In Nassau
Barbados’ javelin thrower Asabi Callender missed out on a medal when she finished fourth during Sunday’s morning session at the 50th CARIFTA Games at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium here in the Bahamas.
Callender, the lone Barbadian among the 14 competitors in the Under-20 girls’ javelin event, had a best throw of 41.81 metres, which came on her second attempt after starting off with 41.31.
She was fairly consistent with other throws of 41.74, 40.71 and 39.59 but was unable to overtake hometown girl, Vanessa Sawyer of the Bahamas, who copped the bronze medal with a best of 43.37 metres in round three, the only time she went past the 40-metre mark.
Guyanese Anisha Gibbons won gold with a distance of 47.96 in her very first throw. Her last effort was 46.28 metres. French Guiana’s Korann Colet secured silver with a best throw of 45.32 metres in round five.
Meanwhile, Favian Gollop and Brieanna Boyce have advanced to Monday’s final of the Under-20 Boys’ 800 metres and Girls’ Under-20 400-metre hurdles, respectively, after the opening heats of their events.
Gollop looked comfortable as he clocked 1:56.40 minutes, the fourth fastest time among the eight finalists, while Boyce was also fourth in the Under-20 Girls’ 400 metres hurdles in a time of 1:05 minutes to qualify for the final.
Gold medallists Ashlyn Simmons and Layla Haynes were not required to run as their 800 metres are now straight finals.
Aragorn Straker narrowly secured the 16th and final qualifying spot in the Under-20 Boys’ 200 metres semi-final but it was an easier passage for his Barbados teammate Amani Mascoll-Beckles.
Straker was third in the second of five heats, clocking a pedestrian 22.06 seconds while Mascoll-Beckles was a lot faster with 21.67 seconds after also finishing third in the fourth heat.
The fastest qualifiers going into Sunday’s evening semi-finals are Jamaicans Javourne Dunkley (21.26) and Malique Smith-Band (21.39), followed by Bahamian Adam Musgrove (21.48). (EZS)