16 gold medals for The Bahamas

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad & Tobago — The Bahamas ended the 52nd CARIFTA Games at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, on Monday, just the way it started it, as the country won 14 more medals in the final session, including six gold, and closed out the meet with a second-place finish.

Jamaica won CARIFTA track and field for a 39th straight time, but it’s interesting to note that the margin of victory is considerably smaller than in recent years past.

Jamaica finished with 78 medals in total – 30 gold, 27 silver and 21 bronze. The Bahamas finished second with 37 medals – 16 gold, 13 silver and eight bronze, winning its most gold medals at CARIFTA, since 1984 – the last time The Bahamas won the CARIFTA Games. The 16 gold medals is also the second-most for The Bahamas in CARIFTA track and field, trailing just the 19 the country won in 1984.

Host nation Trinidad & Tobago rounded out the top three nations with 25 total medals – nine gold, six silver and 10 bronze.

In what is her final CARIFTA Games, Annae Mackey made sure she went out with a bang.

Mackey won gold in the under-20 girls shot put, breaking the junior national record in a second event for the second day in a row. She has a massive throw of 53.87 meters (m) — 176’ 9”, to win the gold and set the new junior national record. The old junior national record of 52.73m (173’) was set by Serena Brown at the 2016 World Under-20 Championships. Mackey also becomes the seventh-best thrower in the under-20 girls division in the world for 2025.

“I’m grateful for what I was able to do.... there’s more to come,” said Mackey. “I knew it was a good throw. I got it out there and it traveled for me. I executed very well, so I’m very proud of myself.”

Shamoyea Morris, of Jamaica, won the silver medal with a throw of 50.60m (166’), and her teammate Marla-Kay Lampart finished second with a throw of 50.35m (165’ 2”).

In the open boys pole vault, Kenny Moxey Jr. won a gold medal for The Bahamas. He had a clearance of 4.30m (14’ 1-1/4”) for the win. Lucas Ledoux, of Martinique, won the silver medal with a clearance of 4.10m (13’ 5-1/2”). Tristan Carias, of Guadeloupe, won the bronze medal, clearing 4m flat (13’ 1-1/2”).

“I’m just glad that I was able to add to the fine tradition that The Bahamas has in the pole vault. It’s a good feeling,” said Moxey. “I feel like I was able to put everything together at the right time. It’s an amazing feeling to have the gold medal.”

Moxey also competed in the under-20 boys shot put for The Bahamas and finished seventh in that event with a throw of 13.26m (43’ 6”).

Jazae Johnson won her second individual medal of the CARIFTA Games on Monday. She took the silver in the under-17 girls triple jump with a leap of 11.99m (39’ 4”). Christanna Charles, of Grenada, won the gold with a distance of 12.05m (39’ 6-1/2”). Mélodie Tsahia Peux, of Martinique, won the bronze medal with a jump of 11.81m (38’ 9”).

“I just want to give thanks to my family and my supporters for all of the support,” said Johnson. “I feel like I could have done better but I’m satisfied and encouraged. This feels amazing. I give thanks to God for guiding and protecting me.”

The other Bahamian in the under-17 girls triple jump, Dallas Strachan, finished sixth with a jump of 10.99m (36’ 0-3/4”).

The 100m hurdles provided thrills and chills for The Bahamas.

Jahcario Wilson made sure he was in the conversation for the Austin Sealy Award, winning his second individual gold medal of the meet on Monday.

Wilson won the under-17 boys 110m hurdles in 13.70 seconds. Jamaicans Brandon Bennett and Mark-Daniel Allen finished second and third in times of 14.08 seconds and 14.30 seconds respectively. The other Bahamian in that event, Rohman Rolle, finished fourth in 14.65 seconds.

Over in the under-17 girls race, Jasmine Thompson proved that she is indeed fit after suffering a hamstring injury prior to the Bahamas High School National Track and Field Championships in March.

Thompson won a bronze medal in a personal best time of 14.33 seconds. Jamaicans Malayia Duncan and Nickayla Russell won gold and silver in times of 13.34 and 13.71 seconds respectively. The other Bahamian in that race, Jayla Smith, finished fourth in a personal best time of 14.86 seconds.

“I feel like I had a great performance,” said Thompson. “I went out there and executed my race like how I wanted to. I got a PR [personal best] and I’m happy with that. I thank God for bringing me back to good health. A month ago, I didn’t think I was going to be here... I couldn’t run at all. This just shows that all things are possible through God.”

