Discus thrower Akeem Stewart secured T&T's first medal at the Carifta Games, yesterday in Montego Bay, Jamaica. This was at the Montego Bay Sports Complex in Catherine Hall.The burly 18-year-old throw of 51.50 metres earned him silver in the Boys Under-20 Discus event in the morning session on the opening day of the 40th edition of the event."I am very happy about my performance," said a soft-spoken Stewart. "It is the second time I am competing at the Games and it feels good to get a silver medal."He finished behind Jamaican Travis Smirkle, who tossed the discus 62.84m. Third was Kellon Alexis of Grenada (50.60).In another final in the early session of day one, T&T's Cherisse Murray and Shaunna Downey placed fifth and seventh, respectively in the Girls Under-20 Shot Put.Murray's best attempt was her second at 12.69m, while Downey's fourth toss of 11.10m was her furthest.
It was a similar faith for T&T's two high jumpers as neither Meriah Freeman nor Ayanna Glasgow made it among the top three positions in the Girls U-17 event.Freeman gave a better showing though, leaping 1.65m to place fourth. Glasgow was out early with a jump of 1.55m.T&T athletes showed promise in the Boys U-17 400m with Machel Cedenio winning his preliminary heat and recording the fastest qualifying time of 48.80 seconds.Theon Lewis lined up in the second heat and ran second with a time of 49.11, to have the third fastest time overall heading into the final which was scheduled to run late yesterday in the evening session.Kadisha Francois, the lone local competitor in the Girls version of the race ran 1:00.19, to hold 13 spot, not good enough to advance to the next round.
Both T&T quartemilers Dominique Williams and Chelsi Campbell progressed to the Girls U-20 final as the fastest losers. Each finished fourth in their respective races with Williams clocking 56.27 in the first heat and Campbell getting in with a time of 57.22 in the other.It was a good morning for T&T's boys in the U-20 group with both Deon Lendore and Jareem Richards qualifying comfortably for the one-lap finale which was also slated to run late yesterday.Lendore cruised into the final after placing second in heat two with a time of 47.94 while Richards got in as the one of the fastest losers with 48.71.Following the opening ceremony which included a parade of the participating countries, T&T sprinters were to take to the track in their respective 100m heats. Ayodele Taffe and Jamol James were to contest in the U-20, Michelle Lee Ahye and Breanna Gomes in the U-20 Girls, Jonathon Farinha and Nicholas Douglas in the U-17 boys and the for the girls, Zakiya Denoon and Aaliyah Teleford.
