Gold, record for shot putter Miller

Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer

MIRAMAR, Florida

Ashinia Miller broke his own national junior record in the shot put to mine gold for Jamaica on the final day of the Pan American Junior Championships in Miramar, Florida, yesterday.

The Calabar High student heaved the shot put 19.97 metres to beat the 19.47m he set at the CARIFTA Games in April. Americans Kyle McKelvey (18.39m) and Caleb Hitener (18.29m) were second and third respectively.

Miller's gold helped push Jamaica's final medal tally at the meet to 10: three gold, five silver, and two bronze. They placed second to the United States who topped the meet with 59 medals (26-21-12). The Bahamas were third with 10 (3-2-5) and Brazil seven (3-1-4).

Miller expressed disappointment at not getting the championship record, but was full of praise for his school coach, Julian Robinson.

"I am happy for the win and national junior record, but I am kind of disappointed that I did not get the championships record. However, I would like to thank coach Robinson who has motivated me a lot, and he was the one who told me that I must have faith when at first I was not selected on the team and I am glad that I was able to get a chance to perform," said Miller.

Positive start

Jamaica started the day on a positive note as in the first final, Danielle Dowie bagged silver in the girls' 400m hurdles. Dowie, who just completed her first year at the University of Texas, despite going into the final with the fastest time, had to settle for second in 58.55 seconds as Katrina Seymour of The Bahamas won gold in 57.87. Deborah Rodriques of Uruguay was third in 59.10.

"It has been a long season for me, competing indoors and outdoors, and I was determined to do better than I did two years ago when I got bronze in the event," said Dowie.

It was also a personal best and silver for Janieve Russell in the heptathlon. Russell shrugged off a back injury midway the competition to tally 5352 points. Brazil's Tyamara Souza won with 5477 points as bronze went to American Deonn Latham with 5273.

Russell showed her fighting qualities in the final event, the 800 metres, and despite the pains from her injury, she held on for the win in 2:24.23 to seal her second place.

"I am kind of disappointed that I did not win ... but this is good anyway, because I was doing the event for the first time," said the multi-talented athlete.

4x100m

The 4x100m quartet of Danielle Williams, Celia Whyte, Natasha Morrison and Carlene Copeland picked up silver in the girls' event after finishing second in 45.37 seconds. The Bahamas, with a good anchor leg from 200m champion Anthonique Strachan, won in 45.04, with Canada taking third in 46.35. The United States failed to finish.

There was no luck for Jamaica in the boys' sprint relay as the quartet of Everton Clarke, Lashanda Bromfield, Odain Todd and Yannick Hart ended fourth in 40.72. United States won in 39.43, Canada, 39.97, and The Bahamas, 40.26.

Jamaica were also fourth in the boys' 4x400m in 3:16.73. The Americans won gold in 3:08.20, Trinidad and Tobago were second in 3:13.27 and The Bahamas third in 3:14.94. Jamaica's team in running order was Rusheen McDonald, Chadic Hinds, Rojeek Rochester and Javier Bell.

A weakened 4x400m girls' team also finished out of the medals. They clocked 3:46.78 running without an injured Chrisann Gordon, the 400m gold medallist. The gold-medal winners were the United States in 3:34.71, Canada took second in 3:38.99 and The Bahamas third in 3:42.61. Jamaica's team, in running order, was Anastacia Scott, Danielle Dowie, Nicolette Martin and Dezreen Montigue.