Kim Collins of St. Kitts and Nevis celebrates 2002 Commonwealth Games 100m gold (© Getty Images)
Kim Collins, the 26yearold Commonwealth Games 100m men’s champion from St.Kitts-Nevis, successfully defended his Central American and Caribbean Senior Track and Field Championship title with a hard-fought victory over Trinidad & Tobago’s World Junior Champion, Darrel Brown, as the XIX Games began Friday at the National Stadium in St. George’s, Grenada.
Collins justified his status as the race favourite by getting off to a good start, finishing strong and crossing the tape in 10.13 seconds. Brown, the Trinidadian teenager who turned pro earlier this year, was second in 10.17, whilst another Trinidadian, Marc Burns, was third in 10.29 seconds.
Fana Ashby, who just completed studies at Kansas City Community College, did better than her male compatriots, the Trinidad & Tobago native clocking 11.32 seconds to beat out Tamicka Clarke of the Bahamas (11.33) and Judith
Kitson of Jamaica (11.34) by the narrowest of margins.
The Spanish-speaking territories of CAC had a solid day. Cuban runner Yudelkis Martinez clocked 34:29.05 to take gold in the women’s 10K; compatriot Yania Ferrales Morales threw the platter 59.07m to win the women’s discus throw. Puerto Rico’s Alfredo Romero turned in a best effort of 54.09m to beat Grenada’s Alleyne Lett (53.14m) into second place in the
men’s event. The men’s javelin throw was won by Venezuela’s Manuel Fuenmayor. The 25-year-old flung the spear 72.35m, nearly 5m clear of his nearest rival.
Two women’s jumps were completed. Desiree Crichlow took gold in the women’s high jump, the Barbados native clearing a height of 1.81m for gold. Jamaica’s Suzette Lee covered a distance of 13.89m to win women’s triple jump.
Hometown favourite Alleyne Francique had the second-best qualifying time in the men’s quarter-mile. Chris Brown of the Bahamas won heat 2 in 45.83 seconds, and Francique (45.84) breezed to an easy win by over a second in heat 1. Grenada’s Hazel-Ann Regis (52.52) topped Jamaica’s Michelle Burgher
(53.06) in women's qualifying. The finals of the one-lap event will take place on Saturday.
