TAKING CHARGE

Women’s U-20 100m final at the Carifta Games in St George’s, Grenada, on Saturday. Athletics, Sports Rachid Parchment | Sports Writer | parchmentr@jamaicaobserver.com April 5, 2026

Taking Charge

Jamaica surge forward with 20 medals on Carifta Day 1 Jamaica surged to the top of the medal count at the 53rd Carifta Games, winning 20 medals, consisting of eight gold, eight silver, and four bronze, on the opening day at the Kirani James Stadium in St George’s, Grenada. Jamaican sprinter Shanoya Douglas overcame a slow start to win gold in the Girls’ Under-20 100m in 11.13 seconds (-0.8 m/s), while her teammate Natrece East took bronze in 11.41. Alexxe Henry of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) claimed silver in 11.39.

In the Boys’ Under-20 100m, Jamaica’s Nyron Wade recovered from a poor start to take silver in 10.27 (0.9 m/s) behind gold medallist Miles Outerbridge of Bermuda, who set a National Junior Record of 10.21. Trevaughn Stewart of T&T won bronze in 10.31, while Jamaican favourite Sanjay Seymore was disqualified for a false start. Wade’s silver showed the depth of Jamaica’s sprinting, as he had placed eighth in the Boys’ Championship with 10.44.

In the Boys’ Under-17 100m, Jamaica’s Kai Kelly closed well to win in 10.

37. 3
38. Jayden Goodridge of T&T was second in 10.48, and teammate Jaquan Douglas took bronze in 10.
39. 6
40. Jamaica’s Joshua Ricketts finished fourth in 10.75.

In the Girls’ Under-17 100m, Jamaica’s Azaria Harris finished fourth in 11.

73. 7
74. Tyra Fenton of Antigua won in 11.30, with Jazae Johnson second and Brion Wood of The Bahamas third in 11.
75. 6
76. Jamaica earned three medals in the morning session.

Stefvanco Henry won silver in the Girls’ Under-17 High Jump with 1.69m, behind Destinee Cenac of St Lucia (1.72m). Shamonda Wilmott took silver in the Girls’ Under-17 shot put with 13.99m. Gabrielle Linton of the Cayman Islands won gold with 14.19m, and her countrywoman Kaliah Haye claimed bronze with 13.97m.

Zoelle Jamal earned silver in the Girls’ Under-20 javelin throw with 47.19m, while Taysha Stubbs of The Bahamas won gold with 48.84m and Kamerah Strachan took bronze with 44.88m. Jamaica’s first gold of the day came from Shameika McLean in the Girls’ Under-17 400m, winning in a record 52.47. The previous record of 53.19 was set by Megan Ross of The Bahamas in 2018.

McLean chased down early leader Tyra Fenton of Antigua, who finished third in 52.62, while Keyezra Thomas of The Bahamas took silver in 52.58. Jason Pitter added a second gold in the Boys’ Under-17 400m, winning in 47.47, narrowly missing the record of 47.27 set in 2024 by Nickecoy Bramwell. Diwayne Sharpe of Jamaica took silver in 47.83, and Zion Bradford of The Bahamas finished third in 48.43.

In the Girls’ Under-20 400m, Jamaica’s Davine Dickenson ran under protest after a false start and was later reinstated, taking bronze in 54.

42. 4
43. Tianna Springer of Guyana won gold in 52.47, with Kadia Rock of Barbados taking silver in 54.
44. 1
45. Guyana’s Malachi Austin won the Boys’ Under-20 400m in 46.01, with Barbados’ Zion Davis second in 46.18 and Jamaica’s Jabari Matherson bronze in 46.37.

Jamaica swept the Boys’ Under-17 triple jump, with Joshua Patrick winning gold with 14.59m and teammate Talshawn Edwards taking silver with 14.35m. Zayne Martin of T&T earned bronze with 14.33m. Joseph Salmon won the Under-20 shot put with 65.38m, and Kamari Kennedy of Jamaica took silver with 55.39m.

Denzil Phillips of JC, representing St Lucia, won bronze with 53.24m. Jamaican boys also claimed two of the four 1,500m titles. Joel Morgan won the Under-20 race in 4:00.96 minutes, holding off Darius Harding of T&T (4:00.99).

Jevaughn Tomlin took the Under-17 gold in 4:10.92, with Luke Plummer earning bronze in 4:12.19.

In the Girls’ Under-20 1500m, Kevongaye Fowler took silver in 4:37.

39. 3
40. Ashlyn Simmons of Barbados won gold in 4:36.94, while Dallia Fairweather of Jamaica took bronze in 4:44.
41. 1
42. Shameika McLean of Foga Road High wins with a new Carifta Girls U17 400m record on Saturday.

(Photo: Naphtali Junior) Kingston College’s Jason Pitter takes gold in the Carifta Games Boys U17 400m. (Photo:Garfield Robinson)