Tahj Brown wasn’t going to be denied a medal in the under-20 boys race. Brown finished with a bronze medal, running 13.82 seconds. Once again, it was 1-2 for Jamaica, with Shaquane Gordon winning the gold in a new CARIFTA record of 13.19 seconds. His teammate Daniel Clarke won the silver medal in 13.21 seconds, which was also under the former CARIFTA record of 13.49 seconds.

“It feels good,” said Brown. “All I could say is I thank God for getting me to this point and for bringing me out with a medal. I feel like I still have a lot to work on, especially with my trail leg, but I’m satisfied.”

The other Bahamian in that race, Jehiel Smikle, finished fifth in 14.02 seconds.

In the under-20 girls division, Darvinique Dean finished eighth in 14.52 seconds. The other Bahamian in the under-20 girls 100m hurdles, Bayli Major, false started in the heats.

The 200m provided more fireworks for The Bahamas.

Eagan Neely turned into one of the golden boys for The Bahamas, winning his second individual gold medal on Monday. Neely clocked 21.22 seconds to win the under-17 boys 200m.

Tiondre Frett, of the British Virgin Islands, finished second in 21.52 seconds and Dahrion Belgrave, of Barbados, finished third in 21.68 seconds.

“I just went out there, kept my arms pumping and pushed through as hard as I could. I’m just glad that I was able to come through and get another gold for The Bahamas. It feels really good,” said Neely.

In the under-17 girls 200m, Keyezra Thomas claimed her second individual silver medal of CARIFTA this year, finishing second in 23.67 seconds. Jady Emmanuel, of St. Lucia, won her second individual gold medal of CARIFTA, finishing first in 23.47 seconds. Tyra Fenton, of Antigua and Barbuda, won the bronze in 23.68 seconds. The other Bahamian in that race, Brion Ward, finished fourth in 24.11 seconds.

“I just went out there and ran to the best of my ability,” said Thomas. “When I was coming off the curve, I just told myself to push through as hard as I can. I’m just glad that I was able to come out with another medal.”

Shatalya Dorsett lost out on a medal in the under-20 girls 200m by the slimmest of margins. She finished fourth in 23.45 seconds – the same time as the bronze medalist, Sabrina Dockery, of Jamaica.

Jamaican Shanoya Douglas repeated as champion, winning in 23.02 seconds. Hometown favorite Solé Frederick, of Trinidad and Tobago, finished second in 23.43 seonds. Dockery got third and Dorsett had to settle for fourth in a photo finish. The other Frederick twin, Sanaa, of Trinidad and Tobago, finished a close fifth behind Dorszett, in 23.46 seconds.

No Bahamian male advanced to the final of the under-20 boys 200m.

In the open girls heptathlon, Aaliyah Evans won a bronze medal for The Bahamas, totalling 4,625 points. Tenique Vincent, of Trinidad and Tobago, won the gold with 5,053 points; and Clementine Carias, of Guadeloupe, won the silver medal with 4,701 points.

“I felt like I had a strong first day, but things could have gone better on the second day,” said Evans. “In the 800, I just went out there and ran as best as I could. I gave it my all in the last 200 and I was able to hold on. I’m happy that I was able to come away with a medal. My legs started hurting, especially in the 800, but mentally, I just pushed through. I was a bit nervous, but I knew that if I get out there and run hard, I would stand a chance.”

In the under-17 boys discus, Kaiden Kemp won a bronze medal for The Bahamas with a distance of 47.71m (156’ 6”). Jamaican Kamari Kennedy set a new CARIFTA record of 60.87m (199’ 8”) for the gold medal. His teammate Brandon Lawrence finished a distant second with a toss of 49m flat (160’ 9”). The other Bahamian in that event, Carmeljo Woodside, scratched on all three of his attempts.

“I feel like I did okay,” said Kemp. “It’s a good feeling to come out with the bronze. I just thank my family and friends for all of the support.”

In the under-17 girls javelin, Keely Deveaux finished fourth with a distance of 37.15m (121’ 10”).

In the under-17 boys long jump, Terrin Beckles was fifth with a jump of 6.68m (21’ 11”). The other Bahamian in that event, Ainsworth Ferguson, scratched on all three of his jumps.

