Odayne Richards
Ryon Jones, Staff Reporter
O'Dayne Richards was the most impressive of Jamaica's five winners on yesterday's final day of the XXIV Central American and Caribbean Senior Track and Field Championships in Morelia, Mexico, as he captured gold in the men's shot put with a new meet record, 20.97 metres.
Richards, who won the World University Games gold medal two years ago in China, also surpassed the 'A' automatic standard of 20.60m and his former personal best of 20.31m, to book his place at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow next month.
Mexican duo Josue Santana (17.74m) and Mario Cota (17.67m) accounted for the silver and bronze, respectively.
In addition to the five gold medals won on the final day, Jamaica captured three silver and two bronze to move their medal tally over the three days of competition to 21 - 11 gold, six silver and four bronze.
MEXICO ON TOP
Hosts Mexico, which had finished second to Jamaica at the 2009 staging in Puerto Rico, topped the medals table with 47 - 17 gold, 19 silver and 11 bronze.
Former Manchester High standout Natoya Goule, who now attends Louisiana State University, won the women's 800m in two minutes, 02.02 seconds with her compatriot Semoya Campbell taking the silver. The Spaulding High student's time of two minutes, 03.08 seconds saw her edge out Cuba's Rose Mary Almanza (2:03.10), who took the bronze.
The male equivalent saw Jamaica capture the silver and bronze courtesy of Ricardo Cunningham and Jowayne Hibbert, respectively. The event was won by Cuba's Andy Gonzalez in one minute, 49.54 seconds.
Cunningham posted one minute, 49.97 seconds for the silver with Hibbert coming home in one minute, 50.10 seconds.
Danielle Dowie, who has been showing steady improvement as she makes her transition to the senior ranks, won the women's 400m hurdles in 56.39 seconds.
Costa Rica's Sharolyn Scott (57.74) captured silver ahead of Mexico's Zudikey Rodriguez (58.12).
Darrell Garwood also notched gold for Jamaica, in the men's high jump, with his clearance at 2.22m. Silver medal winner, Jamal Wilson, of the Bahamas also cleared 2.22m, but would have lost out on the gold medal based on count back.
Mexico's Arturo Abascal clinched the bronze medal with his clearance at 2.10m, a height also cleared by the fourth- and fifth-place finishers.
Simpson takes long jump
National women's long jump champion, Francine Simpson, won gold in the event with a leap of 6.49m. Bermuda's Arantxa King (6.45m) took silver, while Bianca Stuart (6.42m) of the Bahamas claimed bronze.
Veteran sprinter Aleen Bailey earned her second medal of the championships, as she won silver in the women's 200m to go with her 100m bronze. Bailey crossed the line in 23.08 seconds to finish behind St Vincent and the Grenadines' Kineke Alexander (23.00). Marielis Sanchez of the Dominica Republic took bronze in 23.15m.
Jason Livermore captured bronze in the men's 200m in 20.29 seconds. Antoine Adams (20.13) of St Kitts and Nevis took gold ahead of Trinidad and Tobago's Lalonde Gordon (20.28).NOTE: Yesterday's report incorrectly listed Monique Johnson as the Jamaican athlete who won gold in the women's 100m hurdles. Her correct name is Monique Morgan. Also, Eric Keddo placed fifth (not second) in the men's 110m hurdles final in 13.92 seconds.
ryon.jones@gleanerjm.com