By Raymond Graham, Freelance Writer
Bolt..46.35 record run in Boy's Under 2o event - File - File
PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD:
JAMAICAN athletes dominated the evening session of the opening day of the Carifta Games as they made a clean sweep in the 400 metres with World Junior 200 metres champion, Usain Bolt leading the way with a 46.35 record run in the Boy's Under 20 event.
Following their good start earlier in the field events, the Jamicans showed their strength on the track, picking up several medals in the 400 and 100 metres events to complete a 26-medal haul on the first day comprising 13 GOLD, 7 SILVER and 6 Bronze.
Undoubtedly, the star for Jamaica was Bolt.
Following his recent record breaking performance at the Boy's and Girl's Championships, he showed that although competing in the Under 20 age group for the first time he had no fears as he added the Under 20 record following his Under 17 400 metres record last year.
Despite running a relaxed race throughout, he still managed to erase the old mark of 46.51 seconds done by Trinidadian Damion Barry in 2001. Bolt, who ran the first 150 metres very hard but shut down in the last 250 metres, stated that he could have gone faster but a stiff back caused him to take things lightly.
Trinidad and Tobago's Jamil James (47.34) and Bahamas' Andretti Bain (47.39) took silver and bronze, with Jamaica's Mellard Brown finishing fourth in 47.61 seconds.
World Junior 200 metres silver medallist, Aneisha McLaughlin, like Bolt, stepped up in class and had a victory as she ran a season-best 52.57 seconds to win the Under 17 female 400 metres. She was pressed all the way by St. Kitts and Nevis' Tiandra Ponteen who finished second in 52.76 seconds, as Davita Prendergast took the bronze for Jamaica with 53.96 seconds.
Josef Robertson took the Boys's Under 17 event for Jamaica in 48.54, as team-mate Andre Pratt finished fourth in 49.64 seconds.
In the Under 17 female event it was 1-2 for Jamaica as Annabella Reid (53.81) held off the late challenge of team-mate Sonita Sutherland (53.90) for gold and silver, with Bahamian Tavara Rigby taking the bronze in 54.92 seconds.
Jamaica failed to make a clean sweep in the 100 metres as they took three of four finals.
Following her second place finish last year, Kerron Stewart continued her impressive 100 metres form this season by winning the Under 20 event in 11.41 seconds with team-mate Sherone Simpson, like she did at Champs, taking second in 11.44 seconds, with Huston taking the bronze in 11.68 seconds. The athletes here ran in a plus wind of 3.8 m.p.s.
In the Under 17 event, Samantha Henry was impeccable in posting 11.71 seconds to win her event ahead of Bahamas' Tamara Rigby (11.79), as Jamaica's Shaunetta Stewart took the bronze in 11.89 seconds.
World Junior champion, Darrel Brown once again showed his class at these Championships as the Trinidadian had the large crowd celebrating for a long while in capturing his third consecutive 100 metres title. Brown, running in a plus 3.8 metres per second head-wind, proved he has no match at the junior level in the Caribbean in this event when he decimated the field, cruising in the final 10 metres to win in 10.20 seconds.
The Netherland Antilles' Churandy Martina took silver in 10.37 seconds, with Jamaica's Tesfa Latty taking bronze in 10.40 seconds.
Earlier, Jamaica's World Junior 100 metres finalist, Winston Hutton ran a poor race in his heat and failed to reach the final as he only managed third in a sluggish 10.86 seconds.
Jamaica took a quinella in the Boy's Under 17 event as Renaldo Rose (10.65) won ahead of Jerraine Downer (10.72) seconds.
Jamaica also picked up another gold medal late on the first day through Carlos Mattis in the Boy's Under 20 High Jump, as he cleared 2.09 metres with team-mate Jermaine Jackson finishing seventh with 1.98 metres.
Kedene Geddes (6.23)metres picked up silver in the Girl's Under 20 Long Jump as Martinique's Elysee Vesanes took gold with 6.28 metres. Jamaica's other competitor in this event, Peta Gaye Beckford, finishing fourth with 6.12 metres.
