Handful of gold

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Leford Green broke compatriot Dinsdale Morgan's 12 year-old men's 400 metres hurdles meet record to highlight Jamaica's performance at the XXI Central American and the Carib-bean (CAC) Games in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico yesterday.

Green, who was one of five Jamaicans to strike gold on the day in track and field, won in 48.47 seconds, ahead of Puerto Rico's Javier Culson (48.58), and Jamaica's Roxroy Cato, who claimed bronze in 49.62. The old meet record, 48.87, was set in Maracaibo, Venezuela in August 1998.

Jamaica were also successful in the female equivalent, when Nickiesha Wilson clocked 55.40 to win ahead of Mexico's Zukikey Rodriquez, 55.54, and Trinidad and Tobago's Janiel Bellelie, 56.81. Jamaica's other finalist Nikita Tracey finished fifth in 58.54.

32 medals

Discus thrower Jason Morgan, triple jumper Kimberly Williams and javelin thrower Kateema Riettie also struck gold to increase Jamaica's medal tally to 32 at press time.

Morgan, who was the first Jamaican on the day to take to the podium, threw 59.43 metres to win the men's discus final ahead of Venezuela's Jesus Parejo, 54.88m, and Mexico's Mario Cato, 54.70m. Jamaica's other representative in the final, O'Dayne Richards, finished fourth with a throw of 54.10m.

In the women's triple jump Williams improved her personal best twice to capture gold with 14.23m. She won ahead of Colombia's Catherine Ibarguen, 14.10m, and Trinidad and Tobago's, Ayanna Alexander, 13.64m.

The women's javelin final saw Riettie getting up to 53.77m to collect gold. Silver went to Dominica Republic's Fresa Nunez, 52.96m. Columbia's Maria Murillo, 46.38m finished third, while Jamaica's other finalist, Tammilee Kerr, could only manage sixth with a throw of 46.38m.

Personal best

Rasheed Dwyer crossed the line in a personal best of 20.49 seconds for silver in the men's 200 metres final. The winner was Churandy Martina of the Netehrlands Antilles in a meet record of 20.25. Third was Trinidad and Tobago's Rondel Sorrell in 20.59.

With 32 medals, Jamaica were lying sixth in the overall medal standings with a total haul of 18 track and field medals, five badminton, four swimming, three squash, and one each in the women's basketball and rugby. Meanwhile, Aldwyn Sappleton qualified for the final of tomorrow's 800m after clocking 1:49.44 in the second of two semi-finals. Jamaica's other representative, Ricardo Cunningham, did 1:49.87 for fourth in the first semi-final and failed to advance.