Jamaica lead medal count ... 20 gold, 15 silver and 2 bronze after 32 finals

Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

Jamaica's bid to top the 40th Carifta Games, which is being staged at the Montego Bay Stadium, in St James, was well on course yesterday afternoon, as at press time, with 32 finals completed, the local contingent were leading the medal count with 37 medals - 20 gold, 15 silver and two bronze.

"I think we are on course to reach 70 medals at this time," said head of Jamaica's delegation Keith Wellington, prior to the finals of the 3000m and the 4x100m relays finals.

The Bahamas, which came with a 70-strong team and ambitions of dethroning Jamaica, were in second place with 15 medals, while Barbados were third with 14. Trinidad and Tobago had also secured 14 medals up to press time.

"In the events we did not medal, we had a number of athletes doing their personal best," noted Wellington. "Overall, we are very pleased with the way things are going."

After a pretty decent first day in which they led the medal count with 17 - eight gold, 10 silver and one bronze, to be ahead of main rivals The Bahamas, with 10 medals - four gold, three silver and three bronze; and Barbados, with eight - three gold, two silver and three bronze, the Jamaicans went into overdrive yesterday.

Good start

The day started with Christopher Brown exploding in the boys Under-17 discus, breaking Trinidad and Tobagos Chadrick DaCosta's old record of 16.99m with a new mark of 17.42m. In fact, he initially broke the record with 17.35m and subsequently improved that mark to the new record.

"Honestly, I can't explain how I feel," said an elated Brown. "It feels real good ... this is exactly what I have been working towards in preparing for this championship."

Even as Brown was celebrating at one end of the field, Sashagay Marston was mining gold at the other end, winning the girls Under-20 discus with a throw of 45.26m. Jamaica also took second place courtesy of Kellion Knibb, who threw 42.49m.

In the girls Under17 300m hurdles, Jamaica took gold and silver through Peta Gay-Williams and Kimone Green. Williams won in 41.54. Jamaica then added another two gold medals through Christoffe Bryan, who won the Under-17 high jump and Jenieve Russell, who struck gold in the girls Under-20 400m hurdles.

Jamaica added yet another gold to the tally when Omar Mcleod ran away with the boys' Under-20 400m in a good 52.38. Brandon Benjamin of T&T was second while Tremaine Maloney took the bronze medal for Barbados.

The hosts were also quite good in the heats of the 200m in both categories and in both sexes and should reap a rich haul in the finals slated for today.