CARIFTA Games end in chaos

The Kirani James Athletic Stadium in Grenada witnessed its share of thrills throughout the 51st CARIFTA Games, but the final day reserved its biggest twist for the curtain closer – the 4x400m relays on Monday.

The Under-20 boys’ relay, typically a heart-stopping finale, descended into confusion as a supposed second starter’s pistol, or what some thought was a second one, halted three teams mid-race. Jamaica, unfazed, continued the race to a seemingly comfortable victory in 3:10.58.

However, protests erupted from the halted teams, leading to a dramatic turn of events.

The trio that stopped was granted a second chance – a timed final run under the fading lights.

While Trinidad and Tobago pushed Jamaica close with a 3:11.10 finish, the Jamaicans clung onto their gold. The Bahamas team, initially awarded bronze, were disqualified due to a lane violation, handing Guyana the third-place medal in 3:14.05. Barbados, who finished the initial race, ended up fifth with a time of 3:14.39.

But the drama wasn’t confined to the track.

The Under-20 girls’ relay medal ceremony witnessed a gaffe of epic proportions. The announcer mistakenly called Bahamas, absent from the infield, for the bronze medal, leaving the rightful recipients, the Barbados quartet, standing bewildered. Jamaica secured gold in 3:34.69, followed by Trinidad and Tobago’s silver medal run in 3:47.51.

Adding to the confusion, initial results showed a disqualification for the Barbados Under-20 girls’, later reversed to a Bahamas disqualification.

Further muddying the waters, despite Barbados’ Under-17 girls’ 4x400m team being disqualified, they still received their bronze medals on the podium. This disqualification was later upheld, handing the bronze to Trinidad and Tobago.

(CG)