MAYAGUEZ, Puerto Rico (CMC) – Barbados’ World champion Ryan Brathwaite shook off his recent poor form to clinch the Central American and Caribbean Games sprint hurdles title on Sunday night. Brathwaite, who claimed gold in the World Championships in Berlin last year, raced to a time of 13.39 to easily beat his field at the Mayagüez Athletics Stadium.
The 22-year-old has struggled badly this season on the professional circuit, failing to repeat the form that saw him become the youngest ever sprint hurdles World champion.
Jamaican Eric Keddo ran a personal best 13.52 seconds but it was only good enough for second while Puerto Rican Héctor Cotto clocked 13.71 to be third.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands Antilles sprint star Churandy Martina successfully defended his Central American and Games 100 metres title when he beat a strong field.
The 26-year-old Olympian, who also won in Colombia four years ago, sprinted to a time of 10.07 which was just outside his meet record of 10.06.
Antiguan Daniel Bailey followed him home in a time of 10.08 while Jamiacan Lerone Clarke was a distant third in 10.15.
Oshane Bailey of Jamaica was fourth in 10.20 seconds with Adrian Griffith of the Bahamas fifth in 10.30.
British Virgin Islands sprinter Tahesia Harrigan joined Martina in a successful defence of her sprint title as she captured the women’s 100 metres in a time of 11.19 seconds.
The effort by the 28-year-old forced Trinidadian Ayanna Hutchinson into second with 11.47 with Colombian Yomara  Hinestroza third in 11.51.
Trinidadian Aleesha Barber took home gold in the women’s 100 metres hurdles, clocking 13.09 seconds to impressively win the event.
A semi-finalist in Berlin last year, the 23-year-old finished comfortably ahead of Colombian Eliecit Palacios who ran a season-best 13.20 while Jamaican Andrew Bliss posted 13.20 to be third.