-17. Her team-mate, Samantha Johnson, took bronze with a 34.38m heave.

Vere Technical's Shericka Jackson, who was a member of the winning Under-17 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams, sprinted to victory in the Under-17 200 metres in 24.23 seconds, to claim her a third gold. Sequina Cameron ensured a quinella, clocking 24.40 for second.

Odean Skeene and Omar McLeod picked up the other gold medals.

Following his 100m success on Friday's opening day, Skeen took the sprint double by winning the 200m in 21.64 seconds.

McLeod triumphed in the Under-17 100ms hurdles in 13.14, leading a Jamaica one-two with Davian Dennis, who claimed silver in 13.39.

Calabar High's outstanding thrower, Chad Wright, broke the Under-20 shot put record on Saturday by throwing 18.32m (shattering the old mark of 17.06m).

However, he was surprised yesterday in the discus as Trinidadian Quincy Wilson, whom he defeated at the Carifta Games in April, turned the tables with a record throw of 62.93m, beating the old mark (52.79) set by Jamaica's Shearif Small in 2006.

Wright (60.50m) took silver, while Jamaica's Travis Smikle earned bronze with a 57.22m hurl.

Chadwick Dacosta (16.99m), who won the discus on Saturday, finished second in the boys' Under-17 shot put, while his teammate, Kashif Ford (16.83m), won bronze.

Also winning silver in individual events yesterday were Brandon Tomlinson in the boys' Under-20 200m, with a 21.58 run; and Stefan Fennell in the boys' Under-20 110 hurdles, in 14.07 seconds. Jamaica's Kamal Fuller, the fastest qualifier, was disqualified for a false start.

Opal James was a also a silver medallist in the girl's Under-17 triple jump, leaping 11.32 metres, while Natoya Goule took the Under-20 800m in 2:07.20.

Rochelle Farquhuarson (5.86m) won bronze in the girl's Under-20 long jump.