MIRAMAR, Florida, (CMC) – Anthonique Strachan set a new record, and Kirani James stamped his class to grab the 200 metres gold medals on Saturday at the Pan American Junior Championships. Strachan of the Bahamas smashed the meet record with a lifetime best of 22.70 seconds, aided by a 2.0 wind, the maximum allowable for record purposes to win the girls’ race comfortably.

Kai Selvon of Trinidad & Tobago clocked 22.961, taking second by one thousandth-of-a-second from American Jessica Davis.

Grenadian James, the NCAA 400 champion, again showed his class with a time of 20.53 in the boys’ race.

He got a stiff challenge from Sean McLean of the United States, but proved his legs were stronger, taking him to the line 0.16 secs faster.

The victories for Strachan and James followed a gold medal for Trinidad & Tobago’s Elton Walcott in the boys’ triple jump.

Walcott was measured at a distance 16.51 metres on his fourth attempt. He was half-metre better than his nearest rival Philip Young of the United States, whose distance edged out Bahamian Latario Collie-Minns by eight centimetres for the silver medal.

Jamaica’s Kimberley Williamson copped a bronze medal with her only attempt at 1.80m in the girls’ high jump, which was won by Shanay Briscoe of the United States with a height of 1.83.

Barbadian Kion Joseph also captured a bronze medal, clocking 52.47 in the boys’ 400 hurdles, won by American Monte Corley in 51.21.

On the opening day, Jamaica’s Travis Smikle, compatriot Chrisann Gordon, and T&T’s Michelle-Lee Ahye all won gold medals.

Smikle won the boys’ discus with a toss of 66.58m to improve on the bronze he won two years ago in Trinidad.

Recently-minted World Youth champion and compatriot Fedrick Dacres tossed 57.24 for third behind American Gabriel Hull with 57.78.

Gordon redeemed herself, after losing the 400 to the embattled Bahamian Shaunae Miller at the WYC, winning in 52.62.

Ahye clocked 11.25 to defeat Keilah Tyson of the United States (11.39) and Strachan (11.46) in the girls’ 100, becoming the second female Pan Am Junior champion from the two-island republic.

Jamaica’s Adaira Levy collected a silver with a distance of 55.79 in the girls’ hammer throw, won by American Shelby Ashe with 59.25.

Danielle Williams of Jamaica also landed a silver with a time of 13.32 to finish 0.15 behind Trinity Wilson, another American, in the girls’ 100 hurdles.

T&T’s Deon Lendore ran 46.50 for second in the boys’ 400 metres, won by American Ronell Mance with a time of 46.14.

Rolyce Boston of Guyana captured a bronze for Guyana with a distance of 7.34 in the boys long jump, finishing behind two Americans – winner Devin Field (7.58) and runner-up Terrance Williams (7.54).
The Championships ended yesterday.