in Curacao
BARBADOS’ athletes will no doubt be making last-ditch efforts for medals when the final day of the 46th Flow CARIFTA Games get under way at 9 a.m. on Monday at the Ergilio Hato Stadium.
After gaining nine medals, consisting of two gold, four silver and three bronze over the first two days of competition, the Barbadian athletes will be hoping to at least double that tally in their remaining events.
But it is not going to be an easy task, coming up against athletes from countries such as perennial champions Jamaica, The Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana.
Barbados currently lie fifth in the medal standings, behind leaders Jamaica with 54 – 23 gold, 19 silver, 12 bronze; Trinidad and Tobago – 13 with five gold, two silver and six bronze: The Bahamas – 17 – four gold, seven silver and six bronze.
Guyana have six medals, but importantly, they have captured four gold medals to add to a silver and bronze.
Hannah Connell will be going for gold in the day’s first event when she competes in the Under-18 Girls’ 100-metre hurdles. The semi-finals are set for 9 a.m. while the final will also be the first event of the afternoon session at 3 p.m.
Nathan Fergusson and Tre Hollingsworth will also be in action in the semi-finals of the Under-18 Boys’ 100 hurdles at 9:30 a.m.
The Under-18 Boys’ 4×400-metre quartet of 400-metre hurdles’ gold medallist Rasheeme Griffith, Antoni Hoyte-Small, Kyle Gale and Fergusson will also begin their quest for gold in the relay with semi-finals set for 9.55 a.m. and the final at 6:05 p.m., tonight.
Field competitor Enrique Babb will also contest the Under-18 Boys’ discus at 3:05 p.m.
Matthew Clarke is the only Barbadian in the finals of the 200 metres and he will be hoping to at least medal in the Under-18 Boys’ race, which is slated for 3:45 p.m.
He ran a slow 22.20 in his semi-final heat and will have to run at least under 21.50 if he wants to get on the medal podium.
Roneldo Rock, after his bronze medal run in the 1500 metres, should be fancying his chances of another medal in the Under-18 Boys’ 800 metres final at 4:20 p.m..
Rock has the second fastest time of 1:58.34 minutes, behind Jamaica’s Kimar Farquharson (1:58.17)
Barbados’ best bet for a gold medal will be Jonathan Jones in the Under-20 Boys’ 800 final at 4:40 p.m.. Jones goes in with the second fastest time of 1:54.66 behind Jamaica’s Agerian Jackson (1:54.38) while compatriot Rio Williams also advanced to the final as the sixth fastest qualifier, clocking 1:57.69.
There will also be high hopes that big left-hander Triston Gibbons can deliver a gold medal in the Under-20 Boys’ shot put at 5:45 p.m.