Stona stars at Carifta

JAMAICA'S Junior athletes got off to a great start yesterday on day one of the 46th staging of the Carifta Games in Willemstad, Curacao.

Leading the way was discus thrower Roje Stona, who threw a record 66.41 metres in the Under-20 boys' discus. He erased the 63.11m mark set by Jamaica's Chad Wright in 2013.

Kevin Nedrick finished second in the event with 60.38 metres. Earlier in the day, Nedrick picked up bronze in the Under-20 javelin throw with 58.33m as Keyon Burton of Dominica took the gold with 62.14m.

The day was dominated by several Jamaican quinellas. Under-18 high jumper Jonique Burger gave the island its first gold when she cleared 1.77m to finish ahead of teammate Lamara Distin (1.74m).

Jamaica swept the 1,500 metres with one-two finishes in three of four finals. Shaquena Foote won the Under-18 girls' event in 4:45.51 as teammate Rusheda Dwyer took second in 4:48.15.

Renardo Johnson (4:09.74) and Tyrese Reid (4:09.87) took the first two places in the Under-18 boys 1500m, with Ronaido Rock of Bermuda taking the bronze in 4:11.99.

GOLDEN SWEEP

With only three competitors reporting for the Under-20 girls' event it was a match race between Britnie Dixon and her teammate, Kara Grant. Dixon won in 4:58.79 ahead of Grant, 4:59.06.

Jamaica completed the golden sweep in the middle-distance event when Ackeen Colley easily won the Under-20 boys' race in 3:55.82. Teammate Shemar Salmon ended fourth in 4:00.03.

Top junior 400 metres runner Christopher Taylor clocked 45.97 seconds to capture gold in the Under-20 event as Jamaica picked up three wins in the one-lap race. In the Under-18 boys' 400m, Antonio Watson and Ramone Lindo were first and second, respectively. Watson won in 47.85 with Lindo second in 47.98.

Girls' captain Junelle Bromfield won the girls' Under-20 400m in 53.82 as teammate Kimora Muschette picked up bronze after finishing third in.55.62, the same time returned by second-place finisher Tiana Bowen of The Bahamas.

Kimora Francis clocked 54.24 to mine silver for Jamaica in the Under-18 400m. Megan Moss of The Bahamas won in 54.24 with Jamaica's Sanique Walker, taking fourth in 54.82.

In early morning action, Danielle Sloley (14.12m) captured silver in the girls' Under-18 shot put as teammate Shaday Hudson finished fourth with 13.31m.