Fana cops gold in 100m photofinish

ST GEORGE’S: Top Caribbean sprinters, including Kim Collins, of St Kitts and Nevis, stole the spotlight on the opening day of the XIX Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Senior Championships here on Friday.

Commonwealth Games champion and CAC record holder Collins, successfully defended the 100-metre title in a new stadium record of 10.13 seconds and joined Donald Quarrie of Jamaica, Hermes Ramirez of Cuba and Obadele Thompson of Barbados as athletes to successfully defend the 100-metre title. World junior champion Darrel Brown (10.17) of Trinidad and Tobago and his compatriot Marc Burns (10.29) battled to the end but had to settle for the silver and bronze respectively. Collins enjoyed a good start and took control of the race inside of the last 40 metres. It was a fitting climax to the first day after the uncertainty as to the availability of Collins to defend his title. Martinique’s Ronald Pognon, who had earlier advanced to the final as the fastest qualifier with a wind-aided time of 10.12 seconds, winning heat three ahead of Collins (10.14), finished fourth.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Fana Ashby prevailed in a thrilling women’s 100-metre run in which a photo-finish decided the top places. Ashby won in 11.32 seconds edged ahead of Tamicka Clarke of Bahamas (11.33) and Judith Kitson of Jamaica was third in 11.34. Cuba’s Virgen Benavides was only a further 0.03 seconds behind in fourth. In other results, Barbados copped gold and bronze in the women’s high jump from Desiree Crichlow (1.81 metres) and Keitha Mosley (1.76m) respectively. Venezuela’s Jetzulida Perez picked up the silver medal. Hosts Grenada landed their first medal when Alleyne Lett (53.14 metres) finished second to Puerto Rico’s Alfredo Romero (54.09) in the men’s discus. After five events in the decathlon, Jamaica’s Decosmo Wright leads with 3,905 points, over Yoelbis Reymond (3,886).

Trinidad and Tobago’s Simeon Bovell and Kirk Sheridan topped the 800-metre qualifiers. Bovell was the fastest with one minute 50.32 followed by Sheridan in 1:51.35. In the 400-metre semi-finals Grenada’s Hazel-Ann Regis (52.52), Jamaica’s Michelle Burgher (53.06) were the women’s winners, while Grenada’s Alleyne Francique (45.84), and Bahamians Chris Brown (45.83) and Dennis Darling (46.18) won among the men. The finals of the 400m hurdles were rescheduled for the second day after the officials were not satisfied with the hurdle spacing while results are yet to be released on the 20-kilometre RaceWalk.