In what has been described as a stunning upset, Anguilla’s Zharnell Hughes sprinted to gold in the 100m U20 final at the 2013 Carifta games being held in Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas at the Thomas A. Robinson national stadium. The race was the final one on Saturday, March 30th, 2013 and result seemed to truly shock the television commentators. Hughes finished in 10.44 seconds ahead of Jamaica’s Jazeel Murphy and Antigua & Barbuda’s Tahir Walsh.
Meanwhile, after a long disappointing day on the track and in the field for Barbados, Mario Burke finally gave Team 246 something to shout about when he slammed the field to win the Under-17 Boys’ 100 metres at the Carifta Games in the Bahamas.
It was not even close. Burke lit up the track at the Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium to cross the line first in 10.61 seconds. Second was Keanu Pennerman of the Bahamas in 10.85 while Jamaica’s Jelani Walker was third in 10.93 seconds.
Later in the evening, Barbados won its second medal of the games when Akela Jones predictably won the Under-20 Girls’ Long Jump with 6.19 metres. Jamaica took the next two medal positions with Tamara Moncrieffe second with 6.01 metres, while Claudette Allen was third with 5.97 metres.
However, the other athletes did not get to taste success on the first day of competition.
Tristan Evelyn finished fourth in the Under-17 Girls’ 100 metres in 12.10 seconds. Jamaica’s Natalliah Whyte took the gold in 11.88 seconds, with Nelda Huggins of the BVI taking the silver in 11.94 seconds while Jamaica’s Shellece Clarke won the bronze in 12.00 seconds.
Levi Cadogan was a disappointing fifth in the Under-20 Boys’ 100 metres in 10.53 seconds. Anguilla’s Zharnel Hughes stunned everyone when he captured the gold medal in 10.44 seconds, beating favourite Jahzeel Murphy (10.48) of Jamaica into second place. Taking the bronze was Tahir Walsh of Antigua and Barbuda with a time of 10.49 seconds.
In the Under-20 Girls’ 100 metres Shavonne Husbands finished seventh in 12.05 seconds. Bahamas took the first two medal positions with Devyn Charlton winning gold in11.60 seconds, while Carmeisha Cox took the silver in 10.61 seconds. Jamaica’s Monique Spencer was third in 11.64 seconds.
Tiana Bowen was seventh in the Under-17 Girls’ 400 metres in 58.75 seconds. Taking the gold medal was Jamaica’s Tiffany James in 55.13 seconds; the silver medal went to the BVI’s Tarika Moses in 55.83 seconds, while the bronze medal went to Bahamas’ Doneisha Anderson in 56.36 seconds.
Ramarco Thompson was also seventh in the Under-17 Boys’ 400 metres in 51.71 seconds. Jamaica’s Martin Manely won in 47.72 seconds, with Bahamas’ Kinard Rolle in 48.05 seconds, while Guyana’s Jason Yaw was third in 48.53 seconds.
Ariel Jackson was fourth in the Under-20 Girls’ 400 metres in 55.34 seconds. Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas won in an impressive 51.63 seconds with Jamaica’s Chris-Ann Gordon second in 53.22 seconds and in third was Guyana’s Kadecia Baird in 54.28 seconds.
Tristan Whitehall finished sixth in the Under-20 Boys’ Discus with a best throw of 47.20 metres. Jamaica took gold and silver with Frederick Dacres winning with a big heave of 61.27 metres and Chadrick Dacosta second with 55.61 metres and picking up the bronze was Eldred Henry of the British Virgin Islands with 52.06 metres.
Ashley Williams finished in eighth position in the Under-20 Girls’ Shot Putt with 11.87 metres. Winning was Guadeloupe’s Christine Gavarin with 13.04 metres, second was Jamaica’s Gleneve Grange with 13.02 metres, while in third was Trevia Gumbs of the BVI with 12.59 metres.
Joshua Hunte finished ninth in the Under-20 Boys’ 1500 metres in 4:13.26. Taking the gold medal was Trinidad and Tobago’s Mark London in 4:01.07, with the silver medal going to St. Lucia’s Marbeq Edgar in 4:01.75, while the bronze went to Jamaica’s Chadoye Dawson in 4:04.14.
