CARIFTA GAMES 2024: Guyana smashes record for 4x400m mixed relay gold

By Akeem Greene in Grenada

akeem@newsroom.gy

Guyana’s gold rush at the 51st CARIFTA Games in Grenada continued as the 4x400m mixed relay team produced a rousing performance at the Kirani James Athletics Stadium in blazing to gold on Sunday evening.

The gold was Guyana’s fourth at the championships. It adds to Attoya Harvey’s bronze, bringing the country’s medal haul to five after two days of competition.

Those who missed the race might be jealous of those who got the chance, as Guyana obliterated the field in their run to a new CARIFTA record.

The baton moved from Malachi Austin to Narissa McPherson, Dh Neilson Gill and Tianna Springer at anchor. After the first exchange, the rest of the race was chasing second.

The result was a blistering 3:23.51 seconds, a new CARIFTA record, while Grenada (3:29.19s) and Trinidad and Tobago (3:31.24s) completed the podium spots.

At the 50th Games in The Bahamas, the mixed 4x400m relay was introduced, and the hosts dominated with an impressive time of 3:24.62 seconds.

It is worth mentioning that Guyana initially finished third in that race but was later disqualified due to a lane infringement.

A year later, two members of that team – Springer and McPherson – celebrate as champions.

Guyana also holds the Commonwealth Youth Games record at 3:22.07, which they accomplished at the Games in Trinidad and Tobago last August.

Bronze for Harvey

Harvey has won five medals at CARIFTA over the course of three Games after securing bronze in the 3000m on Sunday.

Harvey (10:36.59s) was behind Jamaicans Ashara Fraser (10:24.83s) and Kayden Johnson (10:04.44s).

Earlier, she ran a conservative 800m and sealed a spot in today’s U-20 800m final after she clocked 2:14.02s for an automatic qualification spot in third place.

Meanwhile, Athaleyha Hinckson’s dream of a sprint double is alive today after she blazed into the final with an impressive time of 24.05 seconds, also qualifying for the World Athletics U-20 Championships.

However, teammate Kenetha Fraser clocked 25.88s to finish sixth in her heat and could not progress.

In the U-17 boys, Skylar Charles sneaked into the final with a time of 22.31 seconds and will run out of lane two, as teammate Ezekiel Millington (22.94s) did not qualify.

U-20 400m gold medalists Malachi Austin (21.60s) and Tianna Springer (24.06s) will also have a chance to add to their tally after reaching the 200m final.

However, their teammates Jaheel Cornette (21.96s) and Nalicia Glenn (24.70s) did not progress.

More so, Kaidon Persaud enters today’s Boys U-17 800m as the man to beat after he produced a clinical run of 1:59.81 seconds to be the fastest qualifier to the final of his favoured event.

Javon Roberts (1:55.64s) will compete in the U-20 800m final despite a nagging knee injury.

In 2023, Roberts copped the U-17 800m gold, and his time on Saturday edged out fellow Guyanese Jamol Sullivan (1:55.73s) for the fastest non-automatic qualifier.

Additionally, Alkila Blucher’s time of 2:20.45s saw her finish fourth in the U-17 800m heats and qualify for today’s final.

However, teammate Marissa Thomas was seventh (2:37.81s) in her heat and did not progress.

In the field events, Nathaniel Samaroo (12.33m) was eight in the U-17 shot put that was won by Jamaican Javontae Smith with a record throw of 18.80m.

Duel Europe (13.69m) and Ryan Joseph (12.94m) placed seventh and ninth in the U-17 triple jump, which was won by Grenadian Chrystophe Calliste (14.67m).

Monday will mark the final day of the championship.

At the previous Games, Guyana won eight medals—three gold, two silver, and three bronze.

FULL RESULTS OF CARIFTA 2024: https://www.milesplit.live/meets/606755/events