Jamaica make flying start

Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer

Jamaica junior athletes got off to a flying start on yesterday's first day of competition at the Junior Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Championships, at the Felix Sanchez Stadium in Santo Domingo.

They made a clean sweep of gold medals in the 100 metres, as the country leads the medal standings with an overall 21 - eight gold, five silver and eight bronze.

Wolmer's Boys' outstanding long jumper, Kamal Fuller, picked up the first gold medal of the meet by taking the Under-20 event with a leap of 7.56 metres.

His teammate, Ramone Bailey, finished fourth with 7.22m.

The Jamaicans were at their best in the afternoon in all of the 100 metres, when they made a clean sweep.

Edwin Allen's Sequina Cameron started the winning train for the Jamaicans in the Girl's Under-17 event. Competing in a negative 1.2 metre-per-second wind, she clocked 12.11 for victory, beating teammate Kedeisha Dallas, who took silver in 12.11.

Trinidad and Tobago's Marvar Etienne won the bronze in 12.13.

Herbert Morrison's Sedaith Palmer, running in a negative 1.8mps wind, captured the girl's Under-20 sprint in 11.88.

Hometown girl Fany Charles (11.97) was second, while Jamaica's Diandra Gilbert won bronze in 12.01.

Odean Skeen extended his impressive season, copping another 100-metre title this season by winning the Under-17 event in 10.84 seconds despite running into a negative 2.3mps headwind.

His teammate, Odail Todd, made it a quinela with a 10.97 clocking.

Camperdown High's Brando Brady completed the sprint sweep for Jamaica by winning the boys' Under-20 100m in 10.64, running into a minus 1.4 mps headwind.

His compatriot, Kemar Bailey- Cole, finished a disappointing seventh in 10.79.

Kemoy Campbell won the boys' Under-20 1500m in 3:52.13, while Sharlene Nickle took the girl's equivalent in 4:44.39, as fellow Jamaican Mackola Josephs finished third in 4:45.80.

Ristananna Tracey surged to gold in the girl's Under-20 400m hurdles in 58.59, while her teammate, Danielle Dowie, claimed silver in 58.94.

Thirty-eight finals are set for today's second day, which begins at 6:30 a.m. Jamaica time. These include the 400 metres, which saw the semi-final rounds run yesterday, along with all 4x100 relays, which will be contested as straight finals as there were not enough teams for preliminary action last night.

Other medal winners

Silver: Candicea Bernard - Under-20 girl's discus, 9 48.71m

Silver: Jhanelle McLeod - Under-20 girl's triple jump, 12.44m

Bronze: Rochelle Farquharson - Under-20 girl's triple jump, 12.033m

Bronze: Gleneive Grange - Under-17 girl's shot put, 11.25m

Bronze: Carla Thompson - Under-17 1200m, 3:41.65

Bronze: Claudette Allen - Under-17 300m hurdles , 43.78

Bronze: Demar Robinson - Under-17 boys triple jump, 14.89m

Bronze: Peter Gaye Reid - Under-20 high jump, 1.73m