Jamaica unleashes 14-gold barrage on stunning day at NACAC Championships
Key Points(5)
- Jamaica’s rising track and field stars delivered a breathtaking statement on Saturday, overwhelming the field at the NACAC Under-18 and Under-23 Championships in Tlaxcala, Mexico, with 25 medals, including 14 gold on a commanding second day of competition.
- From championship-record performances on the track to a sweep of the 400-meter hurdles titles and decisive victories in the field, the Jamaican team controlled nearly every phase of the meet and positioned itself for a powerful finish on the final day.
- Quarter-milers ignite the charge The gold rush began in the Under-18 girls’ 400 meters, where Shameika McLean produced a composed, tactical run to capture Jamaica’s first title of the day in 52.37 seconds.
- Trinidad and Tobago’s Eden Chee-Wah earned silver in 52.48 seconds, while Jamaican teammate Danielle Dixon added bronze in 53.22 seconds.
- Moments later, Jason Pitter electrified the stadium in the Under-18 boys’ 400 meters, storming to victory in a championship-record 45.98 seconds.
Jamaica’s rising track and field stars delivered a breathtaking statement on Saturday, overwhelming the field at the NACAC Under-18 and Under-23 Championships in Tlaxcala, Mexico, with 25 medals, including 14 gold on a commanding second day of competition.
From championship-record performances on the track to a sweep of the 400-meter hurdles titles and decisive victories in the field, the Jamaican team controlled nearly every phase of the meet and positioned itself for a powerful finish on the final day.
Quarter-milers ignite the charge
The gold rush began in the Under-18 girls’ 400 meters, where Shameika McLean produced a composed, tactical run to capture Jamaica’s first title of the day in 52.37 seconds. Trinidad and Tobago’s Eden Chee-Wah earned silver in 52.48 seconds, while Jamaican teammate Danielle Dixon added bronze in 53.22 seconds.
Moments later, Jason Pitter electrified the stadium in the Under-18 boys’ 400 meters, storming to victory in a championship-record 45.98 seconds. Barbados’ Zachary Wall took silver in 46.34 seconds, and Jamaica’s Jordan Rehudel secured bronze in 47.12 seconds.
The quarter-mile dominance continued in the Under-23 ranks as Jasauna Dennis controlled the men’s final from the gun and never surrendered the lead, winning in 45.33 seconds. Earlier, Oneika Brissett added a bronze medal in the women’s race with 52.73 seconds.
Hurdles bring a wave of gold
Jamaica’s hurdlers turned the championships into a showcase of depth, capturing six of the eight hurdle titles available across the sprint and 400-meter hurdle events.
Fifteen-year-old Tashana Godfrey launched the surge with a personal-best 13.30 seconds to win the Under-18 girls’ 100-meter hurdles. The race carried mixed emotions for Jamaica after medal favorite Malayi Duncan crashed out upon striking the opening hurdle.
There was similar frustration in the Under-18 boys’ 110-meter hurdles when standout Marquies Page clipped the first barrier, struggled through the race, and eventually stopped at the fifth hurdle. Jamaica still reached the podium through Brandon Bennett, who claimed bronze in 13.96 seconds, while the Bahamas’ Jahcarrio Wilson won in a championship-record 12.94 seconds.
The Under-23 sprint hurdles belonged to Jamaica. Alexis James, the nation’s lone entrant in the women’s final, captured gold in 13.08 seconds, and Shaquane Gordon followed with victory in the men’s event in 13.54 seconds. Teammate Andre Harris completed a Jamaican one-two by taking silver in 13.73 seconds.
Perfect sweep in the 400m hurdles
Jamaica completed a clean sweep of all three 400-meter hurdle titles on the program: Ruheim McIntosh won the Under-18 boys’ final in 51.43 seconds; Kellyann Carr captured the Under-23 women’s title in 57.40 seconds; Romario Stewart took the Under-23 men’s crown in 50.21 seconds, while Antonio Forbes added bronze in 50.43 seconds.
Jamaica closed the evening with two emphatic 4x100-meter relay victories.
The Under-18 boys stormed to gold in a championship-record 40.07 seconds, finishing ahead of the Bahamas (40.32) and Trinidad and Tobago (40.57).
The Under-23 men then prevailed in a thrilling finish, clocking 39.30 seconds to edge the Bahamas (39.47) and Barbados (39.59). Jamaica did not field a team in the Under-23 women’s relay.
Field event stars deliver more gold
While the sprinters dominated headlines, Jamaica’s field athletes added crucial points and more championship titles.
Zavien Bernard secured her second gold medal of the meet by winning the Under-18 girls’ long jump with 6.21 meters, one day after claiming the triple jump crown.
In the Under-23 women’s shot put, Jamaica produced a one-two finish. Brittanie Johnson, already a discus silver medalist, won with 16.51 meters, while Kimeka Smith followed closely with 16.27 meters.
Selethel Johnson added another field gold by taking the Under-18 boys’ high jump with a clearance of 2.05 meters. Teammate Nikaro Johnson matched the winning height and secured silver on countback.
Jamie Lee Tulloch rounded out the field-event medal haul with silver in the Under-18 girls’ shot put after throwing 14.83 meters.
Momentum builds ahead of the final day
With 14 gold medals in a single day, Jamaica transformed the championships into a showcase of the nation’s next generation of stars. Championship records, relay triumphs, and podium sweeps underscored the team’s depth across every discipline.
As the meet concludes on Sunday, Jamaica carries overwhelming momentum, and the unmistakable look of a team determined to leave Mexico with one of the most dominant performances of the championships.
