Barbados enjoyed a decent start in the opening session of the 49th edition of the CARIFTA Games here in Kingston, Jamaica with three athletes advancing to finals today.
Alexandra School student Kadia Rock was the first to progress after finishing second in heat one of the Under-17 girls’ 400-metre event at the National Stadium.
“At first I was scared, but now I’m not that scared, I’m confident going into the final. I will try to get out harder and finish stronger,” she told NATION SPORT.
The 14 year-old clocked 58.70 seconds, the fourth-fastest time going into the final set for 7:55 p.m. Barbados time.
Josiah Parris and Ross Walrond are also safely through to the Under-20 boys’ 400-metre final. Parris came third in heat two in 48.57 seconds, while Walrond also finish third in 48.67 seconds.
Josiah Parris advances to the final of the Under-20 boys’ 400m. (Picture by Sandy Pitt)
Meanwhile, Shadae Worrell narrowly missed out on a spot in the Under-20 girls’ event after finishing fourth in her heat in 57.10 seconds.
Nineteen-year-old Kevon Hinds, who was fourth in the Under-17 boys’ shot put three years ago, is the first Barbadian with the chance of securing a medal.
Hinds, now a first year Under-20, competes in the discus throw final. No Barbadian has ever struck gold in this event in the history of the CARIFTA Games.
However, a fully pumped up Hinds could change that daunting statistic around 6:05 p.m.
Following Hinds, promising middle distance runners Ashlyn Simmons and Fynn Armstrong, as well as Layla Haynes, could all medal in the Under-17 and Under-20 1500-metre events, respectively.
The first record of the games fell in the very first session. The massive Bahamian contingent had much to celebrate as their own Keyshawn Strachan won the Under-20 javelin with a throw of 79.89 metres on his first attempt. The old mark was 78.28 by Grenada’s Anderson Peters, set back in 2016. (AGB)