JAMAICA have rattled up 18 medals consisting of six gold, five silver and seven bronze to sit second in the medals table at the end of the penultimate day at the NACAC Championship in The Bahamas.

The Americans lead with 22 medals — 12 gold, eight silver and two bronze — with host The Bahamas third with five medals, made up of three gold, and two bronze.

It has been a straight fight between the athletics powerhouses of the region — Jamaica and the United States of America (USA). After day one and the morning session on Saturday, Jamaica led with six gold, compared to the USA’s five.

Fedrick Dacres, Amoi Brown, Demario Prince, Jonielle Smith and Samantha Hall are the gold medal winners for Jamaica at the completion of two days of action.

But the highlight of day two comes from Tyrice Taylor despite not winning gold. He won bronze in the men’s 800m, breaking the national record as he clocked an impressive 1:43.74 minutes.

Navasky Anderson, who had the previous record of 1:44.40 set in July 2025, also ran his personal best for fourth, clocking 1:44.18. The gold went to Handel Roban of St Vincent and The Grenadines, formerly of Jamaica College, who stopped the clock in a national record of 1:42.87.

Taylor, who was 81st on the World Quota Ranking with the top 56 booked for the World Athletics Championships next month, is now safe as he now has the entry standard which is 1:44.50.

National 800m champion Kelly-Ann Beckford failed in her effort to gain the World Championship entry standard of 1:59.00, finishing third in 2:00.17.

Christopher Taylor also failed in his effort, stopping the clock at 20.32 (-0.5 m/s) for silver in the 200m with the entry standard being 20.16. With time running out, Taylor should still be safe in getting a spot at the World Championship via the quota system that allows the top 48 runners, as he now sits at 37th. Kadrian Goldson was seventh in 20.88.

Gabrielle Mathews won bronze in the women’s 200m, clocking 23.02 behind gold medallist Antonique Strachan of The Bahamas in 22.77. Jamaica’s Roneisha McGregor was seventh in 23.38.

Shanique Walker won silver in the women’s 400 hurdles, clocking 54.94, while her teammate Janieve Russell was seventh with 56.58. Gold went to Tia-Adana Belle of Barbados in 54.67.

It was silver and bronze for the men as Malik James King was second in 48.28 and Assinie Wilson third in 48.75. American CJ Allen hung on for gold in 48.22.

On Friday, Jamaica started very well, capturing four gold courtesy of Fedrick Dacres, Amoi Brown, Demario Prince and Jonielle Smith.

Dacres got the ball rolling, winning the first final of the men’s discus with a throw of 65.10m while his teammate Chad Wright placed third with 62.85m.

Amoi Brown then won the women’s 110 hurdles in 12.83 (-1.1 m/s) and was the only runner to dip under the 13-second barrier. Tatiana Aholou of Canada was second in 13.01 while Jamaica’s Yanique Thompson was fifth in 13.19.

Jamaica completed the double in the sprint hurdles as Demario Prince sped to 13.35 for gold in the 110 hurdle, ahead of Dylan Beard of the USA in 13.39. Jamaica’s Jaheim Stern snatched bronze in 13.63.

Jamaica picked up its fourth gold courtesy of Jonielle Smith in the women’s 100m in 11.05 (0.1 m/s), with her teammate Jodean Williams narrowly missing a medal as she finished fourth in 11.13. Liranyi Tajeda of the Dominican Republic was second in 11.10 and Anthaya Charlton of The Bahamas was third in 11.12.

Ryiem Forde secured silver in the men’s 100m in 10.01. The event was won by Jerome Blake of Canada in 9.95.