Springer (Gold), Roberts (Silver) and Booker (Bronze) lead Guyana’s charge on Day One

TIANNA Springer produced a thrilling run in the Girls’ Under-17 final to win Gold, while Javon Roberts and Seon Booker won Silver and Bronze in their respective 1500m races to hand Guyana three medals at the end of Day One of the 50th CARIFTA Track and Field Championships in The Bahamas.

Springer clocked 54.32 seconds to win gold ahead of Jody-Ann Daley (54.81s) of Jamaica, and De’Cheynelle Daley (55.46s), of St. Kitts and Nevis.

More so, Roberts won silver in the Boys Under-17 1500m, with a time of 4:13.63 seconds, to finish behind Demetire Meyers of Belize.

The Belizean ran a blistering race of 4:11.19 seconds to pull away from the pack, while Joel Morgan of Jamaica clocked 4:13.18s to win bronze.
It is the second silver for Roberts in the 1500m, after winning it in Jamaica last year.

More so, Booker clocked 4:08.38 seconds to win bronze in the Under-20 1500m behind Bermuda’s Kahzi Sealey (4:06.34s), and Jamaican Ainsley Campbell (4:05.54s).
Springer, Roberts, Attoya Harvey, Ezekiel Newton, Narissa McPherson, Omar James, Malachi Austin, and Adessa Alberts had to compete in finals or time trials, after arriving in the country just hours before the race.

Twelve athletes and officials were stranded in Cuba overnight, after a charter from Guyana to belatedly get them out of Guyana.

Harvey, who was a favourite for gold in the 1500m, had to settle for fourth place, while Dejuan Grant and Wesley Noble Jr. ran promising qualifying races in their Under-17 and Under-20 400m finals, but did not make it to the podium.

The action continues today from 09:00h.