Skip to main content

Nacac Senior Championships

BVI's McMaster defends 400mh title, gold for Jamaica's Salmon and Smikle in final day of NACAC Championships

McMaster, the defending champion, ran a new championship record of 47.34, a season-best time to take the title.

Close on his heels was the USA’s Khallifah Rosser, who clocked a lifetime-best of 47.59 for the silver medal. The USA’s CJ Allen was third in 48.22, the second fastest time of his career.

It was a Jamaica 1-2 in the women’s race in which Salmon, the Commonwealth Games silver medallist turned the tables on Commonwealth champion Janieve Russell.

Salmon pulled away over the final two hurdles to win in 54.22. Russell clocked 54.87 while the USA’s Cassandra Tate was third after crossing the finish line in 55.67.

It was also gold and silver for Jamaica in the men’s discus. Traves Smikle, the Commonwealth Games bronze medallist continued his dominance over his good friend and training partner Fedric Dacres.

Smikle’s winning mark was 62.89m, just 10cm farther than Dacres’ 62.79m.

Torres Mario Alberto Diaz of Cuba threw 62.13m for the bronze medal.

Dominica's pride Thea LaFond targets 15m and a medal at World Championships in Budapest this summer

The year 2022 was a massive one for the 29-year-old LaFond, who won gold at the NACAC Championships in The Bahamas and a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games Birmingham, England. She was also fifth in the finals at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon. However, with that success she has no intention of resting on her laurels as the 2023 season continues to unfold.

"Last season's medals were truly an amazing experience," she told Sportsmax.TV. "To build on last year's success, I have gotten stronger and faster, and I'm eager to see how that translates through the season."

LaFond has set her sights on achieving a jump of 15m or more this year.

"15m plus is definitely one of the major goals for championships and beyond," she said. "This season, we are really focused on upping the energy and working on timing up the phases a bit better for even bigger and active contacts in the jumps."

Despite fierce competition from the imperious Venezuelan triple jumper, three-time world champion Yulimar Rojas, the current world record holder, who has dominated the event in recent years, LaFond maintains a positive mindset.

"I think that my mentality is that I am always battling it out for three medals. Always," said LaFond. "Rojas is very good, there is no denying that, but anything can happen at any meet. Coming into a competition with anything less of that mentality is setting yourself up for failure. I'm bringing my best and trying to win."

Despite the hard work put in during the off season, her indoor season-opener of 14.08m at the Don Kirby Invitational in Albuquerque, New Mexico was less than impressive but being a quick study, she made the necessary adjustments and did much better shortly thereafter popping a 14.60m jump. She cited approach issues for the relatively poor opener.

"One of the major takeaways was to be patient in my drive phase and to bring my knee higher so I'm not getting over-rotated in my second phase," said LaFond who is set to compete next in May at a meet in Savona, Italy.

She acknowledges the impact her recent success has had on the youth of Dominica and is grateful for their support.

“The Commonwealth and NACAC medals were received with such joy in Dominica. I think that as an athlete that lives and trains abroad, I’m really only privy to what people say online,” she said.

“I was grateful for the online posts of love and support that followed those medals. However, when I finally got to go home the love was overflowing. I really had no clue how much I impacted the youth of Dominica and how much I was seen as an inspiration. I am so grateful to have the support of my people and it is always an honor to represent my nation.”

 LaFond is also focused on the upcoming World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, with her coach Aaron Gadson. "My plans for Budapest are to go and compete with all my heart. The goal is a medal and 15m. It's time for Dominica to have a woman World medalist, and I'm ready to do the work to get there," she said.

Jamaica's Andrew Hudson wins NACAC 200m gold, Gaither of the Bahamas cops silver

In doing so, the Jamaican 200m champion, won his very first medal for Jamaica in an international competition.

Hudson,  the Texas Tech alum whose transfer of allegiance from the United States did not take effect until July 28, causing him to miss representing Jamaica at the World Championships in Oregon, took command of the race from the gun to clock a massive personal best.

In his wake was the America duo of Kyree King, who ran 20.00 for the silver medal and Josephus Lyles, the brother of world 200m champion, Noah Lyles, who clocked 20.18 for the bronze medal.

