FREEPORT, BAHAMAS, August 15–17 — The best race of the NACAC (North American, Central American & Caribbean Athletic Association) festivities turned out to be the 800 win by Handal Roban of Saint Vincent. The Penn State junior — who failed to make the NCAA final two months earlier — chased down Brandon Miller with a last lap attack, passing him with 20m left to win in 1:42.87.
In 2nd, Miller missed his best by 0.01 with a 1:43.15. Arkansas junior Tyrice Taylor got 3rd in a Jamaican Record 1:43.74.
For some of the U.S. team the meet meant a chance to position themselves for a better spot in the WA rankings and qualify for Tokyo. Regional championships such as this generate crucial points.
For steepler Daniel Michalski it was purely about hitting the Tokyo standard. Paced by training mate Kenneth Rooks in the early stages, he won steeple gold in a PR 8:14.07, with Rooks bronze at 8:26.52. USATF Champs steeple runner-up Michalski, 29, is an Indiana alum and an Airman 1st Class in the Air Force’s World Class Athlete Program, which has permitted him to train in Provo with BYU coach Ed Eyestone’s pro group.
Other U.S. winners included Drew Hunter in the 5000 (14:38.85), CJ Allen in the 400H (48.22), and Tyus Wilson in the high jump (7-4¼ [2.24]). Austin West took the decathlon with 8038 points after the leader, Kendrick Thompson of the Bahamas, was DQed in the 1500.
The U.S. men’s throwers did particularly well, with 6 medals total, gold going to Josh Awotunde in the shot (71-1½ [21.68]), Daniel Haugh in the hammer (252-11 [77.08]) and Curtis Thompson in the javelin at 286-3 (87.24), just one of his four throws beyond 80m.
Jamaica’s Nickisha Pryce took the 400 in 49.95, ahead of the 50.23 by former U.S. star Wadeline Venlogh (née Jonathas) now representing Haiti. Lynna Irby-Jackson ran 3rd in 50.47.
Nia Akins won gold in the 800 at 1:59.75. Other U.S. winners on the track were Emily Mackay in the 1500 (4:09.48), Krissy Gear in the steeple (9:35.27), and Taylor Roe with a 32:19.84 in the 10,000. (“If raising your ranking means running a 10K in the Bahamas… you run a 10K in the Bahamas.”)
Sanaa Barnes scored a high jump win over Vashti Cunningham, both at 6-3¼ (1.91). Alyssa Jones won the long jump with a 22-1½ (6.74). Janee’ Kassanavoid took the hammer at 243-9 (74.31) and Evie Bliss the javelin at 192-4 (58.62).
In total, the U.S. scored 36 medals, 16 of them gold.
NACAC MEN’S RESULTS
100(0.4): 1. Jerome Blake (Can) 9.95 PR; 2. Ryiem Forde (Jam) 10.01; 3. Rikkoi Brathwaite (BVI) 10.15.
200(-0.5): 1. Aaron Brown (Can) 20.27; 2. Christopher Taylor (Jam) 20.32; 3. Jose Figueroa (PR) 20.53.
400: 1. Kirani James (Grn) 44.48; 2. Rusheen McDonald (Jam) 45.04; 3. Wendell Miller (Bah) 45.12 PR; 4. Jenoah Mckiver (US) 45.12. Heats: II–1. Mckiver 44.96.
800: 1. Handal Roban (StV) 1:42.87 NR; 2. Brandon Miller (US) 1:43.15; 3. Tyrice Taylor (Jam) 1:43.74 NR; 4. Navasky Anderson (Jam) 1:44.18 PR.
1500: 1. Foster Malleck (Can) 3:37.54.
St: 1. Daniel Michalski (US) 8:14.07 PR; 2. Aaron Ahl (Can) 8:17.17 PR; 3. Kenneth Rooks (US) 8:26.52.
5000: 1. Drew Hunter (US) 14:38.85; 2. Cooper Teare (US) 14:38.89.
110H(-1.4): 1. Demario Prince (Jam) 13.35; 2. Dylan Beard (US) 13.39.
400H: 1. CJ Allen (US) 48.22; 2. Malik James-King (Jam) 48.28; 3. Assinie Wilson (Jam) 48.75; 4. Dennick Luke (Dom) 48.82 NR; 5. Aldrich Bailey (US) 48.88.
