Reuberth ends SVG’s Carifta Games athletics medal drought

Rebeurth Boyde ended a five-year athletics medal drought at the Junior Carifta Games for St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), when he gained silver in the male Under-20 200 metres last Monday evening at the Kim Collins Stadium in St Kitts.{{more}}

Boyde made good of a limited field to record 21.70 seconds in the half lap event at the 44th edition of the premier junior track and field event in the Caribbean.

His time in the final though was slower than a 21.22 seconds clocking in the heats.

Boyde placed second to Mario Burke of Barbados, whose winning time was 21.51 seconds, with Kittian Warren Hazel – 21.81 seconds, completing the medallists.

Speaking to SEARCHLIGHT on Tuesday from St Kitts, Boyde said that at the beginning of the race, he realised that the opportunity was there for a medal, so he made that extra effort.

Apart from the top three finishers, the other competitor to complete the race was Antigua and Barbuda’s Kevin Simon, as Trinidadian Jonathon Farinha failed to cross the finish line.

Other finalists – Jamaicans Nigel Ellis and Chad Walker and Bahamian Tyler Bowe, did not show up at the call.

But for an elated Boyde, it was a happy ending to his second and final year at the Carifta Games.

“I am very pleased and very happy for what I did and I am very proud…. I want to thank everybody who helped me and pushed me… I will try to do my best to keep up the good work,” Boyde noted.

Meanwhile, Boyde’s coach, Garth deShong, joined in the praise.

“Firstly, I am pleased with his performance as the hard work that went into it leading up to the Carifta Games and motivation from his twin brother Reberto played an integral part in him reaching both sprint finals,” deShong said.

“As a coach I am happy notwithstanding the limited resources; we made maximum use of it though each and every day… The togetherness was also a major factor.

de Shong, who has been the Boydes coach for the past four years, thanked their parents, fellow coach Godfrey Harry, Afeisha Millington, Jameson Samuel and the workers at the Victoria Park, with whom he said they have forged a good relationship.

Boyde’s medal achievement was more than a personal achievement, as it was the first time a Vincentian male athlete won a medal in a sprint event at the Carifta Games, which dates back to 1972.

Equally, Boyde in his debut year in 2014, failed to make it to the 200 m final. Additionally, Boyde recorded his personal bests in both the 100 and 200 m.

The other medals copped by males were in the Long Jump, Shot Put, Discus, Javelin, Triple Jump, High Jump, 800 m, 1,500 m, 3,000 m and 5,000 m.

The last medal to be claimed by a Vincentian was attained by Delhonni-Nicol Samuel, who gained silver at the 2009 games held in Vieux Fort, St Lucia, in the 5,000 m for Under-20 males.

At this country’s most recent showing in St Kitts, apart from Boyde, the other Vincentian who competed was Shaffiqua Maloney. However, her participation was restricted to a run in the Under-18 400m.

Reports suggest that Maloney, based in St Kitts, hobbled to the finish line in the event.

She did not contest her other listed event – the 200m. (RT)