Jumper Watkins lands TT’s first gold

Eric Matthias, of the British Virgin Islands (BVI), secured the first record of the 32nd Carifta Games when he won the Boys Under-20 discus with an outstanding 55.20 metres on the opening day at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo yesterday.

Matthias added the Carifta crown to the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Junior title he won in Barbados last year, while topping Dwayne Henclewood’s three-year-old mark of 50.41 metres,  by a whopping 4.79 metres. Jamaica’s Alain Bailey, Brittney Marshall of Bermuda, and Trinidad and Tobago’s Rhonda Watkins also landed gold medals on the first morning of the three-day meet.

Matthias, currently studying at Central Arizona College, led all three medallists above the previous Under-20 discus mark, with Jamaica’s Kimani Kirton taking second at 51.25 metres, and Martinique’s David Villeneuve, the 2002 Under-17 champion, third at 51.09 metres. Bailey, the reigning CAC Junior champion, captured the Under-17 high jump gold at 2.03 metres over Akeil Facey (2.00) in a Jamaica one-two finish, with Grenada’s Joel Phillip (1.95) third. Bermuda’s Marshall completed her third consecutive win in the Girls  shot put, winning at 12.44 metres, ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s Annie Alexander (12.01) and Dominica’s Sabina Christmas (11.80). And the tall Watkins gave the hosts their first win of the meet when she captured the Girls Under-17 long jump at 5.79 metres, defeating Jamaican Kimona Smith (5.58) and Anguilla’s Shara Proctor (5.45). After four finals, the Jamaicans, aiming for a 19th consecutive medal-topping performance at the meet, are out front with four — one gold and three silver.

Jamaica’s Boys Under-20 400-metre favourite Usain Bolt (48.64) coasted to second in his semi-final heat behind fast finishing Bahamian Andretti Bain (48.44) but Trinidad and Tobago’s Jamil James (48.19) was the quickest of the morning. World Junior 200-metre silver medallist Aneisha McLaughlin (54.03) and her Jamaican teammate Davita Prendegast (54.01) shared the Girls Under-20 400-metre semis. In the Girls Under-17 400 semi-final heats, Jamaicans Anabelle Reid (53.66) and Sonita Sutherland (55.75), and defending champion Tavara Rigby (54.79) of The Bahamas were the quickest in yesterday evening’s finals. Jamaica also had the top spots in the Boys Under-17s with Joseph Robertson the fastest at 49.77 with Trinidad and Tobago’s Renny Quow (50.21) and Barbadian Akeem Forde (50.23) the next best out of the preliminaries. The first round heats of the 100 and 1,500-metre races in all classes were all cancelled because of insufficient entries.

RESULTS (Finals):
Boys Under-20 discus
1 Eric Matthias (BVI) 55.20 metres (CR); 2 Kimani Kirton (Jam) 51.25; 3 David Villeneuve (Mar) 51.09
Boys Under-17 high jump
1 Alain Bailey (Jam) 2.03; 2 Akeil Facey (Jam) 2.00; 3 Joel Phillip (Gren) 1.95
Girls Under-17 shot put
1 Brittney Marshall (Ber) 12.44; 2 Annie Alexander (T&T) 12.01; 3 Sabina Christmas (Dom) 11.80
Girls Under-17 long jump
1 Rhonda Watkins (T&T) 5.79; 2 Kimona Smith (Jam) 5.58; 3 Shara Proctor (Anguilla) 5.45