in Nassau
Aragon Straker and Khristel Martindale led the Barbadian athletes advancing to Saturday afternoon’s 100 metres semi-finals of the 50th anniversary of the CARIFTA Games this morning in the Bahamas.
Straker comfortably won the second heat of the Under-20 boys’ 100 metres in 10.76 seconds at the Thomas Robinson Stadium.
United States-based Martindale also secured a berth in the women’s 100 metres by winning the first of three heats in 11.85 seconds.
First up for Barbados in the morning session, was Aniya Nurse, who finished second in the Under-17 girls’ fourth heat in a time of 12.08 seconds to book her place.
Another Barbadian Amani Kirnon, representing Montserrat, was outpaced in the second heat, won by promising Jamaican sprinter Alana Reid in 11.57 seconds and failed to progress after clocking 12.55 seconds for last place.
Competing in heat one of the Under-20 boys’ 100m, T’Shaun Sealy got a fast start and sped home in 10.66 seconds for third place, just outside the automatic qualifiers, but he also advanced.
U.S.-based quarter-miler Kadia Rock finished third in the first heat of the Under-17 girls’ 400 metres while Ariel Archer was fourth in 58.32 seconds. Rock’s time earned her a place in the final but Archer missed out on an automatic qualifying spot, ninth overall.
Kaden Dowrich-Roach, after improving from a slow start, finished fourth in the third heat, clocking 50.11 seconds but qualified for the final as one of the four fastest finishers.
Brieanna Boyce had one of her best races in the Under-20 Girls’ 400, as she came third in heat two with a time of 56.35 which gave her the last qualifying spot for the final.
Amir Gustave ran his heart out in the Under-20 Boys’400 but his time of 48.85 seconds for third place in the second heat, wasn’t good enough to get him in the final among the fastest five finishers, along with the three heat winners.
Among the headlines, both of the pre-event favourites in the men’s and women’s 100m will not be in the final.
Adaejah Hodge of the British Virgin Islands (BVI)rolled and ankle and did not face the starter, while Jamaica’s Bouwahjgie Nkrumie pulled up clutching his right hamstrong and left the arena in a wheelchair.
Meanwhile, Asia McKay of Jamaica was the first medal winner, taking the Under-17 girls’ high jump with a clearance of 1.73m. Compatriot Shanniqua Williams got bronze with 1.65 and Jah’Kylah Morton of BVI won silver with 1.70m.