Schillonie Calvert .. took the Under-20 girls' sprint double but was robbed of a faster time than her 23.20 seconds because of a hamstring injury. - FILE
PORT OF SPAIN (CMC)
NOT EVEN A heavy downpour of rain midway the final session could dampen the authority of perennial champions Jamaica as they surged to the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Junior track and field championship title yesterday.
Led by their sprinters, the Jamaicans kept their stranglehold on regional athletics with another outstanding performance, garnering 59 medals including 32 gold, to top second-placed Mexico (42) and host team Trinidad and Tobago (39).
Yesterday's action began with the 800-metre finals that saw Trinidad and Tobago's Gavyn Nero reproduce the performance that won him the Austin Sealy Award at the CARIFTA Games in Guadeloupe in March.
The lanky teenager won three gold medals - stretching middle to long distance events - the 800, 1500 and the 3000 metres.
After his win in 1500 metres on Friday and the 3000 metres in yesterday's early session, Nero, who came in the 800 metres with the slowest time showed his class to win in one minute 56.57.
SUPERIORITY AGAIN
He shrugged off the challenge of second-placed Jamaican Donohue Williams (1:57.22) and Bahamian bronze medal winner Kenn Whitfield-Wallace, who was timed at one minute 57.37 seconds.
In the Under-20 boys' race, local star Jamaal James triumphed in a fast 1:51.73, beating Jamaican Andre Thomas (1:52.28) and Mexican Osbaldo Chavez Soto (1:52.93).
Multiple CARIFTA champion Natoya Goule advertised her superiority again as she dominated the Under-17 girls' 800 metres for Jamaica.
The tiny distance-running dynamo slammed her rivals to win in 2:09.15 seconds, the second fastest time ever at the meet.
Only Jamaican Claudine Williams in 1990 has gone faster with her 2:09.01 performance.
Goule's effort was so outstanding, her time was quicker than the senior girls 800 metres that Jamaican Jodiann Richards won in 2:12.23 seconds.
Richards' teammate Vanessa Boyd (2:14.09) finished strongly in second while Mexican Magali Garcia got third.
The awesome Jamaicans predictably swept the 200-metre events.
Probably the most impressive was Under 17 boys' winner Romone McKenzie, whose superb 21.17 seconds was a championship record.
He defeated his Jamaican teammate Nickel Ashmeade (21.30) and Trinidad and Tobago's Kendall Bacchus (21.74).
Jamaican Carrie Russell won the girls' race in 23.75 seconds, edging Trinidad and Tobago's Cadajah Spencer (23.86) and Bahamian Nivea Smith (24.23).
In the senior girls' 200, Jamaican star sprinter Schillonie Calvert was robbed of a faster time than her 23.20 seconds because of a hamstring injury.
However the pain did not stop her from claiming the gold -- and the sprint double -- ahead of teammate Anastasia Leroy (23.25) and Trinidad and Tobago' s Semoy Hackett (23.62).
Jamaica team medic Dr Patrick Robinson confirmed the injury that could threaten her glowing prospects for next month's World Junior Championship in Beijing, China
"Preliminary assessment has shown a strain in her left hamstring, she will see her doctor tomorrow (Monday)," he said.
In the senior boys' event Yohan Blake completed the sprint double with a time of 21.02 seconds, fighting off the challenge from Barbadian Ramon Gittens (21.12) and Trinidad and Tobago's Kervin Morgan (21.22).
The meet concluded with Jamaica sweeping all the 1600-metre relay events, each time chased by Trinidad and Tobago.
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