GOLDEN TAYLOR

Isaiah Taylor produced Trinidad and Tobago’s first golden moment at the 44th Carifta Games, here in Basseterre, St Kitts, yesterday.

Taylor topped the Boys Under-18 shot put field with a Games record throw of 17.56 metres. Jamaicans Kevin Nedrick (17.44m) and Kyle Mitchell (17.03m) earned silver and bronze, respectively.

Jacob St Clair produced a spectacular run to strike silver in the Boys Under-18 400 metres final.

St Clair made a strong challenge for the title, the T&T quartermiler battling hard in the final stages of the race. He closed in on the leader, Jamaica’s Christopher Taylor, but eventually ran out of track. St Clair had the satisfaction, though, of clocking a personal best 46.73 seconds. Taylor got gold in 46.64, while bronze went to another Jamaican, Devaughn Ellington (47.43).

Asha James claimed silver for T&T in the Girls Under-18 javelin with a 45.12m throw. Gold went to Barbadian Hayley Matthews (47.37m), while bronze was bagged by Dominica’s Shanee Angol (43.55m). Another T&T thrower, Akidah Briggs (40.35m) was sixth.

Briggs put T&T on the medal table during yesterday’s morning session.

The Toco field athlete threw the iron ball 15.09m to seize silver in the Girls Under-18 shot put. Briggs was in pole position for much of the competition, taking the lead in round one with a 14.43m effort. She followed up with her 15.09 personal best in round two, and kept the lead up to the end of the fourth round.

In round five, however, Jamaica’s Sahjah Stevens produced a monster throw, 16.31m, establishing a new Carifta Games record and snatching gold from Briggs in the process. In an effort to land the big one, Briggs fouled her last three attempts. Bahamian Laquell Harris earned bronze with a 14.54m effort.

At the end of the competition, Briggs spoke to the Sunday Express.

“The feeling is very good. I expected more than this, but unfortunately I came out with the silver medal…not what I wanted, but I’m extremely satisfied. The goal was over 16 metres. Unfortunately I fell short, but I’m happy that I got the silver medal and I’m also happy that I got over 15 metres.”

Renee Stoddard finished sixth in the Girls Under-18 400m final, the T&T quartermiler clocking 55.95 seconds.

Meanwhile, both Tauren George and Aaron Lewis are through to today’s Boys Under-20 400m hurdles final.

George was an automatic qualifier, clocking 55.09 seconds to secure third spot in the opening heat. Lewis, though, advanced as a “fastest loser” after finishing fifth in heat two in 55.15.

Lewis went out hard and looked a contender for one of the automatic qualifying berths, but faded coming home.

Ashton Gill returned a time of four minutes, 08.10 seconds to finish seventh in the Boys Under-20 1500m. His T&T teammate, Iley Bruce was eighth in 4:14.30.

In the Girls Under-18 long jump, Safiya John (5.24m) and Chevelle McPherson (4.85m) were sixth and 14th, respectively.

Omari Benoit finished seventh in the Boys Under-20 high jump. The T&T jumper’s best clearance in the competition was 2.00m. In the Boys Under-20 discus, Kenejah Williams threw 44.36m to secure seventh spot. In the Boys Under-18 high jump, Franklyn Stanislaus cleared the bar at 1.80m to finish 11th.

And late on Friday, Alisha St Louis finished sixth in the Girls Under-18 triple jump. The T&T athlete produced a wind-assisted 11.56m effort. Her only wind-legal jump in the competition was 11.38m.

After press time, last night, T&T’s Kayelle Clarke challenged for the Girls Under-20 100m title. The New Mexico Junior College freshman won heat one in 11.64 seconds to advance to the final as the second fastest qualifier.

The other T&T sprinter in the event, Kadesha Prescott was 11th overall in 12.33, and did not qualify for the championship race.

Akanni Hislop was among the starters in the Boys Under-18 100m final. He was third in his heat in 10.68 and progressed as a “fastest loser”. Hislop’s T&T teammate, Tyrel Edwards was disqualified for a false start in heat two.

Xavier Mulugata qualified for the Boys Under-20 100m final when he finished third in heat two in a wind-assisted 10.57. He advanced via the “fastest loser” route. Francis Louis clocked a windy 10.58 in heat three, and just missed out on a lane in the final.

And in the Girls Under-18 100m, Deleth Charles and Akeera Esdelle were eliminated. Thirteen-year-old Charles finished 15th overall in 12.33 seconds, while Esdelle was 16th in a wind-aided 12.42.