While most of the excitement surrounded action on the track, a number of the region’s rising stars also lit up the field events with record-breaking brilliance and show-stopping performances on day one of the 52nd Carifta Games at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday.
From a triple jump milestone to a pole vault redemption story, the field was very much alive with drama, heart, and history.
Jamaica’s Amani Phillips stole the spotlight in the boys’ Under-17 triple jump, as he launched himself into the Carifta history books with a massive 15.58m effort. His leap smashed the 12-year-old mark of 15.19m set by Suriname’s Miguel Van Assen in 2013, and set a new benchmark for the region’s young jumpers.
Grenada’s Crystophe Calliste also had a record-worthy day, with his 15.25m jump good enough for silver and well beyond the previous record. Khi-Anthony Hall of Jamaica took bronze with 14.21m.
Amani Phillips (left) and Khi-Anthony Hall show off their medals won in the triple jump.
In the girls’ open pole vault, it was a tale of resilience and redemption for Bahamas’ Jade Ferguson. After failing to clear a single height at last year’s Games, Ferguson returned with a vengeance as she broke the Carifta record four times en route to an outstanding 3.10m clearance.
She obliterated the previous record of 2.90m, set just last year by St Lucia’s Naya Jules, who settled for silver this time with a 3.00m effort.
"I feel ecstatic. Last year, I didn’t clear anything, so I just trusted my coaches, my parents, and God. I doubted myself at times, but I had to trust His timing. I came out to do my best, and that’s what I did—came out with a gold and a record," a beaming Ferguson said.
Jamaica’s Joseph Salmon continued his nation’s tradition of strength in the throws, as he won the boys’ Under-20 discus with a best mark of 56.82m. Fellow Jamaican Devonte Edwards (50.97m) joined him on the podium in third as Grenada’s Dylan Logan (52.57m) broke up the Jamaican party by seizing silver.
As the crowd buzzed under stadium lights, it was the Bahamas who brought the curtain down in style, as they captured gold in the mixed 4x400m relay in a thrilling finale. With Guyana not fielding a team and Trinidad and Tobago’s hopes dashed by a baton drop on the second leg, it came down to a classic Caribbean clash between Jamaica and the Bahamas.
But powered by a blistering third leg from Zion Miller, who earlier won the boys’ Under-20 400m, the Bahamians, anchored by Jamiah Nabbie, proved too strong. They clocked 3:23.97 for the win with the Jamaicans (3:25.29) and Grenada 3:27.46) taking the runners-up positions.
"I thank God for bringing me back here to close out with two gold medals. Everyone did their best, and that’s all we ask for," Miller said.