KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica won two gold medals in Saturday morning’s opening session of the 51st Carifta Games at the Kirani James stadium in St George’s, Grenada.

Zavien Bernard won the U-17 girls’ high jump while Jamelia Young took the U-17 girls’ shot put event.

Bernard, who cleared a personal best 1.83m at last weekend’s ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Championships, cleared 1.71m to beat Alexandria Komolafe of the Bahamas on count-back.

Tenique Vincent of Trinidad and Tobago took the bronze with 1.68m.

Meanwhile, Young threw 14.25m to win the shot put, just ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s Peyton Winter – 14.21m. Terrell McCoy of the Bahamas threw 14.11m for third place.

All Jamaicans advanced to their respective finals of the 400m set for Saturday afternoon while there were no first round in the 100m as there were not sufficient entries. The competition will instead start at the semi-final stage, also later on Saturday.

Nastassia Fletcher ran a personal best 53.82 seconds to advance to the U-17 girls’ 400m final along with Tresha Lee Sutherland – 56.38s as Keyezra Thomas of the Bahamas led the qualifying with 53.74 seconds.

Paul Henry ran 49.54 seconds in a tough semi-final to advance in the U-17 boys 400m after Nickecoy Bramwell cruised to a 50.23 seconds time to win his semi-final. Grenada’s Kemron Mathlyn ran 49.09 seconds to lead all qualifiers.

Shanque Williams – 53.76 seconds and Abigail Campbell – 54.23 seconds are both through in the U-20 girls event, while Marcinho Rose – 47.74 seconds and Javaughn Pinnock – 49.08 seconds were also automatic qualifiers in the Boys U-20 event.

-Paul A Reid