As the Central American and Caribbean Age Group Championships drew to a close on Sunday June 30, 2013 in Curacao, Beyonce Defreitas claimed a Bronze Medal in the 11-12 Girls Category. She also won Silver in the 60m 11-12 Girls Age Group with a run of 8.25 seconds. Photo credit: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO/File

J'Nae Wong (blue top) won a Silver in the Girls 13-14 80m. Her time was 10.27 and she finished day one in 11th place overall as she looks to match the Bronze she won in 2011 whilst competing in the younger age group. Arianna Hayde (white) will also be looking for a strong finish on day two. Photo credit: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Defreitas, 5^th overnight, used her two strongest events to garner enough points over her rivals to sneak onto the podium.

Her Long Jump of 4.49m and her 800m time of 2:43.48 gave her a points total of 2770 just behind Zekiah Lewis who took the Silver with 2773 and Charissa Moore of Barbados who took Gold with 2860 points.

Xiamora “Gia” Malone did not complete the events after leaping 4.30 in the long jump.

In the 11-12 Boys, J’Quaan Smith finished in 29^th place with 2543 points.

J’Nae Wong was the top placed Girl in the 13-14 division, finishing 14^th on 3621 points whilst Arianna Hayde battled to 19^th with 3524 points.

In the Boys category, Jelani Norman finished 23^rd with 4307 points and Rakeel Jack 31^st with 3966.

Overall, Wong and Hayde had the best finish after lifting themselves to 7^th in the final standings.

See previous article posted June 30, 2013

Silver for Defreitas & Wong in early stages of CACs!

Day one of the CAC Age Group Championships, Saturday June 29, 2013 being held in Curacao epitomized all the highs and lows that athletes face in their efforts to reach success and glory.

After brilliant starts by both Beyonce Defreitas, who won silver in the 11-12 Girls 60m with a time of 8.25 seconds and Silver to J’Nae Wong who finished second in the 13-14 Girls 80m with a time of 10.27 secs, there was heartbreak for Chaz Fahie who pulled up with a hip injury in just his second event.

By the end of Day One, Defreitas had cemented herself into 5^th position overall on 1752 points with her strongest events yet to come. As well as the 8.25 seconds run in the 60m, she had a High Jump of 1.25m and threw the cricket ball some 47.68m, which was good enough for a fourth place finish.

Ziamora “Gia” Malone sits 20^th in the same group with 1530 points. She ran 8.82 in the 60m, jumped 1.25m and threw a distance of 37.05m.

In the Boys, J’Quaan Smith finished the day in 27^th position after running 8.28 seconds in the 60m, had a High Jump of 1.15m and threw for 47.66m.

Wong has 1709 points in the Girls 13-14 Division which puts her 11^th overall in the standings   and Arianna Hayde has accumulated 1655 points which puts her 16^th. Wong added strong finishes of 4.49m in the Long Jump and 8.46m in the Shot to her 80m Silver to end the day still in the hunt for an overall podium finish to emulate her Bronze from 2011. Hayde has more work to do, but still has time to catch up after she ran 10.87 in the 80m , hit the sand at 4.79m and lobbed the Shot 8.30m.

In the Boys Jelani Norman ran 10.15 in the 80m, leapt 5.14 in the Long Jump and heaved the Shot Put 10.92 to accumulate 1984 points and sit 24^th overall. Rakeel Jack sits back in 35^th with 1711 after finishes of 10.49, 4.48 and 9.32 in the same events.

Today the older group will conclude with the High Jump, the Ball Throw and the 1200m, whilst the younger athletes complete their events with the Long Jump and the 1000m.

Obviously without Fahie the 11-12 mixed relay team didn’t compete, but the 13-14’s of Wong, Hayde, Jack and Norman finished 5^th overall with a time of 48.98 behind Guadeloupe, St Kitts/Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago and the winners, the Bahamas.