Akela misses the mark

AKELA JONES gave it her best.

She didn’t medal but she can hold her head high after finishing 20th in the women’s heptathlon at the Rio Olympics last night.

The darling of local track and field was on the verge of becoming the first Barbadian woman to win an Olympic medal after achieving a career best throw in the javelin – the penultimate event.

When Jones threw the javelin 42 metres, more than three metres further than her previous personal best, there was an air of optimism around the island that she would secure Barbados’ first Olympic medal since Obadele Thompson won bronze 16 years ago in Sydney, Australia. (HG)

Please read the full story in today’s Sunday Sun, or in the eNATION edition.