Huggins' Bronze, Bradshaw's National Youth Record Ends Day I

Jamaican sensaton Kimone Shaw, 14, runs 11.42 to win the U18 Girls 100m with Nelda Huggins 3rd in 11.64, Wind +3.3mps

FORT de FRANCE, Martinique—Sprinter Nelda Huggins won a Carifta Games medal for the fourth successive year and debutant Akeem Bradshaw leapt to a Triple Jump National Youth Record as BVI athletes closed the first day of the 43rd Carifta Games in Fort de France, Martinique on Saturday night.

Huggins matched the bronze she won in 2011 to go with two silver medals over the last two years when she placed third in the U18 Girls 100m in 11.64 seconds. The race had a +3.3 mps illegal tailwind.

Huggins equaled her personal best from May last year, in winning the second of three heats in 11.77 seconds  (+0.9) while L’Tisha “Lea” Fahie was a non advancing fourth in heat three in 12.13 seconds (+2.0).

Akeem Bradshaw, making his debut in the U18 Boys Triple Jump, took down Keita Cline’s 1991 National Youth mark of 14.87m with a leap of 14.90m to place fifth overall. He had a +1.1 mps wind at his back.

Dekoya Hodge, another debutant, placed fifth in the U18 Girls Shot Put with a personal best throw of 13.55m after opening with a 13.47m heave. It’s the second best mark for an U18 Girl behind Trevia Gumbs’ 14.02m national standard.

Both Kyron McMaster and Khari Herbert were sixth in the U18 and U20 Boys 400m final respectively. Both ran from lane eight and had times of 49.10 seconds and 48.43 in their individual races.

Elsewhere, Taylor Hill ran 12.05 seconds (+2.3) in her U20 Girls 100m to finish fourth but did not advance.

At the close of the first day in the Heptathlon, Arianna Hayde in making her Carifta Games debut is in ninth place with 2252 points, after completing four events. She began her day with a 17.18 seconds (+2.8) run the 100m Hurdles to earn 576 points. She equaled her personal best of 1.45m in the High Jump which was good for a 566 score. Hayde threw 7.99m in the Shot Put to pick up 399 points and ended her day with a 27.01 seconds (+2.6) run in the 200m, to add another 711 points to her tally.

She will contest the Long Jump, Javelin Throw and 800m today. Hayde is chasing Kanishque Todman’s National Record score of 4188 points set last year.

Expected to see individual action today are: Kadeon Potter, U18 Boys Shot Put; Deya Erickson, U18 Girls 400m Hurdles; Kyron McMaster U18 Boys 400m Hurdles; Lakeisha “Mimi” Warner and Tarika “Tinker Bell” Moses in the U18 Girls 800m; Nelda Huggins and L’Tisha “Lea” Fahie in the U18 Girls 200m; Taylor Hill, U20 Girls 200m; Kala Penn and Ashley Penn, U18 Girls Long Jump; Tahj Malone, U18 Boys High Jump. The U18 Girls 4x100m Relay will also be in action.

Please note the 200m and 800m events are also subject to change. The BVI Athletics Association facebook page will provide in competition updates.

The Carifta Games Congress will be held today and among other things, the site for the 2015 edition will be determined.