Tynelle Gumbs prepares to unleash her 41.46m throw
BERMUDA, APRIL 8—A month ago, Tynelle Gumbs had a best Javelin Throw of 28.83m and was trying to join twin sister Trevia—who throws the Shot Put—on the BVI’s Carifta Games team.
Last night, Gumbs notched the territory’s 1st gold medal at the 41st LIME Carifta Games in Devonshire, Bermuda, when she tossed the newly implemented Under 17 Girls 600g spear, out to a National Record, 41.46m also a Carfta Games record.
It was the first time the BVI had won a Javelin Throw medal, bringing the territory’s haul to 21 since 1978.
An hour later, Huggins—who mined Under 17 Girls 100m bronze last year—upgraded to silver after running a wind aided 11.76 seconds, with Taylor Hill in fifth, marking the first time that the territory had two finalist in the same event since the BVI began participating in the competition in 1976.
Throwing into a headwind, Gumbs sent the message to her opponents of her intentions early when she opened with a throw of 35.68 meters. Two throws later, she heaved the spear over 38.32m to eclipse her 36.74 personal best established last week, during the Elmore Stoutt High School Inter-house Athletics Championships.
When Trinidad and Tobago’s Akidah Briggs got in range with her 37.64m heave, Gumbs responded with a throw that sent the BVI delegation into a wild celebration after the implement cut through the chilly Bermudan air and landed then the leader board showed 41.46m.
Gumbs’ mark is also a National Youth, National Jr. and National Scholastic Record, for which she will collect a Sol National Record breakers award during the 4th BVI Athletics Association December 28, Athletes Awards Recognition Gala. An athlete establishing an indoor or outdoor National Record that stands at season’s end qualifies for the award.
Huggins—a 2014 Youth Olympic Games hopeful—advanced to the U17 Girls 100m final to join Hill who had earlier run a wind aided (3.7mps) 12.11 seconds to secure an automatic berth with a second place finish, when she ran 11.89 with a 5.1mps tailwind.
In the final, Huggins’ charge towards gold was denied by Jamaica’s Shauna Helps who rode the 4.6mps wind chilled breeze to 11.66 seconds with Huggins taking second in 11.76 and the other Jamaican, Monique Spencer snatching the bronze in 11.90. Hill completed the historic final for the territory in fifth, after stopping the clock at 12.10.
J'Maa Alexander had a not advancing fourth place finish in the U20 Boys 100m, after running 10.71 seconds.
Shaian Vandenburg was sevent in the U20 Girls 100m in 12.30 seconds, a race that was also wind aided.
The territory’s quest for a third medal was earlier denied, when Tarika “Tinker Bell” Moses was unable to occupy lane 4 in the U17 Girls 400m final, because of a hamstring strain.
Competition today begins at 9 a.m. Bermuda time—one hour behind the Caribbean—with Brandon Andrew facing the starters gun to begin the 7 event Heptathlon over the next two days.
The rest of the schedule is as follows:
9:35 a.m. Trevia Gumbs, U17 Girls Shot Put final
10:10 a.m. Brandon Andrew, Heptathlon High Jump
Afternoon Session
5:00 p.m. Jonel Lacey & Deya Erickson, U17 Girls 300m Hurdles
5:10 p.m. Brandon Andrew, Heptathlon Javelin Throw
5:15 p.m. Tarikah Warner, U20 Girls High Jump
6:20 p.m. Lakeisha “Mimi” Warner, U17 Girls 800m
6:50 p.m. Niayla Smith, U20 Girls 800m
7:30 p.m. Brandon Andrew, Heptathlon 200m
7:55 p.m. U17 Girls 4 x 100m Relay (Team to be determined)