Chelsea James copped T&T's first medal on the opening morning of action at the 43rd Carifta Games at the Pierre Aliker Municipal Stadium, Fort de France, Martinique yesterday.James took silver in the girls under-18 discus finals with a personal best throw of 43.53 metres in one of the first finals of the morning. The Tobago Falcons athlete improved her previous best of 41.61 metres effort set the Falcon Games at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, last Saturday.The 2012/2013 girls under-17 shot put champion was beaten by Jamaican Janel Fullerton (46.47m). Another Jamaican Devia Brown took third (43.31). T&T's other entrant Shaian Charles (D'Abadie Progressive) finished seventh 34.40m. James was fourth in last year's under-17 finals, one spot behind Charles. James was back in action in the girls under-18 shot put late yesterday along with Akidah Briggs (Toco Titans).
Nicholas Landeau (Air Bon Sonics) won this country's first track medal finishing second in the boys under-20 1,500m yesterday afternoon. The 2011 boys under-17 1,500m and 3,000m champion, crossed the line in a time of 3:58.27 to finish behind Chadoye Dawwon of Jamaica (3:56.93). Landeau took the lead from the gun and was ahead until the the last lap when Dawson went ahead with 250m left in the race. Landeau regain the lead until the final 100m where Dawson sprint away to win.Portious Warren (Toco TAFAC) earned bronze in the girls under-20 shot put with an effort of 12.70. Jamaica's Rochelle Frazer was the winner with a throw of 13.63 while Jess St John of Antigua and Barbuda took silver (13.26). Marielle Pierre (Burnley) finished in seventh with 11.64m. Tyriq Horsford (Zenith) missed on a medal in the boy under-18 javelin. The 14-year-old had to settle for fourth with a distance of 59.96, short of his pb of 62.21 achieved at last week's Falcon Games. Last year's under-17 champion and record holder Anderson Peters of Grenada took the gold with a heave of 67.67m, edging his team-mate Mikel Joseph (67.23) who had taken the early lead. Travis Ferguson (Bahamas) won bronze (60.60m). The strong winds posed a problem to the competitors as several throwers ended to the right of the sector. One throw caused a great stir as it landed among the competitors in the boys open long jump. Fortunately no one was hurt and the officials moved the athletes out of danger.
Defending champion Machel Cedenio (Simplex) booked his spot in the boys under-20 400m, winning the second of two semifinals in 47.26, the third fastest of the day.Jamaican Nathan Allen was the top qualifier, taking heat one in 46.91 ahead of Janeko Cartwrigth (Bahamas) 47.07 and T&T's Asa Guevera 47.12. The finals were run off at 6:45 last night. Kashef King (Pt Fortin New Jets) boxed his lane in the boys under-18 400m finals finishing second in the three semifinals clocking 50.61. T&T's other entrant, Jacob St Clair missed on a top-eight finish finishing court in 50.61.Adel Colthrust (Southern Athletics) and Akanni Hislop (Zenith) qualified for the boys under-18 100 metres finals. Colthrust clocked 10.70 seconds to take second in heat two, while Hislop was also second in heat four (10.64). Aaliyah Telesford (Pt Fortin New Jets) and Kayelle Clarke (Petrotrin P/Seco) also advanced to the girls under-20 100m finals. Telesford was third in heat 1 in 11.86 seconds and Clarke, second in heat two (11.44). Jonathan Farinha (Abilene Wildcats) is in the boys under-20 100m finals cocking 10.30 seconds, after finishing third in heat three, while Micah Ballyntine (Alpha) missed out after placing third in heat one in 10.48 seconds, because his time was not fast enough to take the top eight. The Games continue today.