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Jamaica ended the final day of competition at the NACAC Senior Championships in Freeport, Bahamas, on a high after garnering three gold medals — two in individual events and one in relays.
Nickisha Pryce and Shanieka Ricketts were individual winners in their respective events.
Pryce was the overwhelming favourite to win the women’s 400m and she did not disappoint. The world number-nine ranked athlete in the event was a convincing winner, clocking 49.95 seconds. Wendeline Venlough of Haiti finished second in 50.23, while the United States’ Lynn Irby Jackson claimed bronze with 50.47.
Many-time national champion Ricketts was an easy winner in the women’s triple jump, giving the country its second individual gold of the day. Though modest by her standards, Ricketts won with a leap of 14.23m. The United States duo of Euphenie Andre (13.26m) and Agur Dwol (13.30m) took silver and bronze, respectively.
The quartet of Bovel McPherson, Zandrion Barnes, Delano Kennedy, and Rusheen McDonald secured gold in the men’s 4x400m stopping the clock at 3:02.86. Mexico claimed silver in 3:05.40, with Canada taking bronze in 3:07.94.
Jamaica had to settle for silver in the men’s 4x100m as the team of Ashanie Smith, Kadrian Goldson, Ryiem Forde, and Christopher Taylor clocked 38.53. Canada won gold in 38.05, breaking Jamaica’s 2015 38.07 championships record. The Bahamas finished third in 38.57.
National champion Rusheen McDonald and runner-up Delano Kennedy placed second and fifth, respectively, in the men’s 400m. McDonald earned silver in 45.04, while Kennedy clocked 45.37. Both missed the automatic qualifying standard for the World Championships, in what could have been their last opportunity as the entry deadline for Tokyo is August 24.
Grenada’s Kirani James, the 2012 London Olympic gold medallist, scored a big win in the event. James produced a season’s best 44.48 to take gold, erasing Jamaica’s Christopher Taylor’s 2022 mark of 45.04 from the record books. The Bahamas’ Wendell Miller finished third in 45.12.
Jamaica’s first medal of the final day came in the men’s javelin throw. Elvis Graham claimed bronze with a distance of 76.09m. Curtis Thompson of the United States struck gold with a new Championships record of 87.24m, while his teammate Dash Sirmon took silver with 77.04m.
Female shot putter Lloydricia Cameron and high jumper Raymond Richards, both competing in individual events, missed the podium after both placed fifth. Cameron recorded 17.77m in the women’s shot put, which was won by Canada’s Sarah Mitton with 20.02m. The United States’ Jessica Ramsay (18.27m) and Jessica Woodward (18.05m) claimed silver and bronze, respectively.
Richards cleared 2.18m in the men’s high jump, where the United States’ Tyrus Wilson won gold with a clearance of 2.24m.
English (US) ·