HAMILTON, Bermuda - There was unexpected joy and pain for The Bahamas in the long hurdles at these 41st CARIFTA Track and Field Championships in Hamilton, Bermuda on Sunday night.
Mesha Newbold won a stunning gold medal in the first event on the track of Sunday's evening session - the under-17 girls 300-meter (m) hurdles. She powered home in 43.98 seconds, Jeminise Parris, from Trinidad & Tobago, secured the silver medal, in 44.69 seconds, and Jamaican Andrenette Knight claimed the bronze medal, in 44,76 seconds.
"I feel awesome!" said an excited Newbold. " I knew that I could do it. I saw when the girl from Trinidad got out, but I just maintained my pace. I wasn't worried at all. I pushed and pushed and got the gold. It's an awesome feeling. I'm just so happy that I made my country proud."
There was literally pain for The Bahamas' Katrina Seymour. The junior national record holder was reportedly taken to the local hospital here in Hamilton after her race. Apparently, she had been suffering from a heart condition all season long, but still went out there and represented her country to the best of her ability.
Seymour was fourth in the 400m hurdle final in 1:00.70, and fellow Bahamian Pedrya Seymour brought up the rear in 1:04.07. Jamaican Janieve Russell won the gold medal, in 58.80 seconds, Kernesha Spann, from Trinidad & Tobago, secured the silver medal, in 1:00.23, and Jamaican Terrian Williams won the bronze medal, in 1:00.49
For Bahamians here Bermuda, the main concern was the health of Katrina Seymour. She had to be taken off on a stretcher and transported to a local hospital. Up until that time, she was expected to be a part of the 4x400m relay pool for The Bahamas.
"I hope that she is okay, but it looks like she was hurt pretty bad," said her teammate Pedrya Seymour. "With me, the wind was hard but I just tried to get out there and give a good account of myself. I'm a little disappointed but I'll bounce back."
In the under-17 boys 400m hurdles, The Bahamas finished third and fourth in the persons of D'Mitry Charlton and Xavier Coakley. Charlton was third, in 54.99 seconds and Coakley finished fourth, in 55.05 seconds. Jamaicans Okeen and Marvin Williams finished first and second, in times of 53.15 and 54.96 seconds respectively.
"I was right there and just let it get away," said Charlton. "The second to last hurdle, I hit that and that cost me. Thank God that I was able to win a medal. I wanted to improve on my personal best time - that was the main thing for me."
As Charlton mentioned, he stumbled over the penultimate hurdle. Coakley finished very strong but just couldn't catch the first three runners.
"I gave it my all - it just wasn't good enough," said Coakley. "I'm a lil disappointed but that's how it goes sometimes."
In the under-20 boys 400m hurdles, Bahamian Jermaine Smith simply appeared to be out-classed by the other runners in the field.
Jamaican Omar McLeod won the event in 52.35 seconds, his teammate Shavon Barnes was second, in 52.75 seconds, and Tramaine Maloney, from Barbados, won the bronze medal, in 53.83 seconds. Smith settled for sixth, in 55.66 seconds.
"A lot of my steps were off today," he explained. "I tried to maintain my form and my composure, but it was difficult to keep up with those guys. A lack of practice might have cost me, but they'll see me again."
Up until late Sunday night, Bahamians were still awaiting word on the health status of Katrina Seymour.

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