Team captain Kierre Beckles led from the front as Barbados' junior hurdlers put on quite a show yesterday evening at the 37th CARIFTA Games being held here at the Silver Jubilee Stadium.

With six events still to be run, Barbados were 25 medals (7-10-8), already surpassing the 21 from last year.

Beckles set a new junior national and CARIFTA record of 13.43 seconds in the Under-20 Girls' 100 metres hurdles, slamming the rest of the field in an awesome display of speed and technique. Her left knee was bandaged, but it seemed to pose no problem as she took point in the race from the fourth hurdle. Her new time replaced the 13.51 set by Jamaica's Shermaine Williams last year, as well as the 13.60 set by Keitha Moseley in 2 000. Jamaica's Rosemarie Carty was a distant second in 13.63.

Kenrisha Brathwaite also captured gold in the Under-17 Girls' race, recovering from a slow start to win in 14.04 seconds. There was a false start in the race and she seemed to be tentative, only emerging from third place on the ninth hurdle. Sade Mariah Greenidge finished fifth in 15.30.

Tyrell Forde ran the race of his life, lowering his time from 13.26 to 13.31 seconds, but had to settle for second place behind Bahamian Aaron Wilmore who stopped the clock in a new record 12.88 seconds. Raphael Jordan stripped a full second off his best, placing sixth in 13.84 seconds, down from 14.86.

Greggmar Swift also gave a good account of himself, placing third in 14.22 seconds in the Under-20 Boys' 110m hurdles, successfully making the transition from the Under-17 division. Jamaica's Keiron Stewart, who was second behind Ryan M. Brathwaite last year, won in 13.50 seconds, with teammate Warren Weir – who slowed on the line to celebrate – taking silver in 14.13 seconds.

Kemoy Campbell won the Under-20 Boys' 5000 in a blistering 14 minutes 46.51 seconds, lapping the entire field. Christian Rock, who was second last year, took silver again in 15:57.99. Jason Wilson was 11th overall, and at the end of the race, the medical staff had to carry off most of the runners, hurt as they tried to keep up with Campbell.

Deandra Dottin got the day started on the right note, winning gold in the Under-20 Girls' javelin, with a new national record of 47 metres flat, up from 46.82m. Ironically, she didn't qualify for the event at Junior Nationals in which she won gold last year in the Under-17 division. Her fifth throw of 45.81 metres would've also been good for gold, as Martinique's Kevin Egarnes took silver with 42.12 and Colleen Felix of Grenada bronze with 41.33m.

With only three competitors in the Under-17 Girls' javelin, Kyshona Knight was guaranteed a medal once she made her mark. Her best of 36.63 metres earned her second silver medal, with Martinique's Laure Mongin taking gold with 37.65 metres.

Anthonio Mascoll went into the Under-17 Boys' 800 metres with the fastest qualifying time, but finished second, stripping almost two seconds off his time with 1 minute 56.68 seconds. He was boxed in by Jamaicans Javere Belle who went on to take gold in 1:56.12 and Waquar DaCosta after taking the lead by the bell, and then had to work around the other runners to get back in position along the back stretch. When he made his move just before the 200 mark, Belle stayed with him, passing him in the turn and winning comfortably.

Jamaica's Chantal Belle won the Under-17 two-lap event in 2:13.46 and Latoya Goule collected her second gold medal with a new record of 2:05.90, replacing the 2:06.83 set by Melissa De Leon ten years ago. Trinidad's Gavyn Nero also collected his second gold medal, winning the Under-20 Boys' race in 1:51.94, sprinting past two others on the straightaway.

Up to Press time, the 200 metres, 4x400 metres relays, Under-20 Boys' triple jump and Under-17 Boys' discus were still in progress.