Caesar, Hooper land gold at Carifta for Guyana

-McKoy, Headecker also in medals

By Treiston Joseph

Compton Caesar created history by becoming the first Guyanese to capture 100 metres sprint, gold, at the Carifta Games when the 2017 edition of the event commenced on April 15 in Curacao.

Caesar, out of the mining town of Linden, captured gold in the boy’s under-20 100 metres with a time of 10.46s, topping Jaquone Hoyte of Barbados who also clocked 10.46s but was pipped by 100 of a second by Caesar in a sensational finish. Jelanie Walker of Jamaica came in third with a time of 10.61s.

Meanwhile not to be outdone, Natricia Hooper also struck gold for Guyana in the girl’s under-20 triple jump by coming from behind to produce a leap of 13.08 metres, winning the event. Tissanna Hickling of jamaica was second in 12.87 metres and Kala Penn of the British Virgin Islands took bronze with a leap of 12.73 metres.

Anfernee Headecker captured silver in the boy’s under-20 1500 metres, finishing in a time of 3:55.83s just behind Jamaica’s Ackeen Colley who clocked 3:55.83s for gold.

Top distance junior, Claudrice McKoy was also in the medals, grabbing bronze for Guyana in the girl’s under-18 1500 metres with a time of 4:50.88 metres. Jamaica’s Shaquena Foote won the event in a time of 4:45.51s.

Also performing on the day were Chantoba Bright who finished seventh in the girl’s under-18 high jump and Tremaine Browne who finished sixth in the boy’s under-18 long jump.

The games will continue on Sunday, April 16 with more Guyanese athletes set to perform.