Javon Roberts’ gold seals eight medals for Guyana

…Government funds return of athletes
JAVON Roberts produced a superb run to win his U-17 800m final at the 50th CARIFTA Games which concluded in Nassau, Bahamas on Monday evening.
Last year, Roberts won silver but in a tactical masterclass, he hunted from the back and blazed to the front to win gold.

He clocked 1:56.44 seconds followed by Jamaican Delano Todd (1:57.44s) and Trinidadian Brandon Leacock (1:58.17s).

Roberts was the lone success on the final day as earlier in the competition gold was won by Anisha Gibbons (U-20 Javelin) and Tianna Springer (U-17 400m).

Silver medals came from Roberts in the 1500m and Attoya Harvey in the 3000m Open while Seon Booker (U-20 800m) and Ezekiel Saul (U-17 Triple Jump) won bronze.
Springer, Harvey, Booker and Ezekiel Newton were medal prospects on the final day but were topped by outstanding performances.

The 400m gold medalist clocked 24.53 to finish sixth in the 200m while Harvey and Booker did not finish their 800m.
Newton (21.22s) had to settle for fourth in the U-20 while Odida Parkinson finished eighth (16:31.37s).

Up to press time Trevon Hamer had finished his U-20 Tripple Jump with a Bronze medal.
Meanwhile, The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport will fund the return of the athletes and officials from The Bahamas.

The group departs Nassau on Tuesday morning via a chartered flight to Trinidad and should be in Guyana by 23:00 hours.
Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, expressed they are extremely proud of the accomplishments of the athletes.

The majority of the locally-based athletes underwent an ordeal to reach Nassau, arriving mere hours before their events.