CHAD Wright produced a massive 63.11 metres (1.75kg) to establish a new Under-20 discus record on his final attempt to win Jamaica’s first gold medal at the 39th Carifta Games at the Truman Bodden Sport Complex in the Cayman Islands yesterday.

At press time on yesterday’s first of three days of competition, Jamaica had amassed 17 medals — six gold, six silver and five bronze.

Entering his sixth on final throw in second position behind Trinidad and Tobago’s Quincy Wilson, who had thrown 62.95m to erase his 2009 meet record of 55.67 on his second attempt, Wright is coached by Julian Robinson at Calabar High, unleashed the winning throw of 63.11m to clinch the gold.

Wright’s wining mark was also a National Junior record as it bettered compatriot Travis Smikle’s previous mark of 59.52m.

“I’m glad for the win and my coach (Julian Robinson) has prepared me very well for this event so, I’m glad,” Wright said.

“I know it’s not finished, so I have to continue,” he added, noting that he intends to improve his performances in time for the World Junior Championships in Moncton, Canada in July.

“After the Carifta Games I’ll take some rest and then start my strength training going toward World Juniors,” Wright added.

Smikle, who won Jamaica’s first global medal in the event at last year’s IAAF World Youth Championships in Italy, taking bronze, also collected the bronze at the Carifta Games yesterday with 58.24m achieved on his second attempt.

Wilson, the defending champion from T&T, had to settle for the silver with his effort of 62.95m.

Jamaica’s other gold medals came in the Under-20 Boys and Girls 1500m; the Under-17 and Under-20 Girls shot put; Under-17 Boys 400m and the Under-17 Boys 100m.

Candicea Bernard of St Hugh’s produced a distance of 13.38m to win the Under-20 Girls shot put, bettering her fifth-place finish of last year.

T&T’s Ashley Smith took silver with 13.06 ahead of Bahamian Racquel Williams, 12.40m. The other Jamaican, Sasha Gaye Marston, had to settle for fifth with 12.28m

The Under-17 equivalent went to Gleneive Grange of Holmwood Technical in 11.46m, ahead of Sherisse Murray of T&T, 11.09m, and Shareday Curiel of the Netherland Antilles, 10.96m.

Grange later collected a second medal when she threw 34.57m in the discus to take silver in the event won by T&T’s Shaunna Downey with 34.79m.

National Junior 1500m record-holder Kemoy Campbell of Bellefield won the Under-20 event in 3 minutes 48.99secs, beating the field by more than 10 seconds.

Mathew Wright of Barbados collected silver in 3:59.21, followed by Jamaica’s Kevin White with 4:02.81.

Natoya Goule of Manchester High clocked 4 minutes 36.34 to take the Under-20 1500m by a clear 50 metres and collected her 11th individual medal at the Carifta Junior level.

Her compatriot and schoolmate Sharlene Nickle collected the silver in 4:42, ahead of Dawnelle Collymore of T&T, 4:46.03.

Marlene Eubanks of Edwin Allen took silver in the Under-17 equivalent with 4:43.45 after being passed in the last 20 metres by defending champion Jevina Straker of Guyana, 4:43.33.

The other Jamaican, Aleitha McLaughlin, placed fourth in 4:47.28 behind Vanessa Philbert of the Nertherland Antilles, who collected the bronze in 4:44.87.

Aaron Lee and Oshane Turner found the going tough in the Under-17 Boys 1500m, placing fourth and fifth, respectively. The event went to Mark London of T&T in 4:08.28.

Odane Skeen of Wolmer’s recovered from a less than impressive start to win the Under-17 Boys 100m in 10.53secs, ahead of Bermuda’s Jeneko, 10.71, and Tahir Walsh of Antigua and Barbuda, 10.84. The other Jamaican, Odail Todd of Green Island, was fourth in 10.94.

Channiel Johnson of William Knibb clinched the silver in the Under-17 Girls equivalent courtesy of a good lean at the tape, in 11.96secs.

Chantelle Morrison of the Cayman Islands took the gold in 11.74, while Bahamian Marvar Etienne clocked 12.01 for the bronze.

Lennox Williams of Manchester returned a personal best 48.01secs to win the Under-17 400m of ahead of Darvin Sandy of T&T, 48.62, and compatriot Omari McDonald.

Jermaine Gayle of Vere Technical clocked a career best 46.80 in the Under-20 400m, but had to settle for bronze in the race won by Grenada’s World Junior Champion Kirani James in a meet record 45.02secs.

Deon Lendore of T&T placed second with 46.59, while Jamaica’s other competitor, Demar Murray, finished fourth in 47.49.

Sherick Jackson of Vere lost both her title and meet record in the U-17 Girls 400 to Shaynae Miller of the Bahamas, who won with 53.36secs. Jackson and Olivia James tool silver and bronze with 53.71 and 53.89, respectively

The Jamaican pair of Chanice Porter and Kristagaye Taylor cleared 1.74m and 1.68m to take silver and bronze, respectively, in the Under-17 girls high jump won by Akela Jones of Barbados in a new meet record 1.85m. The previous record of 1.80m was set Jamaica’s Petagaye Reid in 2009.