Toronto, Ontario, August 10-12—The third edition of the NACAC (North American, Central America & Caribbean) Championships was the first that did not precede a World Championships in the same year. As a result, there was a noticeable improvement in the quality of Team USA and other teams as well. To be sure some of the area’s top athletes chose to skip this meet for various reasons. Nonetheless, 27 meet records were set and many events were closely contested at a high level.
In all, Team USA won 25 golds (lower than the 28 that they had won at each of the first two editions) and an all-time high 61 medals overall. Both of those totals were aided by the weakness (and in some cases the absence) of competition. The men and women swept the steeplechase medals, but they were the only 3 entrants in each race. In fact, in the 6 longest track events, the total entries amounted to only 22 runners.
In spite of some key losses to U.S. athletes, Jamaica also had a successful meet, with 7 golds and 21 total medals. The most impressive of Jamaica’s winners was Fedric Dacres, the reigning Pan-Am and Commonwealth Games gold medalist. He solidified his claim to being the top discus thrower in the world this year with a toss of 224-7 (68.47), well ahead of countryman Travis Smikle’s 214-9 (65.46).
An unprecedented 19 USATF winners competed and 11 of them, including 8 women, won individual titles. They included Ajee’ Wilson and Shamier Little, who turned in outstanding performances. Wilson led the 800 for the entire race and won the gold medal by running 1:57.52, her 8th straight meet under 2:00. Ex-NCAA champ Natoya Goule, who had beaten Wilson in their last encounter at the Monaco DL, took the silver for Jamaica.
Little, who won the Pan-Am 400H here 3 years ago, ran 53.32, the second-fastest time in the world this year, and also the second-fastest of her career. She beat a quality field that included Olympic finalist Janieve Russell of Jamaica (53.81) and USATF runner-up Georganne Moline (54.26). A third notable victory by an American woman over a Jamaican came in the 100H, in which Keni Harrison (12.55) beat ’15 world champion Danielle Williams (12.67).
On the men’s side, strong U.S. performances were turned in by Darrell Hill, who won the shot with a toss of 71-1½ (21.68), and Marquis Dendy, whose first-round long jump of 27-2½ (8.29) held up for the gold medal.
The hosts had some solid efforts, but won only two events. Ex-NCAA champion Brandon McBride won the 800 in 1:46.14 and the men’s 4×1 took the gold in 38.56 after the US botched the first exchange (between Jeff Demps and Kendal Williams) and failed to finish.
The meet was held at the University of Toronto’s Varsity Stadium, a facility with 5000 seats, all along the home straight. Approximate attendance was 1000/3500/2000 for the three days. The weather was perfect throughout—sunny and 80 (27C) each day—Sunday’s attendance was apparently affected by other events being held elsewhere in the city, including Toronto Blue Jays home games. The absence of Andre De Grasse also had an impact. The Canadian sprint star had been prominently featured in the meet’s marketing campaign and when a hamstring injury ended his season a month ago, the meet organizers reduced ticket prices and even offered partial refunds to those who had already paid full price.
NACAC MEN’S RESULTS
Toronto, Ontario, August 10-12—
(8/10—10K, 20W, TJ, SP; 8/11—100, 400, 800, 5K, 110H, HJ, HT, JT)
100(0.4): 1. Tyquendo Tracey (Jam) 10.03; 2. Kendal Williams (US) 10.11; 3. Cameron Burrell (US) 10.12;
4. Bismark Boateng (Can) 10.16; 5. Gavin Smellie (Can) 10.21; 6. Warren Fraser (Bah) 10.26;… dnf—Kenroy Anderson (Jam);… dq—Jason Rogers (StK).
200(1.7): 1. Kyle Greaux (Tri) 20.11; 2. Aaron Brown (Can) 20.20; 3. Nigel Ellis (Jam) 20.57; 4. Jahnoy Thompson (Jam) 20.59; 5. Jerome Blake (Can) 20.64; 6. Andrew Hudson (US) 20.67;… dq—Terrell Smith (US).
400: 1. Demish Gaye (Jam) 45.47; 2. Nery Brenes (CR) 45.67; 3. Fitzroy Dunkley (Jam) 45.76; 4. Myles Pringle (US) 45.99; 5. Yoandys Lescay (Cub) 46.21; 6. Alonzo Russell (Bah) 46.26.
