DEMARIO Prince and Amoi Brown swept the gold medals in the sprint hurdles as Jamaica got off to a strong start on Friday’s opening day of the fifth North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Athletics Championships at the Freeport stadium in Grand Bahama, The Bahamas.

Fedrick Dacres won the men’s discus throw in the first session and Jonielle Smith took the women’s 100m gold as Jamaican athletes won seven medals (four gold, a silver and two bronze).

Prince, who won an appeal against his disqualification in the semi-finals after he had run 13.60 seconds (-0.3m/s), made full use of his redemption to win the gold in the afternoon with 13.35 (-1.4m/s). Dylan Beard of the United States was second with 13.39 while Jaheim Stern took the bronze in 13.63.

Brown, who led the qualifying from the semi-finals in the morning, won the 100m hurdles gold medal in 12.83 (-1.1m/s) while her compatriot Yanique Thompson was fifth in 13.19. Canada’s Tatiana Aholou took the silver medal with 13.01 seconds while St Lucia’s Aasia Laurencin won the bronze medal with 13.04 seconds.

Smith, who was fourth in qualifying from the first round with 11.21, produced the goods in the final by running 11.15 (0.1m/s) to take her second gold medal in a senior championships. She previously won CAC Games gold in Colombia in 2018.

Liranyi Alonso Tejeda of the Dominican Republic was second in 11.10 and Anthaya Charlton of The Bahamas was third in 11.12, just ahead of Jamaican Jodean Williams who had led the qualifying.

Ryiem Forde won the lone silver medal when he finished second in the men’s 100m in 10.01 seconds (0.4m/s). He was beaten to the line by Canada’s Jerome Blake who ran a personal best and championship record 9.95. Blake’s effort bettered Ackeem Blake’s 9.98 set in 2022.

Rikkoi Brathwaite of the British Virgin Islands took bronze in 10.15.

In the morning session, championships record holder Fedrick Dacres came from behind to win the men’s discus throw in the first final completed. He threw 65.10m while Chad Wright was third with 62.85m, just off his season’s best 62.92m.

Dacres’ best throw came in the third round after he had trailed American Sam Mattis who took the silver medal with 64.06m.

Nia Robinson finished sixth in the women’s long jump, with her 6.36m (-0.2m/s) coming in the first round.

American Alyssa Jones won with 6.74m (0.2m/s), ahead of Alysbeth Felix of Puerto Rico who recorded 6.64m (-0.4m/s). Tyra Gittens- Spotsville of Trinidad and Tobago was third, also with 6.64m.

National record holder Nickisha Pryce, seeking her first international senior title, ran 50.39 to lead the qualifying in the women’s 400m for Sunday’s final. But Dejanae Oakley was not so lucky as she finished fifth in her first-round heat and ninth overall with 52.10, thereby missing out.

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

National record holder Navasky Anderson (1:46.85 minutes) and national champion Tyrice Taylor (1:49.12) did enough to qualify for Saturday’s final of the men’s 800m, both placing second in their first-round heats.

Anderson finished behind American Brandon Miller who ran (1:46.14), while Taylor trailed home St Vincent’s Handal Roban (1:48.96).

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

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

Fedrick Dacres (Photo: Observer file)