WORLD Championships 4x400 metres silver medalist Sherefa Lloyd, Jason Morgan  and the University of Technology’s, Odayne Richards were the stars for Jamaica on Friday's opening day of the Senior CAC Championships at the Estadio Jose Antonio Figueroa Stadium in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.  All three athletes captured gold medals in their events as Jamaica ended the first day of competition with ten medals overall which included three gold, three silver and four bronze.

It was the former Vere Technical High school athlete, Lloyd who gave the country its first gold medal of the Championships in the Women's 400 metres final as she got the better of another former Vere Technical athlete, Patricia Hall who had defeated her at the National Senior Championships. Lloyd, who was sixth in Jamaica, went all the way this time to cop the gold in a winning time of 51.69 seconds as her team mate Hall, who was fifth at the National Championships, captured the silver medal after finishing second in 51.85 seconds.  The bronze medal went to Norma Gonzales of Colombia who took third in 51.90 seconds.

Richards who has been in top form all season competing in the Shot Put for the University of Technology, maintained his good form as he gave the country its second gold of the day after heaving the ball 19.16 metres, to capture the Men's Shot Put.  Mexico’s Stephen Saenz (18.66) and Edder Cesar Moreno of Colombia (18.52) finished second and third to take home silver and bronze.

Morgan made up for his disappointment at the National Championships, where he was beaten by schooboy Traves Smikle, to capture the Men's Discus with a throw of 60.20 metres. Here Mexico’s Mario Cota (58.80) and Trinidad and Tobago’s Quincy Wilson (56.85) finished second and third respectively. 

Earlier in the evening Korene Hinds picked up silver in the Women's 1500 metres event finishing second in 4:23.78 seconds as Sandra Lopez of Mexico copped gold in a winning time of 4:22.65.  It was also silver for Jura Levy in the Women's 100 metres. Levy, the surprise third place finisher at the Jamaica Senior National Championships, clocked 11.36 seconds as Trinidad and Tobago’s Semoy Hackett gave the twin  island their first of two golds in the sprints.  Hackett won the Women's  100 metres in 11.27 seconds as Jamaica's Simone Facey captured the bronze after her third place finish in 11.39 seconds.

In the Men's event Trinidad and Tobago’s Keston Bledman was impressive as running in a negative wind speed of 0.05 metres per second he stopped the clock at 10.05 seconds to get the better of Antigua and Barbuda’s, Daniel Bailey in  10.11 seconds. Jamaica's Dexter Lee was third for the bronze in 10.18 seconds with Oshane Bailey finishing fourth in 10.28 seconds.

Jamaica picked up their first medal in the morning session when Natalie Grant finished third in the Women's Hammer event with a throw of 62.46 metres.  Eli Johana Morena of Colombia captured the gold medal with a throw of 67.97 metres with silver going to Rosa Rodriques of Venezuela with 65.74 metres.  Jason Morgan also gained a medal for Jamaica in a throwing event when he finished second in the Discus picking up the silver medal with a throw of 58.35 metres.  Mario Cota of Mexico took the gold with 58.56 metres.

Jamaica did not fare well in the Men's 400 metres final as both Riker Hylton and Dewayne Barrett were not among the medals. Hylton, Jamaica’s National Champion in the event, had to settle for fourth in 46.02 seconds while Barrett was fifth in 46.67 seconds. Renny Quow of Trinidad and Tobago continued a good day for his country by taking the gold in 45.44 seconds.  Ramon Miller of the Bahamas was second in 45.56 seconds with third going to Erison Hurtault of Dominica in 45.93 seconds.

The preliminary round of the Men's and Women's 400 metres hurdles also took place on Friday and all four Jamaicans have advanced to Saturday's finals.  It was National Champion in the men's event, Leford Green, who led the way here as the former Kingston College quarter miler was the fastest qualifier of the day winning his heat in 49.81 seconds.  His teammate Roxroy Cato, who was third at the Jamaica National Championships, finished third in his heat in 50.76 seconds and was the slowest qualifier. Trinidad and Tobago’s Jehue Gordon and Puerto Rico’s Javier Culson also advanced after finishing second in their respective heats in identical time of 50.22 seconds.  In the Women's event, Andrea Sutherland finished second in her heat in 57.71 seconds while Sheryl Morgan was fourth in her heat in 58.37 seconds. Both ladies advance to the final.  Trinidad and Tobago’s Josanne Lucas is the fastest qualifier after winning her heat in 56.94 seconds.

Contributed by Raymond Graham