800: 1. Brandon McBride (Can) 1:46.14; 2. Marco Arop (Can) 1:46.82; 3. Wesley Vázquez (PR) 1.47.63; 4. Anthonio Mascoll (Bar) 1:48.00; 5. Drew Piazza (US) 1:48.31; 6. Brandon Lasater (US) 1:50.91.
1500: 1. Izaic Yorks (US) 3:51.85; 2. Patrick Casey (US) 3:51.87; 3. Charles Philibert-Thiboutot (Can) 3:52.60; 4. Pedro Acuña Maya (Cub) 3:54.08.
St: 1. Andy Bayer (US) 8:28.55; 2. Travis Mahoney (US) 8:29.29; 3. Jordan Mann (US) 8:45.14.
5000: 1. Hassan Mead (US) 14:00.18; 2. Riley Masters (US) 14:01.04; 3. Justyn Knight (Can) 14:01.77; 4. Emmanuel Bor (US) 14:02.40; 5. Kemoy Campbell (Jam) 14:10.68.
10,000: 1. Lopez Lomong (US) 29:49.03; 2. Elkanah Kibet (US) 29:51.37; 3. Reed Fischer (US) 29:53.63; 4. Sergio Raez Villa (Can) 30:20.31.
110H(0.4): 1. Hansle Parchment (Jam) 13.28; 2. Aleec Harris (US) 13.49; 3. Shane Brathwaite (Bar) 13.52; 4. Jeffery Julmis (Hai) 13.63; 5. Ruebin Walters (Tri) 13.72; 6. Johnathan Cabral (Can) 14.07;… dq—Devon Allen (US).
400H: 1. Kyron McMaster (BVI) 48.18; 2. Annsert Whyte (Jam) 48.91; 3. Khallifah Rosser (US) 49.13; 4. Shawn Rowe (Jam) 49.40; 5. TJ Holmes (US) 49.79; 6. Leandro Zamora (Cub) 50.01; 7. Jehue Gordon (Tri) 50.12.
20W: 1. Evan Dunfee (Can) 1:25:39; 2. Nick Christie (US) 1:30:11; 3. John Cody Risch (US) 1:36:05;… dq—Emmanuel Corvera (US).
4 x 100: 1. Canada 38.56 (Bismark Boateng, Jerome Blake, Mobolade Ajomale, Aaron Brown); 2. Barbados 38.69; 3. Trinidad & Tobago 38.89; 4. Jamaica 38.96; 5. Turks & Caicos 41.21;… dnf—United States (Jeff Demps, Kendal Williams, Cordero Gray, Cameron Burrell).
4 x 400: 1. United States 3:00.60 (Nathan Strother, Obi Igbokwe, Michael Cherry 45.19, Kahmari Montgomery 44.48);
2. Bahamas 3:03.80 (Alonzo Russell 44.20); 3. Cuba 3:04.11 (Yoandys Lescay 44.19); 4. Canada 3:04.74 (Nathan George 44.67); 5. Barbados 3:05.97;… dq—Jamaica (3:03.78).
Field Events
HJ: 1. Jeron Robinson (US) 7-5¾ (2.28); 2. Michael Mason (Can) 7-5¾; 3. tie, Donald Thomas (Bah) & Django Lovett (Can) 7-5¾; 5. Jamal Wilson (Bah) 7-3¼ (2.22); 6. Edgar Rivera (Mex) 7-3¼;… 8. Trey Culver (US) 7-1 (2.16).
PV: 1. Scott Houston (US) 17-10½ (5.45); 2. Shawn Barber (Can) 17-8½ (5.40);… nh—Cole Walsh (US).
LJ: 1. Marquis Dendy (US) 27-2½ (8.29) (27-2½, f, f, 26-¾, 25-7¼, f) (8.29, f, f, 7.94, 7.80, f);
2. Tajay Gayle (Jam) 27-½ (8.24) PR (f, 26-2¼, 26-9, 26-¾, 26-8¼, 27-½) (f, 7.98, 8.15, 7.94, 8.13, 8.24);
3. Ramone Bailey (Jam) 26-6½ (8.09); 4. Tyrone Smith (Ber) 26-2¼ (7.98); 5. Andwuelle Wright (Tri) 26-¼ (7.93); 6. Ifeanyi Otuonye (TKS) 25-6¼ (7.78); 7. Damarcus Simpson (US) 25-5½ (7.76).
