Guyana bagged three medals – including a gold – on the opening day of the 52nd CARIFTA Games at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Trinidad.
On April 19, top sprinter Tianna Springer led the medal haul, successfully defending her under-20 400m title to secure her third consecutive CARIFTA Games gold. The 17-year-old clocked a time of 53.07 seconds, finishing ahead of Barbados’ Kadia Rock, who took silver in 53.52 seconds. Jamaica’s Abrina Wright completed the podium with bronze in 53.78 seconds.
In the boys’ under-20 400m final, Malachi Austin narrowly missed out on gold, taking silver in a closely contested race. The Guyanese athlete, who entered the event as defending champion, recorded a time of 46.54 seconds – just behind Zion Miller of The Bahamas, who won in 46.51 seconds. Trinidad and Tobago’s Dah-Shaun Lezama secured bronze in 47.43 seconds.
Distance runner Attoya Harvey added a bronze medal to Guyana’s tally in the girls’ under-20 1500m, finishing third in 4:41.61. Jamaica dominated the event, with Cindy Rose claiming gold in 4:37.95 and compatriot Sushana Johnson taking silver in 4:40.83.
At the end of Day One, Jamaica emerged as the dominant force, amassing a total of 20 medals – seven golds, six silvers and seven bronzes. The Bahamas followed with 11 medals (six golds, three silvers, two bronzes), while host nation Trinidad and Tobago sat in third with five medals (three golds, one silver, one bronze). Guyana finished the day in fifth position on the medal table, with one gold, two silvers and one bronze.
