Guyana enjoyed a strong start to the 53rd Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) Games 2026, securing five medals on the opening day at the Kirani James Stadium on Saturday, led by dominant performances in the 400m events.
Malachi Austin powered to gold in the Boys’ Under-20 400m final, clocking 46.01 seconds to finish ahead of Bahamian Zion Davis (46.18s) and Jamaican Jabari Matheson (46.37s). Austin had earlier signalled his intent after entering the final as the fastest qualifier with a time of 46.00 seconds.
Tianna Springer delivered Guyana’s first gold medal of the championships in the Girls’ Under-20 400m, stopping the clock at 52.47 seconds. Barbadian Kadia Rock (53.21s) and Jamaica’s Breana Brown (54.54s) completed the podium. Although she fell short of her targeted record, Springer maintained her dominance in the event, having now won the 400m title in 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026. She also advanced as the fastest qualifier earlier in the day with 52.83 seconds.
Guyana’s medal tally was further boosted in the distance events. Jermaine Shepherd claimed silver in the Boys’ Under-17 1500m, finishing in four minutes 11.12 seconds, just behind Jamaica’s Jevaughn Tomlin (4:10.92), while Luke Plummer of Jamaica took bronze in 4:12.19. In the Boys’ Under-20 1500m, Javon Roberts secured bronze with a personal best of 4:01.42. Jamaica’s Joel Morgan won gold in 4:00.96, with Trinidad and Tobago’s Darius Harding taking silver in 4:00. 99. Ebo McNeil placed 10th in 4:11.72.
Sprint events produced mixed results for the Guyanese contingent. In the Boys’ Under-17 100m final, Malique Kendall finished sixth in 10.94 seconds after qualifying with a personal best 10.75 seconds. Jamaica’s Kai Kelly won the event in 10.37 seconds, while Trinidad and Tobago’s Jayden Goodridge (10.48 s) and Jaquan Douglas (10.67 s) were second and third, respectively.
In the Boys’ Under-20 100m final, Onesi Dunn placed sixth in 10.53 seconds, having earlier secured the final qualifying spot with 10.48 seconds. Bermuda’s Miles Outerbridge took gold in 10.21 seconds, followed by Jamaica’s Nyron Wade and Trinidad and Tobago’s Trevaughn Stewart. Gordon Thompson (10.67s) did not advance beyond the heats.
On the women’s side, Akeela Dover (12.43s) in the Under-20 100m, along with Under-17 athletes Teisanna Harris (12.00s) and Angel Jeffrey (12.23s), failed to progress past the heats. Olivia Solomon also exited in the Under-17 400m heats after clocking 57.72 seconds. In the Boys’ Under-17 400m, Jarel Campbell ran 54.94 seconds but did not advance.
The highlight of the evening came in the Mixed 4x400m relay, where Guyana’s quartet of Tishawn Easton, Akeela Dover, Malachi Austin and Tianna Springer shattered the CARIFTA record to secure gold. The team clocked three minutes 20.79 seconds, eclipsing the previous mark of 3:23.51 set by Guyana in 2024. Jamaica (3:22.27s) and the Bahamas (3:23.11s) completed the podium, with all three medallists going under the old record.
At the end of day one, Guyana had amassed three gold, one silver and one bronze medal in an encouraging start to the championships. Competition continues today with Guyanese athletes set to compete in the 200m heats, the javelin throw, the 800m races and the 4x100m relays. (Michelangelo Jacobus)
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