Not only did Union Catholic defend their title, but the team of Jimmiea King, Peyton Hollis, Sophia Thompson, and Paige Sheppard did so in emphatic fashion, clocking a National Record of 8:41.20. They lowered the previous mark of 8:43.12 set in 2008 by Roosevelt.
Edwin Allen’s quartet of Tanesia Gardiner, Monique Stewart, Kevongaye Fowler, and Rickeisha Simms, gave a credible effort in second at 8:50.76, while Virginia-based South Lakes (8:50.8), were third.
The other Jamaican schools, Holmwood Technical (8:58.94) and Alphansus Davis (9:13.83), placed fifth and ninth respectively.
The team of Serena Cole, Tina Clayton, Brandy Hall and Tia Clayton were flawless in speeding to a new meet record 43.18, smashing their own 43.62 which they set in 2019.
Hydel (Alana Reid, Brianna Lyston, Kerrica Hill and Oneka Wilson) ran 43.69 for second while St. Jago (Makada Linton, Shenese Walker, Abigail Martin and Breanna Clarke) ran 46.09 for third.
Lyston and Hill then returned to help Hydel take the win in the Championship of America 4x400m alongside Alliah Baker and Onieka McAnuff.
The quartet ran a new record 3:32.77 to eclipse their own mark of 3:39.99 set back in 2017.
Edwin Allen with Amoya Jamieson, Tonyan Beckford, Kacian Powell and Natasha Fox were second in 3:39.76 while Bullis School from Maryland were third in 3:40.88.
Edwin Allen got their second win of the day in the Championship of America 4x800m with Rickeisha Simms, Leanna Lewis, Rushana Dwyer and Jessica McLean combining to run 8:54.58 for victory.
Cuthbertson High School from North Carolina was a distant second in 9:04.67 while Union Catholic Regional High School from New Jersey was third in 9:06.14.
Simms, who was overwhelmingly favoured to cop the girls Class one crown, was not to be denied, as she blazed to 4:30.36 to win. Cindy Rose (4:32.79) of Holmwood Technical finished second, and Hydel High’s Kaydeen Johnson (4:33.71) rounded out the top three with.
In his first year in Class one, Kingston College’s Kiprop copped gold to go with the Class two title he won last year. Kiprop clocked 3:56.81 for victory ahead of Jamaica College rival Kemarrio Bygrave (3:57.34) and St Elizabeth Technical’s Barrain Smith (3:59.08).
Vere Technical’s Ashara Frater stormed to victory in the girls Class two event in 4:42.76. Holmwood Technical’s Jovi Rose (4:43.59) was second, while Bellefield’s Rhodonna Prince (4:49.19) claimed the bronze medal.
The boys Class two title went to Jamaica College’s Samuel Creary, who timed his race perfectly to claim the top spot at the line in 4:04.01. Kingston College’s Nahashon Ruto, who looked unstoppable this season, had to settle for second in 4:04.03, while Raheem Palmer (4:08.57) of Alphansus Davis was third.
Meanwhile, Alphansus Davis’ Alikay Reynolds successfully defended her Class three title, as she clocked 4:43.92 in victory. Edwin Allen’s Denique Palmer (4:44.37) and St Mary High’s Dallia Fairweather (4:46.74) were the runners-up.
Jamaica College’s Cavel Nooks copped the boys Class three honours, as he stormed to victory in 4:20.79. St Jago’s Phillip Palmer (4:21.42) and another Jamaica College athlete Bevin Daley (4:22.78), took the minor placing.
The Jamaicans enjoyed one-two finishes in the girls’ Under-17 and Under-20 races, with another one-two finish coming in the boys’ Under-20 race, while boys’ Under-17 event produced a one-three finish.
Dallia Fairweather and Alikay Reynolds got things going in the girls’ Under-17 event where they utilised strategy to outclass their Trinidad and Tobago counterparts, who tried to stick with them.
At the end, Fairweather won in 4:45.86, ahead of Reynolds (4:46.14), with Trinidad and Tobago’s Shian Lewis (4:48.58) taking bronze.
Patience was also proved rewarding for Jamaica’s Shemar Green in the boys’ Under-17 event, as he timed his race to perfection to cut down longtime leader Wyndel Beyde of Aruba in the stretch run. Green won in 4:11.91, with Beyde (4:12.80) staying on for second ahead of another Jamaican Sekani Brown (4:15.21).
In the girls’ Under-20 event, Rickeisha Simms, also produced a later burst to win gold in 4:31.94 and add to her title won in 2022. Her compatriot Kaydeen Johnson, who led for most of the way was second in 4:32.49, while Trinidad and Tobago’s Kaleigh Forde (4:41.71) was third.
The Jamaican sweep was completed by Kemario Bygrave, who ensured that he completes his final year of the competition with a gold. He stopped the clock in 3:58.10, ahead of compatriot Jaquan Coke (3:58.38), with Bermuda’s Jake Brislane (3:58.83) taking bronze.
The Carifta Games can be seen live on SportsMax and the SportsMax App.
