– Bronze for Tyrell
Claudrice McKoy ran a personal best a personal best in the 1500 metres to win Guyana’s first and only gold medal, while Shaquka Tyrell won bronze on a bitter-sweet opening day of this year’s CARIFTA Games in the Cayman Islands.
McKoy’s time of four minutes, 39.46 seconds (4:39.46) saw her winning the Girls U20 event ahead of the Jamaican pair of Kelly-Ann Beckford (4:40.49) and Aneisha Lawrence (4:41.19), in a race that saw the Monroe College student running smart from the sound of the starter’s gun.

Joanna Archer, who is also a freshman at Monroe College, competing in the race with McKoy, did good enough to finish fifth, clocking 4:46.03.
Meanwhile, Tyrell, running in the Girls U17 1500 metres, crossed the line in a time of 4:52.52 to finish behind Jamaicans Samantha Pryce (4:47.34) and JodyAnn Mitchell (4:49.49) to win the country’s first medal on day one of the prestigious regional track and field meet.
Guyana’s Matthew Gordon looked destined for a spot on the podium in the Boys U17 1500 metres, but he was tripped during his dying stages of the race but recovered to finish fifth, running 4:12.77.

The race was won by Bahamas’ Curtis Mitchell (4:09.34), with J’Voughn Blake of Jamaica placing second (4:10.52) and Bermuda’s Nathan Armstrong third (4:11.464). Guyana’s Cordell Charles (4:17.83) finished finish 9th.
Deshana Skeete failed to make it on to the podium in the Girls U20 400 metres, finishing 8th.
Daniel Williams, the world U18 400 metres silver medallist, didn’t look his usual self when he competed in the Boys U20 400 metres final, where he finished 7th with a time of 48.65 seconds; a far cry from his personal best (46.72 seconds) in the distance.
NOTE: Up to press time, Chantoba Bright was on course to repeat as Gold medallist in the Girls U20 Long Jump.