ST GEORGE’S, Grenada – Trinidad and Tobago stunned Jamaica to prevent them making a clean sweep of the sprint relays, when they captured the boys Under-20 finale in an electrifying finish on day two of the 51st CARIFTA Games at the Kirani James Athletic Stadium here Sunday.
Trinidadian Dylan Woodruffe celebrates with the Trinidadian fans after taking his team to victory in the boys Under-20 sprint relay.Dylan Woodruffe produced an exhilarating final leg for the Trinidadians, holding off a fierce challenge from Jamaican rival Johan-Ramaldo Smythe, to cross the line first in 40.45 seconds.
Jamaica, who had swept the prior three relays, finished second in a time of 40.55 while Samuel Green hauled hosts Grenada over the line for bronze in 40.71.
“I knew my team had put in the effort and had put in the work – they’ve been training this whole year,” said Woodruffe, whose grandfather Wendell Mottley secured 400m silver and 4x400m bronze at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
“So I just knew once I got the stick, all I had to do was kept us in front and keep us for the win and that’s what I did.
“I would say our chemistry [has been great]. We’ve been passing that stick [and] practicing, practicing, practicing and that’s what we did and it worked.
“That was our main objective to get that stick fully around with no problems and it happened so you see what happened? We came first.”
Jamaica, in lane four, appeared strong bets to complete the clean sweep especially after Javorne Dunkley provided them with a strong start before handing over to Raheem Pinnock.
However, things fell apart quickly for the Caribbean powerhouses with a couple of dicey hand-overs and it allowed Woodruffe, running out of lane seven, to collect the baton from Hakeem Chinapoo slightly ahead of Smythe on the final leg.
The two engaged in a heated battle in the stretch with Woodruffe storming to victory, much to the delight of a vociferous Trinidad contingent.
“This team is a dream. Last year I missed out but this year I made sure I came back … and made sure I made our team proud and made Trinidad and Tobago proud,” Woodruffe continued.
Jamaica had earlier captured gold in the boys Under-17 event in a time of 41.30 seconds, with T&T second in 41.53 and the Bahamas clinching bronze in 42.30.
Kaeden Herbert actually had the advantage for T&T on the final change-over but Malike Nugent easily reeled him in to win comfortably.
“We knew we were going to win today. We were very confident,” Nugent said.
Jamaica’s girls took gold in the equivalent, clocking 45.36 to finish ahead of the Bahamas (46.28) and Trinidad & Tobago (47.49) while the Under-20 girls followed suit, Shanoya Douglas taking them over the line in 43.63.
“The coach’s instruction was just to go out there and execute it. We’ve been training, we’ve been practicing and we just came out here and gave it our best,” said Habiba Harris who ran the first leg for the Under-20s.
“It feels wonderful [to win gold] because being able to come out here and represent our country as juniors is a very huge opportunity and we’re very thankful for it.”
Like in the relays, Jamaica found their attempts at a clean sweep of the 400 metres hurdles thwarted, Michelle Smith of the US Virgin Islands proving the stumbling block when she captured the girls Under-20 race in 56.28 seconds.
Jamaican Kelly Ann Carr was relegated to silver in 57.02 with teammate Aaliyah Mullings taking bronze in 59.80.
Jamaica dominated in the other three races, however. Nastassia Fletcher won the girls Under-17s in one minute, 0.10 seconds while Robert Miller smashed a 14-year-old record to win the boys Under-17s in 52.19 and Shamer Blake took the boys Under-20s in 51.21.
Another long-standing record fell in the boys Under-17 shot put when Javontae Smith of Jamaica captured gold with a throw of 18.80 metres, eclipsing the 13-year-old mark of 17.42.
In the boys Under-20 javelin, Bahamian Kaden Cartwright repeated as champion when he measured 67.34 to beat Grenada’s Rayvohn Telesford (65.57) and Dominica’s Addison Alickson James (65.50).
“I am very happy. I wanted a little bit more but that’s what God allowed me to do, so I’m content with that,” said Cartwright.
“This is my second gold medal in a row from last year so I’m pretty proud of myself and I give thanks to God.”
Ahead of Monday’s final day, Jamaica top the standings with 49 medals, comprising 24 gold, 15 silver and 10 bronze while the Bahamas lie second on 25, with seven gold, nine silver and nine bronze.
The 200 metres finals and the 4×400 metres relays will headline the final day of the championship.
