Jamaica’s Akeem Blake, Shericka Jackson, Chris Taylor win gold at NACAC Champs
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake and Shericka Jackson won their first international 100 metre championships after taking the gold medals on Saturday’s second day of the 4th NACAC Open Championships held at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex in Freeport, Bahamas. Christopher Taylor ran a new championship record and personal best 44.63 seconds to win the men’s 400m gold medal.
Jamaica won 12 medals on the day, three gold, three silver, and six bronze medals, for a total of 13 after a bronze in the men’s shot put on Friday.
Blake ran 9.98 seconds (-0.4m/s) to hold off the American pair of Kyree King at 10.08 seconds and Brandon Carnes,10.12 seconds, while Oshane Bailey was seventh in 10.33 seconds.
Jackson, the national champion, won the women’s gold medal in 10.83 seconds (-0.1m/s) with Natasha Morrison taking the bronze in 10.11 seconds, just behind the USA’s Celera Barnes in 10.10 seconds.
Taylor, the World Championship finalist, beat his previous best of 44.79 seconds and improved to 13th on the Jamaican all -time list.
Nathon Allen was second in a season’s best 45.04 seconds with American Bryce Deadmon third with 45.06 seconds.
Megan Tapper won the silver medal in the 100m hurdles, clocking 12.68 seconds (-0.8m/s) in a blanket finish that saw American Alaysha Johnson win with 12.62 seconds and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas taking the bronze in 12.71 seconds.
The Mixed 4x400m relay team of Demish Gaye, Junelle Bromfield, Karayme Bartley and Andrenette Knight, finished second in 3:14.08 seconds, behind the USA in 3:12/05 seconds with Cuba third in 3:20.35 seconds.
Orlando Bennett ran a season’s best 13.18 seconds (0.3m/s) for third in the 110 metre hurdles, as Freddie Crittenden won with a personal best 13.00 seconds and his teammate Jamal Britt was second in a life time best 13.08 seconds.
All three men were under the old championships record 13.27 seconds.
World Championships finalist, Stephenie Ann McPherson, won the bronze medal in the women’s 400m after running 50.36 seconds as World Champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo won the gold in 49.40 seconds and World and Commonwealth Games medallist, Sada Williams, of Barbados was second in 49.86 seconds, her second fastest time.
Jamaica’s Bromfield was sixth in 51.51 seconds.
Adelle Tracey won her first medal in Jamaican colours after she took the bronze in the women’s 800m, running 1:59.54 seconds, her second fastest time over the distance.
American Ajee Wilson won the gold with 1:58.47 seconds catching her compatriot Allie Wilson just before the finish line as the early leader took silver with 1:58.48 seconds.
Chanice Porter was third in the women’s long jump with her best mark 6.43m coming in the final round (-0.2m/s) as American Quanesha Burks won with 6.75m (0.1m/s) ahead of Canada’s Christobel Nettey-6.46m (0.1m/s).
Lushane Wilson finished fifth in the men’s high jump with 2.19m; Cuba’s Hernandez Luis Enrique Yayas won the gold ahead of Canada’s Django Lovett with former World Champion Donald Thomas of the Bahamas third, all clearing 2.25m.
Elvis Graham was fifth in the men’s javelin with a best mark of 71.73m.