20W: 1. Erick Barrondo (Gua) 1:28:54.2; 2. José Ortíz (Gua) 1:28:55.4; 3. Nick Christie (US) 1:32:15.3; 4. Emmanuel Corvera (US) 1:34:06.
4 x 100: 1. Canada 38.05; 2. Jamaica 38.53; 3. Bahamas 38.57; 4. Barbados 39.03.
4 x 400: 1. Jamaica 3:02.86; 2. Mexico 3:05.40.
Mx4 x 400: 1. Jamaica 3:11.10.
HJ: 1. Tyus Wilson (US) 7-4¼ (2.24); 2. Donald Thomas (Bah) 7-3 (2.21); 3. Luis Castro (PR) 7-3; 4. Arvesta Troupe (US) 7-3.
LJ: 1. Nikaoli Williams (Jam) 26-9¼ (8.16) PR; 2. Will Williams (US) 26-1½ (7.96).
TJ: 1. Kaiwan Culmer (Bah) 54-4 (16.56); 2. Andy Hechavarría (Cub) 53-11¾ (16.45); 3. Will Claye (US) 53-8¼ (16.36).
SP: 1. Josh Awotunde (US) 71-1½ (21.68); 2. Uziel Muñoz (Mex) 68-6½ (20.89).
DT: 1. Fedrick Dacres (Jam) 213-7 (65.10); 2. Sam Mattis (US) 210-2 (64.06).
HT: 1. Daniel Haugh (US) 252-11 (77.08); 2. Rudy Winkler (US) 252-2 (76.87).
JT: 1. Curtis Thompson (US) 286-3 (87.24); 2. Dash Sirmon (US) 252-9 (77.04).
Dec: 1. Austin West (US) 8038.
NACAC WOMEN’S RESULTS
100(0.1): 1. Jonielle Smith (Jam) 11.05; 2. Liranyi Alonso (DR) 11.10; 3. Anthaya Charlton (Bah) 11.12.
200(-0.6): 1. Anthonique Strachan (Bah) 22.77; 2. Miriam Sanchez (Mex) 22.87.
400: 1. Nickisha Pryce (Jam) 49.95; 2. Wadeline Venlogh (Hai) 50.23 NR; 3. Lynna Irby-Jackson (US) 50.47.
800: 1. Nia Akins (US) 1:59.75; 2. Shafiqua Maloney (StV) 1:59.98.
1500: 1. Emily Mackay (US) 4:09.48; 2. Dani Jones (US) 4:10.49.
St: 1. Krissy Gear (US) 9:35.27; 2. Grace Fetherstonhaugh (Can) 9:43.91.
5000: 1. Anisleidis Ochoa (Cub) 15:35.80; 2. Bailey Hertenstein (US) 15:36.34.
10,000: 1. Taylor Roe (US) 32:19.84.
100H(-1.1): 1. Amoi Brown (Jam) 12.83; 2. Tatiana Ahoulou (Can) 13.01; 3. Aasia Laurencin (StL) 13.04.
400H: 1. Tia Adana Belle (Bar) 54.67; 2. Sanique Walker (Jam) 54.94 PR; 3. Yara Samantha Amador (Mex) 55.55 PR.
20W: 1. Rachelle De Orbeta (PR) 1:36:15.9 PR; 2. Mirna Ortiz (Gua) 1:37:52.6; 3. Katie Burnett (US) 1:45:16.4.
HJ: 1. Sanaa Barnes (US) 6-3¼ (1.91); 2. Vashti Cunningham (US) 6-3¼.
LJ: 1. Alyssa Jones (US) 22-1½ (6.74); 2. Alysbeth Felix (PR) 21-9½ (6.64); 3. Tyra Gittens-Spotsville (Tri) 21-9½.
TJ: 1. Shanieka Ricketts (Jam) 46-8¼ (14.23); 2. Euphenie Andre (US) 43-6 (13.26).
SP: 1. Sarah Mitton (Can) 65-8¼ (20.02); 2. Jessica Ramsey (US) 59-11¼ (18.27); 3. Jessica Woodard (US) 59-2¾ (18.05).
DT: 1. Samantha Hall (Jam) 200-9 (61.19); 2. Gabi Jacobs (US) 187-3 (57.07).
HT: 1. Janee’ Kassanavoid (US) 243-9 (74.31).
JT: 1. Evie Bliss (US) 192-4 (58.62); 2. Madison Wiltrout (US) 191-4 (58.33).
