Going into the final session of the 50th Oaktree CARIFTA Games, The Bahamas on Monday has a total of 28 medals – six gold, nine silver and 13 bronze.
Jamaica continues to lead the competition, securing 47 total medals – 25 gold, 14 silver and eight bronze.
Trinidad and Tobago rounds out the top three nations with 14 total medals – two gold, five silver and seven bronze.
The junior regional athletics meet is going down as one of the more action packed, engaging and all-inclusive editions of the CARIFTA Games in its history.
The action on the track and in the field was complemented with a lively cultural village and there was a grand opening ceremony, an upscale tea party for regional and global guests, and the “Let’s Move Bahamas” CARIFTA Fun Run/Walk in which World Athletics President Lord Sebastian Coe served as the patron and also participated in the event.
In terms of the performances by The Bahamas, there have been two CARIFTA records so far.
After chasing the national record and CARIFTA record for a couple years, Brenden Vanderpool finally got the breakthrough he was searching for on Saturday night, winning gold in the open boys pole vault with a heightof 5.06m (16′ 7-1/4″), breaking both records.
The old national record of 4.89m (16′ 0-1/2″) was set by his father Brent Vanderpool in 1987 and was one of the oldest national records on the books.
The old CARIFTA record of 5.05m (16′ 6-3/4″) was set by Thiery Baptiste of Martinique in Nassau in 2018.
The Bahamas also got a bronze medal in that event as Tyler Cash leapt 4.45m (14′ 7-1/4″).
Jeremiah Felix, of St. Lucia, spilt the two Bahamians with a leap of 4.60m (15′ 1″) for the silver medal.
Not to be outdone, Kamera Strachan endured a tough battle with her teammate Dior-Rae Scott and emerged as the new champion and CARIFTA record holder in the under-17 girls javelin.
She had a massive throw of 46.07m (151′ 2″) for the gold medal to surpass the record setting throw of 44.57m (146′ 2″) from Scott in Kingston, Jamaica, last year.
Scott settled for the silver this time with a personal best heave of 45.13m (148′ 1″) and Naya Jules, of St. Lucia, won the bronze medal with a throw of 42.92m (140′ 10″).
It was the only event of the weekend in which The Bahamas finished first and second.
Kaden Cartwright got the gold medal haul started for The Bahamas with a huge throw of 64.07 meters (m) – 210′ 2″ – in the under-20 boys javelin on Saturday.
Dorian Charles, of Trinidad and Tobago, won the silver medal with a throw of 61.58m (202′) and Cameron Thomas of Grenada won the bronze with a throw of 60.12m (197′ 3″).
“It feels pretty good,” Cartwright said.
“I just want to thank God, my parents and my coaches. I came out here, trusting in my training and trusting the process. I’m proud of what I was able to do. To win the gold is a special feeling.”
Jamaica leads competition as CARIFTA into final day
The competition is expected to heat up on this evening (Monday) as the three-day meet concludes at Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium.
