29-Year Carifta Games women’s medal drought ends

BY DEAN GREENAWAY

Female sensation Chantel Malone, 13, completed the BVI’s most successful Carifta Games debut in history, as the 34th edition of the games wrapped up in Barcolet, Tobago on Monday evening.

Not since Keita Cline won double gold medals at the games in 1992, and a follow up gold and bronze medals act in 1993, had a BVI athlete recorded the type of performances as Malone.

On Saturday night, she ended the territory’s 29-year games drought without a female medal when she won a Long Jump bronze during the Under 17 division competition with a career best leap of 5.21 meters (17’2¾”). Malone climbed the podium again on Monday evening, claiming a Triple Jump bronze—the territory’s 13th medal since 1978.

In making her season’s Triple Jump debut, Malone—a BVI High School third former— had a personal best mark of 11.09 meters (36’4¾”). Her consistent series included jumps of; 10.94, 10.87, 11.03, 11.09, 10.66 and 10.65.

Malone narrowly missed another bronze in Sunday night’s High Jump. She matched her personal best of 1.60 meters (5’3”) to finish in a tie with Grenada’s Jillian Stephen for the same height—but later saw the medal slip from her grasp on the count back, after missing on her first attempt at 1.45 meters (4’7”). Stephen cleared all her efforts and didn’t falter until her first crack at 1.60, giving her the edge and bagged the bronze

“We are very impressed and surprised with her performance. Although we expected her to do well, we didn’t expect this kind of performance out of her,” said BVI Amateur Athletic Association president Ephraim Penn, a member of the BVI’s 1976 inaugural Carifta Games team, who witnessed Deloris Barzey settling for a fourth place finish in the last 10 meters of the 400.

“Congratulations goes to her parents first, her coach, and the overall BVI community on a great effort. We went through quite a number of great (female) athletes and it’s quite an achievement for BVI track and field, especially this year where we are battling the uncertainty of having a facility to train,” Penn added. “To have athletes competing at this high level is just amazing.”

Malone began her impressive debut on Saturday morning by breaking a 10-year old National Youth (Under 18) 400 meter record. She chopped almost two seconds off her previous best performance, lowering her career mark from 1:00.30, to 58.67, becoming the fourth fastest BVI female athlete in history. Her first run under the 60-seconds barrier, bettered Chantal Scatliffe’s 58.6 hand time, established on July 8, 1995 in Antigua. She either had and or matched personal bests in every event she attempted at the premier regional junior championships.

Bianca Dougan recorded a personal record 59.13 seconds to finish a non advancing fifth in the heat preceding Malone’s performance Saturday. She followed up with a seventh place in Sunday morning’s 800 meters prelims, with at time of 2 minutes, 33.40 seconds.

Discus Thrower Kyle Francis was eight overall in his Carifta Games debut, with a personal best third round toss of 40.46 meters, (132’9”), with the 1.75 Kilo Discus. His series included an opening foul, followed by a 35.68, 37.75, 40.46, 39.48 and a closing foul.

Sanya Penn placed sixth in the Under 20 girls 100 meters with a time of 12.54 seconds, but did not advance. Michael Butler did not advance in the U-17 boys 100 meters, after finishing sixth in 11.74 seconds.

Britney Wattley, the last BVI participant to see action in Sunday’s prelims, made her 200 meters Under 17 division debut with a seventh place finish in her heat in a time of 26.28 seconds. Male counterpart Butler had a non advancing sixth place finish in the 200 meters, which he covered in a career best 23.30 seconds. Penn had a creditable, 25.67 for fifth in her U-20 girls 200 meters, but did not advance to the finals.

Omar Jones, who won a Javelin silver medal at last year’s Central American and Caribbean Jr. Championships Under 17 division, turned in his worst performance of the season to finish 10th overall. Jones, now in the Under 20 class, entered the competition after recording a season’s high of 50.52 meters (165’9”) and followed up with throws in the 48 meter range again at home and in St. Kitts. On Sunday night however, he merely had a best toss of 42.10 (138’1”), which came on his second effort. Jones opened with a 39.23 (128’8”) throw and finished with 40.76 (133’9”).

“The whole team did us proud. Chantel got the medals, but they went down there and held their heads high and we are proud of all of them,” Penn said. “It’s even more satisfying to know we have a medal from this group of kids. They are pretty young and it only holds good for BVI track and field. Hopefully, by the next time, we’ll have a facility and will have greater things happening.”

BVI Carifta Games Medallists 1978—2005

Dean Greenaway Silver 400 meters U-20 Nassau, 1978

Andre Pickering Silver Long Jump U-17 Kingston, 1982

Keita Cline Bronze 200 meters U-17 Kingston, 1989

Raymond Solomon Bronze High Jump U-20 Bridgetown, 1990

Keita Cline Gold Long Jump U-20 Port-of-Spain, 1991

Keita Cline Gold Long Jump U-20 Nassau, 1992

Keita Cline Gold Triple Jump U-20 Nassau, 1992

Keita Cline Gold Long Jump U-20 Fort-de-France, 1993

Keita Cline Bronze Triple Jump U-20 Fort-de-France, 1993

Eric Matthias Bronze Discus U-17 Bridgetown, 2000

Eric Mathias Gold Discus U-20 Port of Spain, 2003

Chantel Malone Bronze Long Jump U-17 Bacolet, 2005

Chantel Malone Bronze Triple Jump U-17 Bacolet, 2005