VASHON McCarthy, Rochelle Frazer and Jevauney James secured their second individual gold medals of the 43rd Carifta Games at the Stade Municipal Pierre Aliker in Martinique as Jamaica ended yesterday's day two well out front with 47 medals, comprising 23 gold, 17 silver and seven bronze.
Jamaica, who started the day with 23 medals, quickly moved to 30 medals at the end of the first session, comprising 14 gold, 10 silver and six bronze following the rerun of the boys' Under-18 100m final.
Jamaica's race favourite Raheem Chambers of St Jago High ran true to form and won in a personal best 10.27 seconds ahead of his teammate Waseem Williams in 10.33. Javan Martin of Bahamas was third in 10.54.
On Saturday, Williams of Jamaica College had won the race in 10.36 seconds, with Chambers, who complained of hearing two sounds from the starting gun, in third with 10.44 seconds.
Mario Burke of Barbados, who finished second on Saturday, was disqualified from the rerun.
Frazer of Edwin Allen struck her second gold of the Games capturing the Under-20 discus with a throw of 46.90m. Her schoolmate Paul-Ann Gayle copped the silver with 45.93m. Tynelle Gumbs of British Virgin Islands was third with 40.45m.
Meanwhile, McCarthy also completed his throwing double, winning the Under-18 shot put with a heave of 17.29m with Jamaica's Warren Barrett Jnr third with 15.94m. Josh Hazzard of Grenada was second with 15.94m.
Following their sweep of the 100m sprints, Jamaica also swept the 400m hurdles events, capturing the first two places in three of the four races.
Shenece Cohen started the ball rolling in the girls' Under-18 winning in 59.72 seconds ahead of her teammate Shannon Kalawan in 59.95. Dreshannae Rolle of the Bahamas was third with 60.43 seconds.
Kimone Green retained the girls' Under-20 400m hurdles in 58.47 seconds with Adrenette Knight second in 59.61seconds ahead of Martinique's Meghane Grandson with 60.85 seconds.
Jaheel Hyde easily won the boys' Under-18 400m hurdles in 51.21 seconds ahead of Rivaldo Leacock of Barbados in 51.37. Kyron McMaster of the British Virgin Islands was third with 52.85 seconds. Jamaica's only blemish was Duran Crooks, who withdrew with a sore muscle.
"I knew I was the class athlete, so I just come to win the gold medal," Hyde, the current World Youth 110m hurdles champion, told CMC.
In the boys' Under-20 400m hurdles final, Jamaica's Okeen Williams made up for his mishap at the IAAF World Youth Championships last year when he fell while leading. He won in 50.99 seconds and turned the tables on teammate and World Youth champion Marvin Williams, who did 51.22 seconds. Ruebin Walters of Trinidad and Tobago was third in 51.68 seconds.
Clayton Brown of Jamaica College upset his more fancied countryman and World Youth bronze medallist Christoffe Bryan to win the boys' Under-20 high jump on the count back. Both Jamaicans
cleared 2.16m.
The impressive Cassey George of Guyana completed the Under-18 girls' 1,500/3,000m double easily in 10:03.27 minutes, miles ahead of the Jamaican pair of Britnie Dixon (10.34.20) and Shanieke Watson (10.55.42).
Jamaica's Jevauney James of STETHS added the 3,000m to his 1,500 crown, winning in 8:59.15 minutes, well ahead of teammate Shane Buchanan of Kingston College with 9:07.22.
Only injury prevented Jamaica from sweeping the four 4x100m relays. The powerful Under-18 boys' team was well on their way to breaking the 40-second barrier when anchor man Raheem Chambers appeared to have injured himself with about 30 metres remaining. He hobbled to the line and was edged by the Bahamas, who won in 40.76 seconds. Jamaica finished second in 40.78.
The girls' Under-18 quartet got things going and with some smooth baton exchanges, easily won in 44.80 seconds. The Bahamas were second in 45.91, with the British Virgin Islands third.
Only three countries participated in the Under-20 girls' event and Jamaica won comfortably in 44.16 seconds ahead of T&T in 45.32, and the Bahamas in 45.47.
The Under-20 boys with Minzie as anchor sped to an impressive 39.38-second clocking to break the 4x100m record to close day two on a winning note.
Jamaica are well-positioned to finish the three-day championships with a flurry on the final day as they have qualified impressively for the finals.
Both Michael O'Hara and 100m champion Jevaughn Minzie are easily through to the Under-20 boys' 200m final with impressive times. O'Hara won his semi-final in 20.52 seconds, which was the quickest of the day, while Minzie stopped the clock at 20.81 seconds.
Both Chawayne Walker and Jevaughn Matherson are safely through to the boys' Under-18, as was Saqukin Cameron to the girls' Under-20.
The boys' Under-20 800m is shaping up to be a thriller between Calabar students Rajay Hamilton (1:55.98) of Jamaica and Jorel Bellafonte (1:55.91) of Cayman Islands. However, it's Jamaica's Kevon Robinson who is through to the final with the fastest time of 1:53.63 minutes.
Britnie Dixon and Junelle Bromfield won their girls' Under-18 800m semis in 2:13.72 and 2:14.79 minutes, respectively.
In the boys' Under-18 800m, Jamaica's Ryan Butler was fastest to the final with 1:57.78, ahead of his teammate Ryan Dunkley with 1:58.70. Justin Pinder of the Bahamas clocked the same 1:58.70 heading into the final.
In the boys' Octathlon Open, Kevin Roberts of Trinidad and Tobago won with 5,696 points ahead of Javel St Paul of Grenada with 5,258, and Florian Simax of Martinque with 5,222. After six of the eight events, Jamaica's Maurice Harrison was second with 4,055 points before fading in the last two events.
After six of the seven events in the girls' Heptathlon Open, Jamaica's Janel Fullerton trails Chelsey Linton of Dominica by 119 points. Fullerton has 3,885 points to Linton's 4,004 points.