Bajan hockey is on a high. Midfield player Shonkeel Wharton had an early strike to propel Barbados’ men’s hockey team to a 1-0 victory over Jamaica in Saturday’s opening game of the Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia.
Playing at the Pibe Valderrama Complex, Wharton converted in the 14th minute in a near mirror image of the women’s identical 1-0 win against Jamaica on Friday.
Swimming
Barbados also enjoyed a relatively successful day in the pool too, as future Olympic medal hopeful Danielle Titus and Luis Sebastian Weekes both advanced to the B finals of their respective events.
Competing in the 200 IM, Weekes placed third in his heat with a time of two minutes, 10.06 seconds before Titus finished fifth in her heat of the 100 metres backstroke by clocking 1:05.82.
The two were scheduled to contest those finals later last night.
Squash
Teenage squash sensation Meagan Best fell short of the medal rounds when she lost her quarterfinal showdown with hometown girl Catalina Pelaez 11-5, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8 in 35 minutes.
This was just moments after fellow St Michael schoolgirl Amanda Haywood went down 11-6, 11-3, 11-1 to Mexican Diana Garcia Fierro at the same stage of the women’s draw.
Table tennis
The news wasn’t so welcoming on the tables either, as Barbados lost their first eight table tennis singles games yesterday without winning a set up to press time.
Competing at the Puerta de Oro Events Centre, boy wonder Tyrese Knight went down 13-11, 11-8, 11-4 to Kevin Montufar of Guatemala after Mark Dowell lost to Samuel Galvez of the Dominican Republic 11-7, 11-9, 11-8.
Marcus Smith then suffered an 11-6, 11-6, 12-10 defeat to Cuban Livan Martinez before Kristian Doughty also lost 11-6, 11-5, 11-8 to Daniel Gonzalez of Puerto Rico.
Female players Daniele Griffith, Jazel Griffith, Kenafy King and Janae Lewis also followed suit with straight sets defeats. All eight players were slated to return to the tables later on Saturday.
Other events
Up to press time, Bajans Monique Archer, Zoe Archer and Laura Smith were competing in the cross country team and individual events of the equestrian, while Amy Cox, Holly Trew and Georgina Trew were contesting in sailing.
Barbados’ women’s basketball team was also scheduled to take the court against regional powerhouses Puerto Rico in their second group match yesterday. (JM)
