Fifteen-year-old Garrison Secondary schoolboy John Jones had the honour of winning Barbados' first gold medal at this year's 37th CARIFTA Games in Basseterre, St Kitts, yesterday.

by Sherrylyn A. Toppin in Basseterre, St Kitts

It's tough keeping up with the Joneses.

Not only did John Jones have the honour of winning Barbados' lone gold medal to date, his sister Akela came up big with silver in the Under-17 girls' high jump as the 37th CARIFTA Games continued here yesterday.

The medal count has now jumped to 12 (1-6-5) with Trevor Ifill leading the Under-20 boys' javelin. Akela rebounded from a poor performance in the long jump with a personal best 1.71 metres in the high jump, improving from 1.59 metres. The gold medal went to Jamaica's Petergaye Reid who cleared 1.74 metres. Cheyenne Stewart was fourth, equalling her best of 1.65 metres.

Jones' throw of 55.98 metres wasn't his best, but it was good enough for first place. It came on his fifth throw, and knocked Grenadian Emron Gibbs (54.72) into second place, and Merfilius Leslie (51.90) of Dominica into third.

"I feel extremely overwhelmed. The technique wasn't on for the first three throws, but as I got into the competition the technique got better, and I did what Mr Skinner told me to do," Jones said, who also has a silver medal [15.93m] in the shot put.

Assistant coach Stephen Skinner told Jones to adjust his grip, which he did and he just let the javelin fly. Skinner was also instrumental in helping Kyshona Knight get silver in the Under-17 girls' discus with a best throw of 32.86 metres. Last year, she fouled all of her throws in the same event.

"Skinner kept telling me to do a faster release, to keep my hand flat, and I did it," she said.

"It is a great feeling because last year I got a bronze in the javelin and I really wanted to do better, so I am very grateful. Tomorrow [today] I'm going for gold in the javelin."

After a slow start, the medals started pouring in late yesterday evening. Kenrisha Brathwaite (43.61) moved up one spot to silver in the Under-17 girls' 300-metre hurdles and Sade Mariah Greenidge also ran a personal best 44.61 seconds to take bronze, much to the delight of her mother Andrea who ran the length of the bleachers cheering her home.

Jamaica's Danielle Dowie won in 42.63. Bahamian Nejmi Burnside took gold in 52.81, and Barbadian Tyrell Forde (55.08) ran a gutsy race to get silver in the Under-17 boys' 400-metre hurdles.

Late Saturday night, Kirk Austin got bronze in the Under-20 boys' high jump and Fabian Norgrove ran from sixth to third in the Under-20 boys' 400 metres.

The news was not so good for Kemar Jones who fouled all six of his jumps, not even giving himself a chance among the eight competitors in the Under-17 boys' triple jump. The event was won by Trinidadian Elton Walcott with 14.66 metres, but Jones' best this season of 1.65 metres would've given him a bronze medal.

Latoya Griffith was fourth in the Under-20 girls' 400-metre hurdles and Deandra Dottin also was fourth in the Under-20 shot put.

Shane Brathwaite continues to lead the men's heptathlon with 3 911 points with the discus and 1 500 metres left. Ryan R. Brathwaite (3 370) dropped to fourth after placing fifth in the high jump, while the Bahamian pair of Thomas Davis (3 413) and Lavaughn Ferguson (3 392) moved into medal contention.

In the 200-metre heats, Nicholas Deshong (22.49), Tameka Rawlins (24.18), Sade Greene (24.34), Shekeim Greaves (21.42) and Jerry-Lee Davis (21.60) all advanced to today's final.

Also in action today will be Anthonio Mascoll in the Under-17 boys' 800 metres. He had the fastest qualifying time of 1:59.49, but neither Fabian Norgrove (1:57.56) nor his brother Kemar (2:03.09) made it to the Under-20 final. Sade Sealy didn't face the starter in the Under-20 girls' race and is reported to be battling soreness. The team is hoping she will be ready to take part in the 4x400 metres today.

Jamaica's World Juniors bronze medallist Yohan Blake proved he was still the fastest junior in the Caribbean, late in the second session of the 37th CARIFTA Games at the Silver Jubilee Stadium Saturday night.

Spectators waited for something big since Blake had clocked 10.11 seconds last year in the under-20 boys' 100 metres in Turks and Caicos, but that was not to be. The race was slower than expected with the threat of disqualification hanging over the runners' heads. Blake stopped the clock at 10.32 seconds, clutching his left hamstring as he crossed the line. Compatriot Dexter Lee was second in 10.48.

Jamaica's Carrie Russell came through a quality field to win the senior girls' race in 11.35 seconds; Bahamian Geno Russell's 10.76 gave him gold in the Under-17 race and Trinidad's Michelle-Lee Ahye recorded 11.66 in the Under-17 race.

Sade Sealy was fourth in the women's 400 metres in 55.19 seconds which saw Trinidad's Janeil Bellille coming through over the last 15 metres to clip the two Jamaicans in 53.57 seconds, with Shericka Jackson (54.52) of Jamaica winning the Under-17 event.

