Akanni Hislop was T&T’s star on the final day of the Carifta Games at the Grenada National Stadium, St Georges, yesterday, defending his 200 metres title, copping gold in a time of 20.89 seconds, despite moving up in age group.
Hislop, who won the Boys Under-18 200m dash last year, was unstoppable in the U-20 bracket and beat Bahamaian Keanu Pennerman (21.03) and Coull Graham (21.05) of Antigua and Barbuda, respectively, to the line in the final session the 45th edition of the premier track and field event in the Caribbean.
The sprinter was the fastest of the eight qualifiers with a run of 21.01 seconds in the heats and improved on that form in the medal race. He was one of four local athletes sealing a medal including silver from Tyrell Edwards in in the Boys U-18 200m, and bronze each for Jeminise Parris in the Girls 100m hurdles and Asha James in the Girls U-18 javelin throw.
Edwards crossed second in the final of the Boys U-18 200m in 21.56 to finish behind Jamaican Michael Stephens, who won in 21.43. Third was Matthew Clarke of Barbados in 21.75.
Parris' time of 13.73 (13.725) earned her bronze in a tight finish of the Girls 100m hurdles event. Parris was beaten to the line by Jamaican Sidney Marshall, who also clocked 13.73 (13.724) by a millisecond. Winning was another Jamaican, Rushelle Burton, in 13.36. In Girls U-18 100 hurdles event, Anya Akili was fifth in 14.03. Ako Hislop had no better luck in the boys' version of the race and placed fourth in 14.08.
Cheziah Phillip was also active in the event but did not make it out of the qualifying heats. She placed fifth in heat one in 14.77. James picked up a bronze medal for T&T with a best toss of 44.44. Winning was Daneliz Thomas of Cayman Islands (45.97) and second was Grenadian Holly Charles (44.75).
T&T's competitors in the boys U-18 long jump event, Aaron Cruickshank (6.48) and Jossiah Edwards (6.45) placed 11th and 12th, respectively. In the Girls U-18 800m, Kershel Mc Intyre time of 2:15.95 was good enough for fourth and she was followed in by teammate Joanna Rogers in fifth in 2:17.63. The boys U-18 race saw Jaden St Louis also place fifth in 1:55.65.
On Sunday night, T&T bagged two relay bronze medals in the 4x100m relay events in the U-18 and U-20 divisions in races that were dominated by the Jamaicans. The quartet of Akeera Esdelle, Akila Lewis, Shania McCarter and Janea Spinks took third in the Girls U-18 race in 47.27, finishing behind Jamaica, who won in 45.87 and Bahamas, second in 46.37.
Later, T&T’s Girl U-20 team of Sarah Wollaston, Jada Barker, Jeminese Parris and Renee Stoddard also got bronze in 46.68. Jamaica copped the gold in 44.30 and Bahamas crossed second in 45.62. T&T's Boys U-18 relay squad of Hislop, Tyrell Edwards, Avindale Smith and Adell Colthrust, just missed out on the medals, finishing fourth in 42.16.
Jamaica’s team of Christopher Taylor, Michael Stephens, Dejour Russell and Jhevaughn Matherson won in a new CARIFTA record time of 40.40 seconds. The previous record of 40.52 was set by the Jamaican team at the 2015 Games.
Selected results
Girls
U-20 100m Hurdles
1 Rushelle Burton (Jamaica) - 13.36
2 Sidney Marshall (Jamaica) - 13.73 (13.724)
3 Jeminise Parris (T&T) - 13.73 (13.725)
U-18 Javelin
1 Daneliz Thomas (Cayman Islands) - 45.97
2 Holly Charles (Grenada) - 44.75
3 Asha James (T&T) - 44.44
Boys
U-20 200m
1 Akanni Hislop (T&T) - 20.89
2 Keanu Pennerman (Bahamas) - 21.03
3 Coull Graham (Antigua and Barbuda) - 21.05 4.5
U-18 200m
1 Michael Stephens (Jamaica) - 21.43
2 Tyrell Edwards (T&T) - 21.56
3 Matthew Clarke (Barbados) - 21.75