Barbadian Tia-Adana Belle produced a commanding performance at the NACAC Senior Championships, capturing gold in the women’s 400-metre hurdles with a season’s best of 54.67 seconds on Saturday at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex in Freeport, Bahamas.
The 29-year-old Olympian left her rivals trailing, powering clear of Jamaica’s Sanique Walker, who settled for silver in 54.94 seconds, while Mexico’s Yara Amador Aldaba claimed bronze in 55.55 seconds.
Belle had signalled her intent in Friday’s heats, where she advanced comfortably with the second-fastest time of 55.83 seconds.
There were other promising displays from Barbadian athletes. Sprinter Kuron Griffith clocked a personal best 10.18 seconds to finish fifth in the men’s 100 metres final, having earlier won his heat in 10.39 seconds. Teammate Justin Maynard registered the 21st-fastest time overall in the preliminaries with 10.58 seconds.
In the men’s 400-metre hurdles, Rasheem Griffith placed seventh in the final in 49.94 seconds, after progressing from his heat with 50.11 seconds. Meanwhile, quarter-miler Kyle Gale secured a spot in the men’s 400 metres final after placing fourth in his heat in 46.04 seconds. Fellow Barbadian Desean Boyce missed out, finishing fourth in heat three and 11th overall with a time of 46.24 seconds.
In the women’s 200 metres, Sakena Massiah (23.97) and Tionce Walrond (24.35) finished tenth and 11th overall in the preliminaries and did not advance. Hurdler Tai Browne also exited at the preliminary stage, placing fourth in his heat of the men’s 110-metre hurdles in 14.57 seconds. (JC)
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