Anthony Foster, Freelance Reporter

Natoya Goule wins the Under-20 800m in a personal best 2:05.90 on yesterday's final day of the 2008 CARIFTA Games in Basseterre, St. KItts. - Photo by Anthony Foster

Basseterre, St. Kitts:

Jamaica's Natoya Goule and Kemoy Campbell broke long-standing records to emerge star performers on yesterday's final day as Jamaica ended the 37th CARIFTA Games here at the Bird Rock Athletics Stadium runaway winners.

The Jamaicans continued their dominance of over two decades by topping the medal table with 69 medals - 29 gold, 25 silver and 15 bronze - to finish well ahead of Trinidad & Tobago 30 (10G, 10S, 10B); The Bahamas 23 (8G, 3S, 12B); Barbados 26 (7G, 10S, 9B) and Martinique 14 (5G, 3S, 6B).

In the boys' Under-20 200m, Jamaica's Nickel Ashmeade, supported by a 5.2 mps wind, stormed to victory in 20.16 seconds ahead of teammate Ramone McKenzie (20.33) and Trinidad & Tobago's Kendall Bacchus (20.78).

"I went out there just to do my best and despite the fact that I was feeling a little pain, I wanted to do my best and that's what I did," Ashmeade said. "One-two for Jamaica and I am very happy for that."

In the girls' Under-20 200m, Jura Levy ran a personal best 23.28 seconds to finish third behind Bahamian Nivea Smith (23.01).

Earl Lee was also third in the boys' Under17 event in 21.89 behind Grenada's Kirani James (21.38) and Moriba Morain of Trinidad & Tobago (21.74).

Most impressive

Stewart, however, was the most impressive on the day by taking the boys' Under-20 110m hurdles dash in an impressive 13.50 seconds, one-hundredth of a second outside his own national junior record, done while winning silver at last year's staging in Turks and Caicos.

In dominating the field from start to finish, Stewart, running in a negative wind, defeated his teammate Warren Weir, who celebrated Jamaica's one-two even before he crossed the line in 14.13 seconds.

Jamaica picked up medals in all the other obstacle events. Rosemarie Carty was beaten by a fast finishing Kierre Beckles of Barbados, who broke Jamaican Shermaine Williams' one-year mark of 13.51 with her well-executed 13.43.

Carty was second in 13.63, while Janelle Gordon, who stumbled at the first hurdle, was seventh in 14.99.

Samantha Elliott, who failed to finish the 300m hurdles on Sunday, returned to pocket silver in the girls' Under-17 100m hurdles. Elliott was timed in 14.17 behind Barbados' Kenrisha Brathwaite (14.04).

In the boys' 100m hurdles, D'Omar Boyden (13.49) and Lemmar Wilson (13.65) finished third and fourth, respectively, behind Aaron Wilmore of The Bahamas (12.88) and Barbados' Tyrell Forde (13.13).

In the 800m events, Jamaica won all but the boys' Under-20 where Gavyn Nero (1:51.94) beat Theon O'Connor (1:52.49) and Bermuda's Aaron Evans (1:52.61).

Goule, who led from start to finish in the girls' Under-20, posted a personal best of 2:05.90 to beat Trinidad & Tobago's Afiya Walker, who fell way back off the pace to finish second in 2:10.20.

Goule was pleased with her run, but more so with her personal best.

"This race was comfortable," she said. "I could have pushed more but I did not want to blaze too much and don't get to PR, but 2:05.90 ... I am very proud of myself. "I know my coach (Jerry Holness) will be very proud also.

"I wanted to run 2:06 at Champs, but did not get it. So, I am glad that I came here and got it (PR). I want to give thanks to God, my coach and the entire management team over here ... they always motivate us," added Goule.

Closed meet in style

Chantal Duncan (2:13.46) and Ristananna Tracey (2:13.77) gave Jamaica a one-two finish in the girls' Under-17 800m, while Javere Bell (1:56.12) and Waquar DaCosta (1:58.99) finished first and third for Jamaica, split by Anthonio Mascoll of Barbados (1:56.68).

Jamaica closed the meet in style by taking all the 4x400m relays.

In the Under-17 girls the team of Petra Fany, Shericka Jackson, Danielle Dowie, and Sandrae Farquharson secured victory in 3:39.62 ahead of St. Kitts & Nevis (3:49.13), while the boys' team of Nolan Williams, Roland Reid, A-Shawni Mitchell and Javere Bell won in 3:19.26 ahead of Trinidad & Tobago (3:21.20).

In the Under-20 section, the girls' quartet of Kayon Robinson, Shana-Gaye Tracey, Nikita Tracey and Alecia Cutenar won in 3:39.12 ahead of Trinidad & Tobago (3:43.63).

The boys' Under-20 quartet of Keiron Stewart, Ramone Mckenzie, Nickel Ashmeade and Andre Peart finished in 3:09.71 ahead of Trinidad and Tobago (3:11.34).