KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaicans will be confident they will add to their two medals won in the first session on the opening day of the fifth North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Athletics Championships which started at the Freeport stadium in Grand Bahama on Friday.

Jamaican athletes are well set in both the men’s and women’s 100m as well as the sprint hurdles which will have their final in the afternoon session after the first rounds in the earlier session.

Jamaica got off to a fast start with two medals after Fedrick Dacres won the men’s discus throw, the first final completed, with 65.10m while Chad Wright was third with 62.85m, just off his season’s best 62.92m.

Jodean Williams ran a personal best 11.00 seconds (0.8m/s), beating the 11.01 seconds she ran at the 2024 national championships to lead the qualifiers for the women’s 100m final.

Jonielle Smith also advanced with the fourth fastest time-11.21 seconds (-1.4m/s).

Ryiem Forde won his men’s 100m heat in 10.24 seconds (0.8m/s) to secure his place in the final but his teammate Shakur Williams did not advance.

Amoi Brown and Jaheim Stern led their respective sprint hurdles qualifying after the semi-finals.

Brown who was third at the Jamaican national championships in late June, leads all qualifiers for the finals of the 100m hurdles with 12.80 seconds (-0.1m/s) while Yanique Thompson also advanced with a time of 13.05 seconds (0.1m/s).

Stern lead the 110m hurdles after winning his semi-final heat in 13.40 seconds (0.3m/s) but Demario Prince false started and was disqualified.

National record holder Nickiesha Pryce who is seeking her first international senior title, ran 50.39 seconds to lead the qualifying in the women’s 400m but Dejanae Oakley was not so lucky as she finished fifth in her first round heat and ninth overall with 52.10 seconds and missed out.

Rusheen McDonald ran 45.48 seconds, second fastest in the qualifying for the men’s 400m while Delano Kennedy also advanced with 45.59 seconds on time.

World Championships bound Malike James King was third in his heat of the men’s 400m hurdles in 50.61 seconds and Assinie Wilson was fifth in his heat in 50.31 seconds as both booked their places in the final.

Both Sanique Walker- 55.50 seconds and Janieve Russell- 56.80 seconds (SB) advanced to the final of the women’s 400m hurdles on time.

-Paul A Reid