Pan Am bronze for Akela

AKELA JONES is on the podium again.

Barbados’ queen of athletics is bringing back even more hardware for the country, having jumped a personal best 1.91 metres in the high jump to win bronze today at the Pan Am Games in Toronto, Canada.

It was also a new Barbados record, replacing the 1.88 done by Desiree Crichlow back in 2003. 

Steadily progressing through the rounds, Jones was in danger of missing out on Barbados’ first medal at these games after hitting the bar on her first two attempts at 1.91.

But the gifted 19-year-old came good when it mattered most, clearing the mark on her third and final attempt before failing to get past the 1.94 mark.

St Lucia’s Levern Spencer won gold at 1.94 metres and silver to Antigua’s Priscilla Frederick, who also cleared 1.91.

Sprinters Levi Cadogan and Ramon Gittens are slated to contest the semi-finals of the men’s 100 metres later today. (JM)