In the under-20 girls high jump, Koi Adderley was only able to clear the opening height of 1.60m (5’ 3”). She finished seventh.

The 4x400m relays provided an exciting conclusion to the 52nd CARIFTA Games on Monday.

The under-17 boys team went into the final with the fastest time out of the heats, and they lived up to that billing as the team of Johnathan Higgs, Jahcario Wilson, Jireh Woodside and Eagan Neely, in that order, won gold in a new CARIFTA record of 3:12.72, breaking the record of 3:14.52, that was set by Jamaica in 2012.

Jamaica won the silver medal in 3:13.28, also going under the former CARIFTA record, and Barbados claimed the bronze in 3:15.95.

“I just went out there and put my team in a good position to win. I just wanted to do my part and I felt like I was able to do that,” said lead-off leg Higgs.

Wilson said: “Once I got the baton in front, I felt in control. It was a smooth race for me.”

Woodside ran a strong third leg.

“I felt comfortable out there. I just paced myself and ran as hard as I could,” said.

Neely brought it home for The Bahamas.

“I just wanted to stay behind and wait for the right moment to strike,” said Neely. “Once I got past him, I felt like we had the race won. It’s an amazing feeling to bring four gold medals back to The Bahamas.”

The under-17 girls team of Syrmiah Crawley, Keyezra Thomas, Brion Ward and Denika Gittens, in that order, won silver in 3:45.27. Jamaica won the gold in 3:39.39, and Trinidad and Tobago took the bronze in 3:47.25.

“I knew I was on the first leg, so I just went out there and ran my hardest. We wanted a medal and I wanted to do my part, so I just did what I had to do,” said Crawley.

Thomas brought the team from second to first on her leg.

“It was a good race. I just thank God for bringing us through. I think that we all did well. I just put my best foot forward,” she said.

Ward ran a strong third leg.

“I felt strong on my leg. I knew that ‘KK’ [Keyezra] was going to do what she needed to do so I just put my best foot forward and ran. I just thank God for allowing us to come out here and perform. It feels good to get a medal,” said Ward.

Gittens ran the anchor leg. She said: “I just thank God for allowing us to win a medal. As soon as I got the baton, I just knew that I had to go. It feels good to get a medal.”

The under-20 girls 4x400m relay team of Kei-Mahri Hanna, Makaiah Hitchman, Akaree Roberts and Darvinique Dean, in that order, won bronze in 3:41.36. Jamaica won the gold in 3:37.75. Barbados won the silver in 3:39.36.

“I just wanted to get out hard and possibly give my teammates a lead,” said Hanna. “I tried my best to keep it going. I’m just happy that we were able to get a medal.”

Second leg Hitchman said: “I just went out there and did what I had to do. I didn’t panic... I kept my cool. It felt good to run with these girls. I knew my team was counting on me and I just did what I had to do.”

Roberts ran the third leg for The Bahamas.

“It felt great to run with these girls,” said Roberts. “I knew that the team was counting on me, so I just did what I had to do.”

Dean anchored the team home to bronze.

“I feel grateful. All of the girls did a great job,” said Dean. “It ends with me, so I knew I had to bring it home.”

Finally, in the under-20 boys division, the team of Zion Davis, Aiden Kelly, Emmanuel Adams and Zion Miller, in that order, won gold in a new junior national record of 3:06.18. Jamaica won the silver in 3:07.44. Trinidad and Tobago won the bronze in 3:08.11.

“It was great leg for me,” said lead-off leg Davis. “The team had a lot of faith with me leading off. I told them that I was going to come out here and execute and I feel like I was able to do that. I just give all the praise to God for bringing us through.”

Kelly said he just had to do his part.

“I’m really grateful that we were able to come out top,” he said. “I thank God for the opportunity and we will continue striving for greatness. Shout out to my mom Inderia Kelly back at home for always suporting me and always being there for me.”

Adams ran a strong leg, handing the baton off to anchor leg Miller with The Bahamas in first place.

“It was amazing having this experience. I just thank God for this opportunity. We came through, and I’m grateful to God for that,” he said.

Miller brought it home for The Bahamas.

“I just went out there and did what I knew I could do,” said Miller. “This was just our time, we weren’t going to be denied. I’m just grateful that we were able to come out on top. Thank God for everything.”

As mentioned, The Bahamas finished second with 37 total medals – 16 gold, 13 silver and eight bronze, winning its most gold medals at CARIFTA since 1984.