Seven Carifta Records Set In Bermuda
Seven new Carifta records were set during the 2012 Carifta Games in Bermuda, the International Association of Athletics Federation [IAAF] said.
“Tynell Gumbs of British Virgin Islands and Chelsea James of Trinidad & Tobago set automatic Games records, using the 500g Javelin and 3kg Shot for the first time at CARIFTA in the under-17 girls category. They won with distances of 41.46m and 14.02m respectively,” said a report from the IAAF.
“Jamaica’s Paul Ann Gayle was the first to reset a previously established record with her 43.99m in under-17 Discus Throw. She was followed on Monday morning by Anderson Peters, the Grenadian turning in a performance of 60.50m to win under-17 boys Javelin Throw.
“But all of those served as mere prelude to the main course, served up by two-time defending men’s Javelin Throw champion, Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad & Tobago in Monday’s final session. Last year he threw 72.04m, breaking the then 24-year-old mark in that event by over 6 metres.
“This year, with a good complementary wind, he surpassed that distance on his opening throw, landing the spear at 74.81m. On his final throw, he flung the spear a massive 77.59m, breaking the 77.53m Central American and Caribbean record he set two weeks ago.
“Just minutes after Keshorn’s big throw, Anthonique Strachan of The Bahamas stepped into the blocks with a chance to pick up her second gold medal of the Games and fourth individual title in two years. She stopped the clock in 22.85 seconds to not only win the under-20 women’s 200m dash, but to reset the Games record of which she copped a share in 2011.
“The record or 22.93 seconds was originally set by Jamaican legend Veronica Campbell in 2001. Strachan, who earlier in the weekend ran a wind-aided (4.4 m/s) 11.22 to win the 100m, was – for the second year – awarded the Austin Sealy trophy as the meet’s most outstanding athlete.
“The last meet record came in the last field event, the under-20 men’s Triple Jump, where the Collie-Minns twins were representing The Bahamas. IAAF World Youth Championships bronze medallist, Lathone, had gone as far as 16.32m this year. However, Latario, the reigning World Youth champion, had gone 16.55m in 2011 and 16.47m this year. In Bermuda, he just needed to hit 16.35m to break the 2003 mark of 16.20m set by Antigua-Barbuda’s Ayata Joseph.”
Congratulations to all Athletes, parents and Organizers and looking forward to seeing you compete in Bahamas 2013. Truly an experience no one should miss, to those participants who missed your goals, continue to press on towards the mark, dig deeper, be more committed.