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| Delano Williams/Getty Images |
By Michael Bascombe
BARCELONA, Spain, July 13, 2012 - It was a successful night for Caribbean athletes at the World Junior Championships in Barcelona on Friday.
The results were mixed but by far an entertaining and rewarding fourth day of the championships. Ryan Ingraham of the BAH started things with a bronze in the Men's High Jump with 2.24m. But disappointment reigned for the BAH and JAM in the Women's 4x100m Heats.
Both teams crashed out. Bahamas' Rashan Brown buckled and collapsed before making the final hand over to Anthonique Strachan in the first of three Heats and Shawnette Lewin attempted to change hands in the second hand over to Christania Williams who had already moved out of the legal area.
However, both teams made up the stagger in the Men's version. Bahamas ran 39.48 in Heat 2 and Jamaica 39.19 in Heat 3. Trinidad & Tobago was edged out of a final spot.
In the Women's 400mH, Janieve Russell clocked the fastest qualifying time of 57.23 to get pole position for Saturday's final. Kernesha Spann (T&T) and Devinn Cartwright (BAH) failed to advance. In the Women's Long Jump, Chanice Porter (JAM) was 4th with 6.58m while Javarn Gallimore also of JAM was 4th in the Men's 400mH in 50.49.
It was the start of the Caribbean fireworks as Strachan delivered on the double with a new championship record and world leading time of 22.53 in the Women's 200m, and her 3rd clocking under 23 seconds. Shericka Jackson of JAM was 8th in 23.53.
Then it was Kadecia Baird of GUY who surprised everyone and ran a race of her life to finish 2nd in the Women's 400m in 51.04, a new Central American and Caribbean Junior Record (AR). She was ahead of the highly favoured Shaunae Miller (BAH) 4th in 51.78, Chrisann Gordon (JAM) 7th and Olivia James (JAM) 8th.
And there were more fireworks, as Delano Williams who powered away from a staggering Julian Forte (JAM) in the last 30m to win the Men's 200m in a National Junior Record of 20.48. (The video will tell the story).
But there was one more assignment for the Caribbean and it was left to Trinidadian Keshorn Walcott to accomplish. And he did it on his final throw in the Men's Javelin. He needed to beat 77.09m to clinch the GOLD. Argentine's Braian Joledo measured that distance in his 2nd throw of the night. But Walcott had other ideas and mixed magic with fireworks to unleash 78.64m in his 6th and final throw to secure a third gold medal for the Caribbean in the evening session.
The penultimate day of competition will see Caribbean athletes in the Women's 100mH Semis with 2 athletes each from JAM and BAR; Women's 4x400m Heats (JAM); Men's 4x400m Heats (JAM, BAH, TRI); Men's 800m Semis (BER, BAR); Russell in the Women's 400mH Final; and Men's 4x100m Final (JAM, BAH).
It should be another interesting day!
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