Mere hours after arriving in The Bahamas yesterday on a late charter, Tianna Springer changed into her spikes and earned Guyana’s first gold medal of this year’s 50th edition of the CARIFTA Games.
Springer, 16, had a late surge in the final 50m of the Women’s 400m U-17 final to earn the top podium spot in a personal best time of 54.32s. The teen star bested the likes of Jamaica’s Jody Ann Daley (54.32s) and St Kitts’ DeCheynelle Thomas (55.46s) who joined her on the podium at the Thomas Robinson Stadium. Springer shook off the physical and mental fatigue of arriving on the day of competition and having to run a time trial after missing her heat in the morning session to win the quarter mile event.
It was a true display of grit and determination for the tall, talented athlete. Meanwhile, Javon Roberts earned Guyana’s second medal, a silver, in male 1500m U-17 final.
Roberts started the three-medal haul for Team Guyana on the opening day of competition which saw most of the athletes and officials arriving in Nassau at the 11th hour after several travel arrangements fell through. Roberts, 16, clocked 4:13.62, mirroring his silver medal achievement last year in Jamaica. Belize’s Demetrie Meyers led him across the line in 4:11.19s while Joel Morgan of Jamaica completed the podium in 4:13.18s.
Seon Booker, also finished on the podium for Team Guyana in the 1500m, but in the male U-20 final. Booker earned a bronze in 4:08.38s. Jamaica’s Ainsley Campbell (4:05.54s) and Bermuda’s Kahzi Sealey (4:06.34s) finished first and second respectively. Booker’s team mate, Attoya Harvey, battling fatigue from jet lag, barely missed the podium, finishing fourth in the female 1500m U-20 final. In other results for Team Guyana, Ezekiel Newton false started in the male 100m U-20 semifinal, after entering with the second fastest time. Athaleyha Hinckson went all the way to the final of the female U-17 100m event but finished seventh in 12.12s.
Wesley Noble Jr. finished fifth in the final of the male 400m in 48.45s.
The local athletes will return to action today in the javelin, 800m and 200m events.