Barbadian Shavonne Husbands was fifth in the Under-17 girls' long jump with a personal best 5.42 metres, but Akela Jones was a disappointing eighth, managing 5.31 metres as she struggled with her run-up. (SAT)

HOW THEY PERFORMED:

Selected of events completed at the 37th Carifta Games at the Silver Jubilee Stadium, Basseterre, St Kitts. Abbreviations: JA – Jamaica, GRN – Grenada, MAR – Martinique, BAR – Barbados, TCI – Turks & Caicos Islands, CAY – Cayman Islands, GUA – Guadeloupe, TT – Triniadad & Tobago, USVI – United States Virgin Islands, AHO – Netherlands Antilles, DCA – Dominica, GUY – Guyana

Boys' Open Heptathlon Javelin (3)

1. Shane Brathwaite (BAR) 47.70 metres, 2. Ryan R. Brathwaite (VAR) 47.68m, 3. Lavaughn Ferguson (BAH) 46.98m

Under-17 Boys' Shot Put (Record)

1. Dillon Simon (DCA) 16.63 metres, 2. John Jones (BAR) 15.93m, 3. Rajae Gayle (JA) 14.75, 10. Jonathan Harper (BAR) 12.56

Under-17 Girls' 1500M

1. Kenryca Francis (ANT) 4 minutes 48.52 seconds, 2. Carla Thompson (JA) 4:52.34, 3. Antonia Wilson (GRN) 4:56.18

Under-17 Boys' 1500M

1. Waquar Dacosta (JA) 4 minutes 09.78 seconds, 2. Matthew Wright (BAR) 4:10.44, 3. Ibrahim Hinds (BAR) 4:16.30

Under-20 Girls' 1500M

1. Natoya Goule (JA) 4 minutes 33.69 seconds, 2. Mackola Joseph (JA) 4:45.22, 3. Alika Morgan (GUY) 4:47.48

Under-20 Boys' 1500M

1. Gavyn Nero (TT) 3 minutes 56.14 seconds, 2. Kemoy Campbell (JA), 3:56.80, 3. Conroy Crossman (JA) 3:59.36, 9. Christian Rock (BAR) 4:14.34

Boys' Open Heptathlon 200M (4)

1. Shane Brathwaite (BAR) 21.79 seconds, 2. Thomas Davis (BAH) 22.90, 3. Ryan R. Brathwaite (BAR) 23.01

Under-20 Boys' High Jump

1. Raymond Higgs (BAH) 2.10 metres, 2. Machel Baker (JA) 2.05m, 3. Kirk Austin (BAR) 2.00m

Under-17 Girls' 400M

1. Shericka Jackson (JA) 54.52 seconds, 2. Sandrae Farquharson (JA) 54.56, 3. Rashan Browne (BAH) 55.52

Under-17 Boys' 400M

1. Kirani James (GRN) 47.87 seconds, 2. Javere Bell (JA) 49.08, 3. Nolan Williams (JA) 49.34

Under-20 Girls' 400M

1. Janeil Bellille (TT) 53.57 seconds, 2. Kayon Robinson (JA) 53.77, 3. Alecia Cuternar (JA) 54.05. 4. Sade Sealy (BAR) 55.19

Under-20 Boys' 400M

1. Rondell Bartholomew (GRN) 46.86 seconds, 2. Jovon Toppin (TT) 47.26, 3. Fabian Norgrove (BAR) 47.55

Under-20 Girls' Long Jump

1. Daniella Sacama-Isidore (MAR) 6.03 metres, 2. Gaelle Gendrey (GUA) 6.02 metres, 3. Keisha Willix (MAR) 5.90m

Under-17 Girls' 100M

1. Michelle-Lee Ahye (TT) 11.66 seconds, 2. Alison Peter (USVI) 11.91, 3. V'Alonnee Robinson (BAH) 11.91

Under-17 Boys' 100M

1. Geno Jones (BAH) 10.76 seconds, 2. Moriba Morain (TT) 10.84, 3. Christopher Garia (AHO) 11.00, 6. Nicholas Deshong (BAR) 11.23

Under-20 Girls' 100M

1. Carrie Russell (JA) 11.35 seconds, 2. Maritzer Williams (SKN) 11.41, 3. Sheniqua Ferguson (BAH) 11.50, 5. Sade Greene (BAR) 11.88

Under-20 Boys' 100M

1. Yohan Blake (JA) 10.32 seconds, 2. Dexter Lee (JA) 10.48, 3. Joel Dillon (TT) 10.57

Girls' Open Pentathlon Long Jump (4)

1. Salcia Slack (JA) 5.69 metres, 2. Audilia Da Veiga (MAR) 5.66m, 3. Colleen Felix (GRN) 5.48m

Boys' Open Heptathlon High Jump (5)

1. Wendell Modeste (GRN) 1.92 metres, 2. Thomas Davis (BAH) 1.92m, 3. Shane Brathwaite (BAR) 1.89m, 5. Ryan R. Brathwaite (BAR) 1.68m

Under-17 Boys' Javelin

1. John Jones (BAR) 55.98 metres, 2. Emron Gibbs (GRN) 54.72m, 3. Merfilius Leslie (DCA) 51.90m

Under-20 Girls' Shot Put

1. Myrian Lixfe (MAR) 14.61 metres, 2. Gianni Robard (MAR) 13.93m, 3. Hileen James (TT) 13.29m, 4. Deandra Dottin (BAR) 12.65m

Under-17 Boys' Triple Jump

1. Elton Walcott (T) 14.66 metres, 2. Jonathan Reid (JA) 14.17m, 3. Julian Forte (JA) 13.59m, Kemar Jones (BAR) Foul.

Under-17 Girls' High Jump

1. Petergaye Reid (JA) 1.74 metres, 2. Akela Jones (BAR) 1.71m, 3. Deandra Daniel (TT) 1.65m, 4. Cheyenne Stewart (BAR) 1.65m