André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

Jamaica once again underlined their dominance of regional track and field in Bermuda yesterday by emphatically topping the competition at the 41st Carifta Games, which came to a close at the National Sports Centre.

The Jamaicans ended the championships with a massive 77 medals - 34 gold, 24 silver and 19 bronze medals, with The Bahamas running second best with 38 medals (13 gold, 13 silver, 12 bronze) and Trinidad and Tobago's 24 medals (8 gold, 9 silver, 7 bronze) rounding out the top three.

This was one of the island's best ever showing at the Carifta Games, with the record 84-medal haul of 2004 just out of reach this time around.

Defending champion Ashinia Miller once again walked away with the Under-20 boys shot put title, winning in 18.96m ahead of teammate Emmanuel Onyia, who registered an 18.89m mark in his first outing for Jamaica.

It was also one-two for the Jamaicans in the Under-17 110m hurdles final, Jaheel Hyde dipping in time to get the better of compatriot Michael O'Hara. Hyde crossed the line in 13.96 with O'Hara close behind in 13.97.

Jamaica secured two more medals in the girls' 3000m open, as Alethia McLaughlin was first across the line in 10:16.80, while teammate Marleena Eubanks, 10:29.67 was third behind silver medallist Taylor-Ashley Bean from Bermuda, 10:22.82.

The Jamaicans did not ease their medal assault throughout the day, winning three of the four 4x400m relays contested; the under-17 boys taking the spotlight with a record 3:13.01 run in their final. They smashed the old mark of 3:15.09, which was set by Trinidad and Tobago in 2002.

The under-17 girls final was won with a 3:44.64 clocking ahead of The Bahamas, 3:51.45. Barbados were third in 3:56.87.

Jamaica claimed their third consecutive mile relay gold medal in the Under-20 girls 4x400m final.

Third leg effort

A powerful second leg run by double gold medallist Semoya Campbell and an even better third leg effort by Janieve Russell, set up a massive win for the Jamaicans , with their 3:34.27 clocking proving too quick for The Bahamas, 3:40.44, and Barbados, 3:50.54.

They however, had to settle for third place in the Under-20 boys final in 3:12.48 behind Trinidad and Tobago, 3:11.62 and The Bahamas, next year's hosts, bringing down the curtains in 3:09.23.

Earlier in the Under-20 final, Stefan Fennell, 13.66, and Yannick Hart, 13.88, finished in the silver and bronze medal positions, respectively, as Guadeloupe's Wilhem Belocian took top honours in 13.63.

Janieve Russell had to settle for the silver medal in the Under-20 girls long jump with a 5.86m effort while Claudette Allen was third with 5.85m.

Samara Spencer 5.87m, and Tamara Moncrieffe, 5.79m, were second and third respectively, in the Under-17 girls long jump while Given Gibson 6.78m, was second in the boys' equivalent.

Ashani Wright was second in the boys' under-20 high jump after managing to clear 2.08m for the silver medal.