In a celebration of athletic brilliance and regional delight, Staff Jamaica as soon as once more etched its identify in Carifta historical past, capturing the general title on the 52nd Carifta Video games with a commanding 78-medal haul.
The Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, performed host to a few days of observe and subject excellence, the place Jamaica claimed 30 gold, 27 silver, and 21 bronze medals, clinching its thirty ninth consecutive Carifta crown and forty seventh general.
Whereas the ultimate tally narrowly missed final yr’s 84-medal mark, the depth, dominance, and dynamism displayed by Jamaica’s younger stars underscored a seamless regional dynasty and a thriving pipeline of elite expertise.
Star energy: Kamari Kennedy topped most excellent athlete
On the coronary heart of Jamaica’s triumph stood a 16-year-old powerhouse—Kamari Kennedy—who rewrote the document books and claimed the distinguished Austin Sealy Award for essentially the most excellent athlete of the meet. Kennedy unleashed an 18.90m bomb within the Underneath-17 shot put, cracking the world’s high 10 for U18 males and breaking a year-old Carifta document.
However his crowning second got here only a day later. Within the discus, he launched a monumental 60.87m throw, obliterating the earlier mark by greater than seven meters. Each authorized try from Kennedy would have shattered the outdated document, together with his shortest measured at 54.26m.
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“Kamari is the embodiment of self-discipline, power, and focus,” remarked a JAAA official. “He doesn’t simply break data—he crushes them.”
Kennedy’s double-record dominance sealed his identify in Jamaican sporting folklore because the sixteenth Jamaican to win the Austin Sealy Award, following 2023 winner Roshawn Clarke.
Dash Queens and hurdle Kings: Douglas, Gordon, and extra shine
In a Video games stacked with standout performances, Shanoya Douglas blazed a path few might observe. The 17-year-old speedster turned the Carifta observe into her private runway, securing 4 gold medals—a clear sweep of the Underneath-20 ladies’ 100m, 200m, 4x100m, and 4x400m relays. Her 200m title was defended in a brisk 23.02 seconds, supported by a bounce-back bronze from teammate Sabrina Dockery.
On the boys’ aspect, Shaquane Gordon stamped his authority within the 110m hurdles, defending his Underneath-20 title in record-breaking trend. Clocking 13.19 seconds, he bettered the longstanding 13.23 championship mark—simply forward of his teammate Daniel Clarke, who additionally dipped below the earlier document with 13.21.
Within the Women’ Underneath-17 100m hurdles, Malayia Duncan and Nickayla Russell completed 1-2, whereas Tiana Marshall secured gold within the Underneath-20 version. In the meantime, the Bahamas’ Jahcario Wilson snatched the Underneath-17 boys’ title in 13.70 after a delay-marred last.
Air masters: Excessive flyers and leap kings elevate the sector
Jamaica’s supremacy wasn’t confined to the observe. The sphere occasions delivered fireworks of their very own, with jumpers and throwers rising to the event.
- Amani Phillips was unstoppable, pulling off the Underneath-17 lengthy/triple leap double. His last lengthy leap—a large 7.49m—got here after being briefly overtaken by 100m champion Michael Graham’s shock 7.33m leap. However Phillips had one final response in him, delivering his greatest when it mattered most.
- Chavez Penn matched that vitality, taking the Underneath-20 triple leap with 16.14m, including to his earlier excessive leap title.
- Danielle Noble claimed a dramatic victory within the Women’ Underneath-20 excessive leap, successful on countback over Shanniqua Williams as each cleared 1.80m.
- Within the Boys’ Underneath-20 shot put, Despiro Wray launched 19.66m for gold, backed by teammate Devonte Edwards’ silver at 18.74m.
Jamaica’s relay quartets had been equally good, securing three of 4 dash relay titles and each Women’ 4x400m relays in commanding fashion.
A regional showcase: Rising stars throughout the Caribbean
Whereas Jamaica towered above the medal standings, different nations had moments of brilliance:
- Bahamas’ Eagan Neely joined Douglas as a quadruple gold medalist.
- Michelle Smith of the U.S. Virgin Islands closed her Carifta profession with aptitude, defending her 800m title and incomes her eighth gold and ninth general medal on the Video games.
- Jayden Inexperienced of Barbados edged Jamaica within the Boys’ Underneath-20 200m, successful in 20.93 seconds.
- Antigua & Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and the Cayman Islands every delivered a number of gold medal performances, highlighting the rich, rising expertise throughout the area.
Remaining Medal Desk (with Gold Medal Winners)
| Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Whole | Highlighted Gold Medalists |
| Jamaica | 30 | 27 | 21 | 78 | Kamari Kennedy, Shanoya Douglas, Shaquane Gordon, Amani Phillips, Despiro Wray |
| Bahamas | 16 | 13 | 8 | 37 | Eagan Neely, Jahcario Wilson, Jasmine Thompson |
| Trinidad & Tobago | 9 | 6 | 10 | 25 | Solé Frederick, Michael Paul |
| Grenada | 2 | 6 | 5 | 13 | Dylan Logan |
| Antigua & Barbuda | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | |
| Saint Lucia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |
| Cayman Islands | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Michelle Smith |
| Barbados | 1 | 5 | 8 | 14 | Jayden Inexperienced |
| Aruba | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |
| Guyana | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | Rodel Avant Greene |
| Dominica | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
