By Kurtis Hinds
Ashlyn Simmons and Kadia Rock both finished on the podium for Team Barbados, before a post-race disqualification saw the Bajans upgraded to a relay bronze, during the second session on the opening day of the CARIFTA Games in Grenada.
Competing in the Under-20 Girls’ 1 500m, Simmons’ blistering kick for home with 600m left stunned the field, as she led by as many as 30 metres at one stage. The sizeable gap was significantly reduced by Jamaica’s Kevongaye Fowler in the final 50 metres of the race, but Simmons held on to take gold in 4:36.94, ahead of Fowler in 4:37.39.
The performance brought the dozens of flag-waving Barbadian supporters to their feet at the Kirani James Stadium, with Ashlyn then being tossed a Barbados flag by her emotional mother, Lydia Simmons, who embraced her at the finish line. She will be eyeing another medal in the Under-20 Girls’ 800m.
Earlier, Kadia Rock clinched silver in the Under-20 Girls’ 400m, in a time of 53.21 seconds, behind Guyana’s Tianna Springer (52.47.)
In the opening session, Barbadian Shania Mottley secured bronze in the Under 17-Girls’ High Jump with a leap of 1.69m. That event was won by Saint Lucia’s Destinee Cenac, who cleared the bar with a best effort of 1.72m.
In the field, Naya Jules of Saint Lucia took silver in the Girls’ Open Pole Vault ( 2.95m). This is her third career medal in the event, following gold in 2024 and silver in 2025. Saint Lucia’s Denzel Phillips claimed bronze in the Boys’ U20 Discus Throw (53.24m).
When the evening session began, Barbadian Savannah Thorne was sixth in the Under-17 Girls’ 400m final (57.86) with Taje Coward also finishing sixth in the boys’ equivalent in 50.16 seconds.
A best throw of 46.91m saw Jayden Walcott finishing seventh in the Under-20 Boys’ Discus event, while Shamari Greenidge-Lewis was seventh in the Under-20 Boys’ 400m final, in a time of 46.93 seconds.
Laila McIntyre battled back to the front of the pack after the quick pace on the opening lap of the Under-17 Girls’ 1 500m threatened to derail her race. Running among the leading group thereafter, the first-time competitor at the Games battled hard to finish fourth in 4:48.42.
Zindzele Renwick-Williams then clocked 4:17.93 to finish fifth in the Under-15 Boys’ 1 500m, with his teammate Alec Simmons eighth in 4:24.55.
Up next on the track for Barbados was Luke McIntyre in the Under-20 Boys’ 1 500m, where he finished seventh in 4:07.83.
Josiah Gill (11.04) was eighth in the Under-17 Boys’ 100m, while Aniya Nurse ran a personal best 11.47 seconds in the Under-20 Girls’ equivalent to finish just outside the medals in fourth.
The session concluded with the Barbadian quartet finishing fourth in the Mixed 4x400m Relay Open. This was later upgraded to a bronze medal after the disqualification of the Bahamian team. Barbados clocked 3:24.36, which is a new junior national record.
Heading into day two, Barbados has so far secured one gold, one silver and two bronze medals, while Saint Lucia has won one gold, one silver and one bronze.
