CARIFTA Games… Harvey, Austin clinch bronze medals on final day

Attoya Harvey’s first outing at the CARIFTA Games continues to be one for the books, as the 16-year- old added a bronze medal to Guyana’s medal tally at the CARIFTA Games in Kingston, Jamaica.
Competing in the Girls’ Under 17 800m event, along with her Guyanese colleague Narissa McPherson, Harvey clocked 2:14.08 for third place and was closely trailed by McPherson, who finished on 2:16.13, missing a podium position.
The race was won by US Virgin Islands’ Michelle Smith, who stopped the clock at 2:10.78, while Jamaica’s Andrene Peart captured silver with 2:13.07.
In the male version of the event, Guyana’s Javon Roberts was unable to finish the race after being tripped up inside the first 400 meters. The race was eventually won by Jamaica’s Ainsley Brown in 1:58.08, while T&T’s Keeran Sriskandarajah (1:58.45) and Jamaica’s Rasheed Pryce (1:58.51) took second and third respectively.
Adriel Austin, who is no stranger to the games, roped in another bronze for Guyana in the Girls’ Under 20 800m event. Austin clocked 2:13.62 for bronze, while Jamaica’s Jody-Ann Mitchell stopped the clock at 2:09.73 for gold and Barbados’ Layla Haynes 2:10.58 for silver.
Meanwhile, Keliza Smith missed a podium position once again, this time finishing fourth in the Under 20 Girls’ 200m. Brianna Lyston raced to gold in 23.16s for Jamaica, followed by Trinidad and Tobago’s Shaniqua Bascombe’s 24.18s sprint for silver. While Jamaica’s Kaylia Kelly ran 24.33s for third, Smith was close with 24.40s, but missed the medal opportunity.
Thus far Guyana has amassed seven medals at the 49th edition of the CARIFTA Games; two golds, three silvers and two bronzes. The CARIFTA Games were held in Kingston, Jamaica from April 16-18. (Jemima Holmes)