TJ: 1. Jordan A. Díaz (Cub) 55-2¾ (16.83); 2. Chris Benard (US) 54-10¾ (16.73); 3. KeAndre Bates (US) 54-4¾ (16.58);
4. Yordanis Durañona (Dom) 52-8 (16.05); 5. Kaiwan Culmer (Bah) 52-6½ (16.01); 6. Alberto Alvarez (Mex) 51-8½ (15.76).
SP: 1. Darrell Hill (US) 71-1½ (21.68) (67-8, 70-7¼, 71-1½, f, f, f) (20.62, 21.52, 21.68, f, f, f);
2. Tim Nedow (Can) 68-11¾ (21.02); 3. O’Dayne Richards (Jam) 68-6½ (20.89); 4. Ashinia Miller (Jam) 68-5 (20.85); 5. Eldred Henry (BVI) 67-8¼ (20.63) NR; 6. Curtis Jensen (US) 67-¾ (20.44).
DT: 1. Fedrick Dacres (Jam) 224-7 (68.47) (216-2, 221-1, 210-7, f, 218-0, 224-7) (65.89, 67.39, 64.19, f, 66.46, 68.47);
2. Travis Smikle (Jam) 214-9 (65.46); 3. Reggie Jagers (US) 205-8 (62.70); 4. Mason Finley (US) 201-11 (61.55); 5. Abel Gilet (Hai) 140-9 (42.91); 6. Rickssen Opont (Hai) 133-6 (40.70).
HT: 1. Roberto Sawyers (CR) 239-4 (72.94); 2. Alex Young (US) 238-8 (72.75); 3. Adam Keenan (Can) 238-7 (72.72); 4. Rudy Winkler (US) 231-1 (70.45); 5. Caniggia Raynor (Jam) 212-8 (64.83).
JT: 1. Anderson Peters (Grn) 261-4 (79.65); 2. Curtis Thompson (US) 249-5 (76.02); 3. Markim Felix (Grn) 246-6 (75.14);
4. Capers Williamson (US) 244-0 (74.39); 5. Evan Karakolis (Can) 223-2 (68.02); 6. Brian Donna (Hai) 168-10 (51.46).
NACAC WOMEN’S RESULTS
(8/10—St, 5K, 20W, HJ, DT, HT; 8/11—100, 400, 800, 10K, 100H, PV, LJ)
100(0.9): 1. Jenna Prandini (US) 10.96; 2. Jonielle Smith (Jam) 11.07 =PR; 3. Crystal Emmanuel (Can) 11.11; 4. Dezerea Bryant (US) 11.17; 5. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jam) 11.18; 6. Khalifa St. Fort (Tri) 11.28.
200(-0.3): 1. Shericka Jackson (Jam) 22.64; 2. Crystal Emmanuel (Can) 22.67; 3. Phyllis Francis (US) 22.91;
4. Jodean Williams (Jam) 23.19; 5. Semoy Hackett (Tri) 23.27; 6. Ty’Nia Gaither (Bah) 23.41; 7. Brittany Brown (US) 23.46.
400: 1. Stephenie Ann McPherson (Jam) 51.15, 2. Aiyanna Stiverne (Can) 52.00; 3. Brionna Thomas (US) 52.19; 4. Courtney Okolo (US) 52.21; 5. Christine Day (Jam) 52.53; 6. Maddie Price (Can) 53.54.
800: 1. Ajee’ Wilson (US) 1:57.52; 2. Natoya Goule (Jam) 1:57.95; 3. Rose M. Almanza (Cub) 2:00.15; 4. Raevyn Rogers (US) 2:00.75; 5. Lindsey Butterworth (Can) 2:00.81; 6. Simoya Campbell (Jam) 2:00.98.
1500: 1. Kate Grace (US) 4:06.23; 2. Shannon Osika (US) 4:06.92; 3. Gabriela Staford (Can) 4:07.36; 4. Rachel Schneider (US) 4:09.50; 5. Nicole Sifuentes (Can) 4:18.77; 6. Angelin Figueroa (PR) 4:33.15.
St: 1. Mel Lawrence (US) 9:45.36; 2. Emily Oren (US) 9:56.66; 3. Megan Rolland (US) 9:59.85.
5000: 1. Rachel Schneider (US) 15:26.19; 2. Lauren Paquette (US) 15:39.40; 3. Kate Van Buskirk (Can) 15:50.35.
