Bajan Team Excels with 77 Medals at 37th Annual Huntsman World Senior Games

A 61-member Bajan team has snapped up 77 medals as they compete in athletics and cycling at the 37th Annual Huntsman World Senior Games.

They are among 12 000 athletes participating in the games in Southern Utah.

Most of the medals have come in track and field competition at Greater Zion Stadium on the campus of Utah Tech University. The squad of 33 managed 74 medals over three days of competition, with the women leading the table on 14506, nearly doubling Utah’s 7834 in second place, and the men a commendable ninth with 2424 points.

Ainsley Lovell alone had a whopping 13 of Barbados’ 40 gold medals, competing across multiple events in the women’s 70-74, 64+, and 70+ divisions. She won in the 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m, long jump, and standing long jump.

Jennifer Swanston-Jones seized victory in the women’s 65-69 50m, 100m, 200m, javelin throw, long jump, shot put, and triple jump. She also had silver in high jump and standing long jump.

Gloria Crookendale came out on top in the women’s 75-79 and 75+ 50m, the 75-79 100m, 70-79 200m, 75-79 200m, and 75-79 standing long jump. She was a bronze medallist in discus throw as well.

Not to be left out, Kathy Harper-Hall added to her three-figure all-time medal tally with four more gold medals in the women’s 85-89 and 80+ categories, taking the 100m, 200m, and standing long jump titles. Harper-Hall, who has won over 100 medals since Barbados first competed at these Games 21 years ago, added silver in the 50m.

Janita Austin will return home with four gold medals, in the women’s 70-74 and 70-79 discus throw, the 70-74 and 70+ high Jump, and silver in the shot put, javelin throw, long jump, and standing long jump.

Wendy Barrow-Smith captured gold in the women’s 65-69 discus throw and standing long jump, silver in the shot put, silver in the 60-69 standing long jump, and silver in the 65-69 triple jump.

Willaby Bourne was among the standouts for the men on the track. In the 75-79 class, he won the 400m, got silver in the 200m, and helped his team to silver in 4×100m. Atherley Burrowes was victorious in the men’s 65-69 200m and 400m.

The four-member cycling team enjoyed their moments of glory as well, with Alan Cadogan winning bronze in the hill climb and silver in the criterium, whilst Ronald Harding was third and took bronze in the criterium.

Barbados’ team, which included 24 supporters, will be well pleased with their week’s work in Utah, extending the nation’s reign of success at the Huntsman Senior Games.

(TF)