The Carifta Games in Bermuda is still the talk of the Caribbean, the Bermudians that braved all the conditions to be at the National Sports Center would have been treated to some spectacular performances.
Anthonique Strachan from Bahamas collected the Austin Sealy award for the top performer of the CARIFTA Games for the second straight year.
Meanwhile Jamaica’s junior sprint coaches need to step up to the plate after being dominated by The Bahamas, argued Michael Vassell, head coach of Jamaica’s successful Carifta Games team on their arrival home from Bermuda.
The team arrived at the Norman Manley International Airport strutting the 78 medals won, but Vassell was a bit perturbed after being overshadowed in the sprints by The Bahamas.
“It should be a concern and I think Jamaica’s sprint coaches need to wake up,” Vassell, a field events coach at St Hugh’s High School, told the Jamaica Observer.
“The non-traditional events are here. The Under-17 girls discus record being broken, we managed to win the Under-17 shot put boys, shot put Under-20 boys, discus Under-20 girls, it shows that our non-traditionalist are here,” he noted.
“We managed to win almost all middle distance races on display, however, out of the 12 sprints events, we won two,” observed a concerned looking Vassell.
Bahamian Strachan retained the Under 20 Girls 100m and 200m Crowns and lowered the half lap record to 22.85secs reaching the Olympic A Standard.
Fellow Bahamian Shaunae Miller, the reigning World Youth and Junior 400m champion, was second to Strachan.
Miller entered the history books when becoming the first woman to win a World Junior and Youth 400m title with a thrilling win in a personal best 51.84.
The 2011 Pan American Junior champion collected a third gold when she ran an inspiring last leg zooming past Jamaica's Shericka Jackson to secure the gold for the Bahamians in the Under-20 girls 4x100m. Strachan took the 100m crown on Saturday in 11.22 (+4.4).
Strachan received the trophy from NACAC President Teddy Mc Cook and expressed her gratitude to all the athletes for the performances.
Meanwhile, Keshorn Walcott from Trinidad and Tobago lit the National Sports Centre afire with a new javelin record breaking performance. Walcott opened his quest for his third Gold Medal in the Under 20 event by erasing his one year old record of 72.04m with 74.81m. The 2010 CAC Junior Champion then raised the standard up to 77.59m, a CAC Junior record, bettered the 77.53m he established one week ago.
Walcott said he came to Bermuda to retain this crown, "I came here to defend my title. The crowd was great," he said. The World Junior and Youth representative said that he was satisfied with his effort given the cool conditions.
"It was chilly. After the 74.81m throw I was satisfied." Walcott indicated he is now preparing for the World Junior Championships in Barcelona, Spain in July and is hoping to qualify for the London Olympics.
