Mixed relay gold, gymnastics bronze for Jamaica at CAC Games

Jamaica claimed gold in the mixed 4x100m relay at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games yesterday, clocking 41.06 seconds at the Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The quartet of Travis Williams, Niesha Burgher, Adrian Kerr, and Jura Levy moved to the top of the podium after the Dominican Republic, which had initially won the race in 40.89 seconds, was disqualified.

Mexico, which had originally finished third, was also disqualified, allowing Puerto Rico to move into the medal positions and claim bronze in 41.18.

Despite high expectations, Jamaica failed to secure a medal in the men’s 400m hurdles final as Romario Stewart (49.87) and Malik James-King (50.25) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

The gold medal went to the Dominican Republic’s Yeral Núñez, who won in 48.30.

Pablo Ibáñez of El Salvador finished second in 49.64, while Guillermo Campos of Mexico completed the podium in 49.82.

Sharvis Simmonds will be Jamaica’s only representative in the men’s 110m hurdles final after Shaquane Gordon failed to face the starter in the semi-finals.

Simmonds advanced from the first semi-final after posting the fastest qualifying time of the round, clocking 13.56.

Nikaoli Williams finished just outside the medals in the men’s long jump as his best effort of 7.76 metres was only good enough for fourth place.

Cuba’s Jorge Hodelin took the title with a leap of 8.23m, while Venezuela’s Eubrig Maza secured silver with 7.85m.

The bronze medal went to Colombia’s Arnovis Dalmero with 7.82m.

Kimar Farquharson and Javier Brown both advanced to the final of the men’s 400m after competing in semi-finals one and two, respectively.

Farquharson advanced as a non-automatic qualifier from the first semi-final after finishing third in 45.90.

Brown, meanwhile, won the second semi-final in 45.51, just edging Grenada’s Kirani James, who clocked 45.52.

There will be no Jamaicans in the women’s 400m final after Joanne Reid’s campaign ended in the semi-finals.

Jamaica finished sixth in the men’s hockey competition after suffering a 4-1 defeat to hosts Dominican Republic in their final classification match.

The Dominicans scored in each of the four quarters, while Jamaica’s lone goal came from Daniel Powell in the third period.

GYMNASTICS GLORY

Jamaica also secured a bronze medal in the women’s artistic gymnastics all-around final as Jahzara Swaby scored 49.900 to finish on the podium.

Swaby registered 13.700 on the vault, 11.200 on the uneven bars, 12.550 on the balance beam, and 12.450 on the floor exercise.

She finished behind Mexico’s Natalia Cardenas (51.450) and Victoria Montemayor (50.850).

Jamaica’s Clayton Bell also qualified for the men’s all-around final but was forced to withdraw because of injury.

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com