Gold for Garcia in standing long jump at Huntsman World Senior Games

Trinidad and Tobago’s Masters athlete Suzan Garcia (62) set the tone for the nation’s campaign at the Huntsman World Senior Games in St. George, Utah, today, capturing gold in the women’s 60-64 standing long jump with a winning distance of 1.86m on her fifth and final effort.

In her second event of the day, the javelin throw, Garcia fouled on her five attempts to finish ninth. She now turns her attention to the discus throw and the 400m event, according to the Trinidad and Tobago Athletics Masters Association (TTAMA).

​Garcia’s gold-medal performance provided early momentum for the T&T contingent, setting the stage for teammate Susannah Joefield (73) in the distance events for the women’s 70-74 age category.

​Executing a disciplined strategy, Joefield maintained a steady pace in the 1,500m. Colorado’s Tracey Bernett (71) took victory in 6:52.26, followed by Barbados’s Ainsley Lovell (72) in 7:23.42 and Colorado’s Valerie Mundy (71) in 7:51.41. Joefield dug deep on the final lap to secure a fourth-place finish in 9:01.61, well clear of Utah’s I. Marlene Summers (74), who finished in 15:01.55.

​Joefield followed up that performance by finishing fourth in the women’s 70-74 800m yesterday in 4:33.80, earning her second top-four placing of the Games behind Bernett (3:20.53), Lovell (3:29.10), and Mundy (4:01.64). She will wrap up her campaign in the upcoming 5km and 10km road races.

TTAMA, via a post on Facebook, extended its congratulations and continued best wishes to both athletes as they represent the nation.

Results

​Women’s long jump (Age group 60-64)

1 ​Suzan Garcia (T&T/Age 62) 1.86m

2 ​Angela Jackson (Barbados/63) 1.85m

3 ​Donna Beard (Washington/62) 1.83m

​Women 1,500m (Age group 70-74)

1 ​Tracey Bernett (Colorado/71) 6:52.26

2 ​Ainsley Lovell (Barbados/72) 7:23.42

3 ​Valerie Mundy (Colorado/71) 7:51.41

4 ​Susannah Joefield (T&T/73) 9:01.61

5 I. Marlene Summers (Utah’s/74) 15:01.55

Women’s 800m (Age group 70-74)

1 ​Tracey Bernett (Colorado/Age 71) 3:20.53

2 ​Ainsley Lovell (Barbados/Age 72) 3:29.10

3 ​Valerie Mundy (Colorado/Age 71) 4:01.64

4 ​Susannah Joefield (T&T/Age 73) 4:33.80