The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Eight medals and a new national record highlighted the showing for Team Bahamas at the 24th Central American and Caribbean Track and Field Championships.

The Bahamas finished fourth with two gold, three silver and three bronze medals at the meet which concluded last night in Moriella, Mexico.

Mexico dominated in their role as hosts with a total of 47 medals – 17 gold, 19 silver and 11 bronze.

Jamaica finished second with 21 medals - 11 gold, six silver and four bronze - Trinidad and Tobago was third with five gold, four silver and four bronze, while Barbados rounded out the top five with one gold, two silver and one bronze.

The men’s 4x100m team surpassed the previous national record of 38.98 seconds twice during the meet, with the time of 38.77 standing as the new national record in a gold medal performance. The team of Adrian Griffith, Shavez Hart, Trevorvano Mackey and Jamial Rolle and alternate Warren Fraser, broke the 13-year-old record which was set in 2000, and also qualified for next month’s IAAF World Championships in the process.

The team ran 38.92 in the prelims to head into the finals time.

Team Bahamas’ other gold medal came in the field from Arkansas jumper Tamara Myers who soared 13.18 metres to take gold in the women’s triple jump.

Jamal Wilson cleared 2.22m to take silver in the men’s high jump, while Ryan Ingraham jumped 2.25m in an exhibition, not a part of the medal winning field.

National record holder Jeffrey Gibson continues his stellar season in his signature event with a silver medal in the 400m in 49.94.

The men’s 400m team of Latoy Williams, O’Jay Ferguson, Gibson and Wesley Neymour won silver in 49.94.

Both women’s relay teams were able to claim bronze medals. The 4x400 team of Shakeitha Henfield, Lanece Clarke, Miriam Byfield and Amara Jones ran 3:36.41, while the 4x100m team finished third in 44.08.

Bianca Stuart took bronze in the women’s long jump in 6.42m.

In 2011, the Bahamas won 10 medals - five gold, two silver and three bronze - at the Sr CAC Games. This current 27-member team - 12 females and 15 males was the second of four national track and field teams that will represent the Bahamas during the 2013 summer season.

Next up will be the IAAF World Youth Championships July 10-14 in Donetsk, Ukraine. The Bahamas will field its largest team ever (18 members) for the meet.