The USA took the women’s race as Brittany Brown sped to 22.34 for the gold medal ahead of Tynia Gaither of the Bahamas and A’Keyla Mitchell of the USA who ran 22.53 for the bronze medal.

Miller-Uibo, Taylor fastest into 400m finals at NACAC Championships in The Bahamas

Christopher Taylor and Nathon Allen also advanced to the men’s final after the completion of their 400m heat

Miller-Uibo, the 2022 400m world champion, was a comfortable winner in the opening heat clocking 50.84 to finish ahead of Jamaica’s Stephenie-Ann McPherson, who ran a comfortable 51.65. Canada’s Kyra Constantine is also through to the final when she finished third in the opening heat in 51.93. Gabrielle Scott of Puerto Rico was the fourth qualifier having finished fourth in 52.22.

Meanwhile, Williams, who after winning the bronze medal in the 400m at the world championships in a personal best of 49.75 and then claimed gold at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, cantered to a time of 51.48 to win heat two ahead of Cuba’s Calderon Roxana Gomez who crossed the finish line in 51.57.

Canada’s Natasha McDonald finished third in 51.65 just ahead of Jamaica’s Junelle Bromfield, whose time of 51.75 also saw her advance to the final as a non-automatic qualifier.

Among the men, Taylor was fastest into the final having run 45.50 to win the second of the two heats.

Also through from that heat were Trinidad and Tobago’s Asa Guevara (47.08) and Aymeric Fermley of Guadeloupe (47.24).

All the other finalists advanced from the opening heat that was won by Allen in 45.85. Bryce Deadmon of the USA (46.63) also advanced along with Kinard Rolle of the Bahamas (47.86).

Allan LaCroix of Guadeloupe (48.27) and Cuba’s Rodriquez Reneil Pintado (49.22) also advanced as non-automatic qualifiers.

In the men’s long jump, 2019 World Champion Tajay Gayle and Shawn-D Thompson, who just missed out on a medal at the Commonwealth Games with a season’s best 8.05m, both advanced from the preliminary round of the long jump with marks of 7.83m and 7.76m, respectively.

Also advancing were Tristan James of Dominica (7.47m) and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Laquan Nairn of The Bahamas  (7.43m).

Thea LaFond lands NACAC triple jump title, Jamaica, Bahamas, T&T nab relay medals as championships conclude

Trailing the USA’s Kenturah Orji 14.32m established during the third round of the competition, the Commonwealth Games silver medallist produced her best effort to steal the win.

Cuba’s Fernandez Velazco jumped 14.08m for the bronze medal.

LaFond (6.34m) was fourth in the long jump on Saturday night. Quanesha Burks of the USA jumped 6.75m for the victory over Christabel Netty of Canada (6.46m) and Jamaica’s Chanice Porter (6.43m).

In the men’s long jump on Sunday, William Williams of the USA won the gold medal with a leap of 7.89m.

Tajay Gayle, the 2019 world champion was second with 7.81m, while his compatriot Shawn-D Thompson copped the bronze medal with 7.75, relegating Commonwealth champion Laquan Nairn, who also had his best mark of 7.75m, to fourth.

Adelle Tracey won her second medal of the championships when she finished second in the 1500m. Tracey ran 4:08.42 to be runner-up to the USA’s Heather MacClean while Helen Schachtenhaufen of the USA won the bronze medal having run 4:10.43.

In the relays, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and the Bahamas all garnered medals.

Jamaica finished second in the 4x400m relay in 3:26.32. The USA won the two-team race in 3:23.54.

The USA won the men’s final in 3:01.79. They finished ahead of Jamaica 3:05.47 and the Bahamas 3:06.21.

The USA also won the women’s sprint relay clocking 42.35, leaving the Bahamas 43.34 and Jamaica 43.39 to claim silver and bronze, respectively.

The USA men followed suit winning the men’s sprint relay final in 38.29. Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica were both credited with 38.94 but the Trinidadians were awarded the silver medal and Jamaica, the bronze.