Jamaica secures five gold medals

Jamaica secured five gold medals on yesterday’s fourth day of athletics at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.



As a result of yesterday’s haul, Jamaica’s medal count in athletics now stand at 18 including seven gold, five silver and six bronze.



In all sports at the Game, Jamaica have won 32 medals including 12 gold eight silver and 12 bronze.



Jason Morgan picked up Jamaica’s first gold medal yesterday by winning the men’s discus final with a throw of 59.43 metres, well ahead of Jesus Parejo of Venezuela who took silver with a throw of 54.88.



However, the day belonged to Leford Green, who took the men’s 400-metre hurdles in a meet record 48.47 seconds. Jamaica also secured the bronze medal through Roxroy Cato who finished third in 49.62.



Kimberly Williams accounted the women’s Triple Jump gold medal with a personal-best throw of 14.23 metres.



The other gold medals were won by Tammilee Kerr in the women’s javelin throw and Nickiesha Wilson, who took the women’s 400-metre hurdles in 55.40.



Rasheed Dwyer also produced a personal-best, but that effort was good enough for silver in the men’s 200 metres won by Netherlands Antilles Martina Churandy in a meet record 20.25 seconds. Dwyer stopped the clock at 20.49.



In Men’s Basketball, Jamaica suffered their second straight defeat in the preliminary round by going down 79-77 to Mexico in a close game and are now out of contention for a medal.



In Men’s Hockey, Jamaica were crushed 9-0 by Mexico. The result dashed their hopes of staying in contention for a medal.



The female team missed the medal round on Monday after conceding a last minute goal to go down 1-0 to the Dominican Republic in their final Group ‘B’ game.



Meanwhile, Yvonne Foster was the only Jamaican to secure victory in table tennis yesterday. She defeated Trinidadian Catherine Spicer 11-9, 11-9, 11-5 after losing 3-1 to Cruz Aguilar of Venezuela earlier in the day.



Jamaica are currently sixth in the medal tally with their 32 medals. Mexico lead the medal tally with 294 including 104 gold, 101 silver and 89 bronze.



Athletics will take a break today.