Tyriq Horsford (Signal Hill Sec) was the star of the opening morning of action of the 45th Carifta Games at the Grenada Athletic Stadium, Queen’s Park, Grenada, yesterday.
The defending champion retained his title with a massive round throw of 73m to erase the 70.73m record he set in taking the 2015 title in St. Kitts. Horsford took the lead with 64.58 before unleashing the mammoth effort before many of the spectators had settled in the stadium. Taking silver was Kenyon Burton of Dominica (64.87) ahead of Grenada’s Adrian Thomas (60.97). Horsford’s gold came moments after Ianna Roach (Bishop Anstey) took silver in the girls under 18 shot put with a distance of 14.48m.
Roach was beaten out of the top spot by Lacee Barnes of Cayman Islands who took gold with a mark of 14.90m. Jamaican Aiko Jones (14.32) was third. Roach’s father, Ian, and her mother were in the stands cheering her on.
Although finishing second, Roach’s achievement has been getting rave reviews as she only picked up the sport five months ago. She previously represented TT at waterpolo but later made her switch to the field event.
Safiya John (Scarborough Sec) was first in action in the girls under 18 high jump but failed to clear her opening height. Jamaica’s Shiann Salmon took the event with 1.82m.
Oral Mitchell (Point Fortin East Sec) copped bronze in the boys under 18 400m finals in 48.72.
Mitchell was beaten to the line by World Youth champion Christopher Taylor of Jamaica (47.36) and Antoni Hoyte-Small of Barbados 48.23. Mitchell advanced to the finals with the fifth fastest time in the heats in the morning (49.31). Che Lara (Arima North Sec) missed out on a place in the finals when he was ninth best 49.85.
Late last evening, Chelsea James (Signal Hill Sec) copped bronze in the girls under 20 shot put with 13.66m to finish behind the Jamaican pair of Janell Fullerton (14.52) and Sahjay Stevens (13.74).
Renee Stoddard (Providence Girls ) was seventh in the girls under 20 400m finals in 56.14.
Alikah Lewis (Bishops Anstey) and Jenea Spinks (Holy Name Convent-POS) were 12th (12.08) and 13th (12.13) in the girls under 18 100m prelims and missed out on qualifying for the finals.
TT gold medal hopeful Khalifa St Fort was the quickest in the girls under 20 00m heats, running 11.39 to win heat one. Sarah Wollaston was 11th best in 12.29 and did not advance.
Adel Colthrust (Debe Sec) advanced to the boys under 18 100m finals with the fastest time in the prelims (10.68) in winning the fourth and final heat. Tyrel Edwards (Toco) failed to moved on to the final eight when he was 12th overall in the heats (10.97).