FORT DE FRANCE – Two of Barbados’ major medal hopes left the arena tasting bitter disappointment in yesterday morning’s session of the 43rd CARIFTA Games at the Stade Municipal Pierre Aliker.
Shot putter Ashley Williams and high jumper Ashantia Phillips both misfired. Had they reproduced what they had done at home, both would have been gold medal winners.
Williams, who had consistently been throwing 13 metres this season – and as high as 13.96 – could only muster 10.95 metres in the Under-20 Girls’ shot put.
The gold medal went to Jamaica’s Rochelle Frazer with 13.63. The silver medal went to Jess St John of Antigua and Barbuda with 13.26 and the bronze to Trinidad and Tobago’s Portious Warren with 12.70.
It would have been even harder for Phillips who cried after she did not even clear the opening height of 1.55 metres in the Under-18 Girls’ event.
It was very windy in the morning session and when Phillips was on the runway waiting
to jump, the bar fell off twice. Whether this affected her or not is unclear, but she did not get over the barrier, after soaring to 1.70 and 1.69 metres this season.
Jamaica’s Lamar Destin was the last over at 1.68 metres, while Jeanine Allard St Albin of Martinique and Bermuda’s Sakari Francis both cleared 1.60 metres.
Grenada’s Anderson Peters (67.67 metres) and Michel Joseph (67.23 metres) were one-two in the Under-18 Boys’ javelin and Travis Ferguson of The Bahamas third with 60.40 metres.
There was a change in the schedule, so the Under-20 Boys did not throw the discus. They were replaced by the Under-18 Girls.
Jamaica’s Janel Fullerton (46.47) and Devia Brown (43.31) were first and third, while Trinidad and Tobago’s Chelsea James was second with 43.53 metres.
In yesterday’s opening ceremony, area president Victor Lopez again lauded the games for the role they continue to play in the development of athletics. He pointed out that at the recent Olympic Games, most of the medallists had competed at this level.
Athletes from 23 nations took part in the parade.