10,000: 1. Marielle Hall (US) 33:27.19; 2. Rochelle Kanuho (US) 33:28.33; 3. Rachel Cliff (Can) 33:30.16; 4. Sarah Pagano (US) 33:33.35.
100H(0.9): 1. Keni Harrison (US) 12.55; 2. Danielle Williams (Jam) 12.67; 3. Andrea Vargas (CR) 12.91; 4. Queen Harrison (US) 12.93; 5. Devynne Charlton (Bah) 13.07; 6. Yanique Thompson (Jam) 13.17.
400H: 1. Shamier Little (US) 53.32; 2. Janieve Russell (Jam) 53.81; 3. Georganne Moline (US) 54.26; 4. Zurian Hechevarría (Cub) 55.71; 5. Leah Nugent (Jam) 55.74; 6. Sparkle McKnight (Tri) 56.33.
20W: 1. Maria Michta-Coffey (US) 1:36:34; 2. Mirna Sucely Ortiz (Gua) 1:38:36; 3. Katie Burnett (US) 1:39:31; 4. Dalia Oliveras (PR) 1:41:01;… dq—Robyn Stevens (US).
4 x 100: 1. United States 42.50 (Kiara Parker, Shania Collins, Dezerea Bryant, Jenna Prandini); 2. Jamaica 43.33, 3. Canada 43.50.
4 x 400: 1. United States 3:26.08 (Briana Guillory, Jasmine Blocker, Kiana Horton 51.89, Courtney Okolo 49.78); 2. Jamaica 3:27.25; 3. Canada 3:28.04.
Field Events
HJ: 1. Levern Spencer (StL) 6-3¼ (1.91); 2. Liz Patterson (US) 6-2 (1.88); 3. Loretta Blaut (US) 5-11½ (1.82); 4. Ximena Esquivel (Mex) 5-11½;… nh—Alyx Treasure (Can).
PV: 1. Katie Nageotte (US) 15-7 (4.75) out PR; 2. Yarisley Silva (Cub) 15-5 (4.70); 3. Sandi Morris (US) 15-3 (4.65); 4. Alisandra Negrete (Mex) 13-5¼ (4.10);… nh—Anicka Newell (Can).
LJ: 1. Sha’Keela Saunders (US) 21-8 (6.60); 2. Quanesha Burks (US) 21-7½ (6.59); 3. Tisanna Hickling (Jam) 20-11¼ (6.38);
4. Tyra Gittens (Tri) 20-6¼ (6.25); 5. Chantel Malone (BVI) 20-3¾ (6.19); 6. Bianca Stuart (Bah) 19-11¾ (6.09).
TJ: 1. Shanieka Ricketts (Jam) 46-9 (14.25) (45-3, 46-¾, f, 44-5½, 46-7½, 46-8¾) (13.79, 14.04, f, 13.55, 14.21, 14.24);
2. Tori Franklin (US) 46-2¾ (14.09); 3. Thea LaFond (Dom) 45-1 (13.74); 4. Caroline Ehrhardt (Can) 44-8¾ (13.63); 5. Lynnika Pitts (US) 43-11¼ (13.39); 6. Ayanna Alexander (Tri) 42-5½ (12.94).
SP: 1. Maggie Ewen (US) 59-9½ (18.22); 2. Cleopatra Borel (Tri) 58-6 (17.83); 3. Jessica Ramsey (US) 58-4¾ (17.80).
DT: 1. Yaimé Pérez (Cub) 203-3 (61.97); 2. Valarie Allman (US) 195-9 (59.67); 3. Maggie Ewen (US) 193-7 (59.00); 4. Rachel Andres (Can) 182-7 (55.65).
HT: 1. DeAnna Price (US) 244-9 (74.60) (242-6, 244-9, 243-3, f, f, f) (73.92, 74.60, 74.14, f, f, f);
2. Jillian Weir (Can) 236-1 (71.96); 3. Brooke Andersen (US) 229-10 (70.05); 4. Tynelle Gumbs (BVI) 192-10 (58.78).
JT: 1. Ariana Ince (US) 195-6 (59.59); 2. Bethany Drake (US) 179-6 (54.71) PR; 3. Coralys Ortiz (PR) 179-6 (54.71); 4. Rachel Andres (Can) 142-5 (43.40).
