Jamaican athletes produced brilliant performances on yesterday’s final day of track and field competition, collecting six medals – five gold and one silver – to end the Commonwealth Games with 18 medals: 10 gold, three silver, and five bronze. Jamaica finished second on the athletics medal table behind Australia, who topped the standings with 30 (10 gold, 10 silver and 10 bronze).
The gold rush for Jamaica began in the first session through Dejanea Oakley in the women’s 400 metres and Jordan Scott in the men’s triple jump, two athletes who have been among the world’s best this season in their respective events.
Ranked number two in the world in the women’s 400 metres, Oakley remained unbeaten this season, cruising to victory in 50.21 seconds. It was a Caribbean one-two as Barbados’ Sada Williams claimed the silver medal in 50.99, while Nigeria’s Ella Onojuvwevwo took bronze in 51.80.
Scott, ranked world number three in the men’s triple jump, continued his dream season by capturing the gold medal. His winning leap of 16.72 metres came on his third attempt with a legal wind of +2.5 m/s. India’s Praveen Chithravel won silver with 16.58m while compatriot Selva Prabhu Thirumaran claimed bronze with 16.52m.
Jamaica’s other three victories came in the second session through national record holder Navasky Anderson in the men’s 800 metres, the women’s 4x100m relay and the mixed 4x400m relay.
Anderson, who had to dive across the line in the semifinals to secure fourth place and a spot in the final, had no such problems in the championship race. He produced a superb run to claim his first major international title in 1:45.31. Australia’s Luke Boyes took the silver medal while Kenya’s Wycliffe Kinyamal finished third for bronze.
With three finalists from the women’s 200 metres – Alana Reid, Ashanti Moore and Lavanya Williams – joining 100 metres finalist Jodean Williams, Jamaica struck gold in the women’s 4x100m relay. The quartet stopped the clock at 42.65 seconds to edge Canada, who took silver in 42.76, while Trinidad and Tobago claimed bronze in 43.07.
Oakley completed a golden double after running a composed anchor leg to lead Jamaica to victory in the mixed 4x400m relay in 3:10.97. England finished second in 3:11.58 while Nigeria took bronze in 3:12.85. The other members of the Jamaican team were Zandrion Barnes, Leah Anderson and Delano Kennedy.
Jamaica’s other medal on the day came in the first session when Federick Dacres threw 65.10m to win the silver medal in the men’s discus. Australia’s Matthew Denny captured gold with 67.73m while England’s Lawrence Okoye took bronze with 64.45m.
Other Jamaican performances on the final day saw Barnes finish seventh in the men’s 400 metres in 45.68, Ackelia Smith placed eighth in the women’s long jump with 6.52m, and the men’s 4x100m relay team of Ackeem Blake, Mario Watson, Jerome Campbell, and Christopher Taylor finished fifth in 39.07 seconds.
