Little runs world’s No. 2 time this year at 53.32, helping Americans win 11 gold medals on final day to finish meet with 25 overall; Canada captures first relay in meet history with men’s 4x100 title

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

It’s been the summer of Shamier Little in the women’s 400-meter hurdles and the trend continued Sunday at the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Championships in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

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With world-leader Sydney McLaughlin deciding not to compete following the NCAA Division 1 Championships in June, Little has grabbed the spotlight, not only against her American peers, but the rest of the world, and she did so again at University of Toronto’s Varsity Stadium.

Since a second-place finish June 7 to fellow American Dalilah Muhammad at the Bislett Games in Norway, Little has won four consecutive championship or Diamond League races with sub-54 performances, clocking a season-best 53.32 seconds Sunday to hold off Jamaica’s Janieve Russell (53.81) and improve her No. 2 mark in the world.

Little captured one of 11 gold medals Sunday for the Americans, who secured 25 overall during the three-day meet.
Georganne Moline, runner-up June 24 to Little at the USATF Outdoor Championships in Iowa, grabbed bronze for the U.S. in 54.26.

After not capturing a medal in the women’s 400, Courtney Okolo rebounded in impressive fashion for the Americans on the anchor of the 4x400 relay, rallying past Jamaica on the strength of a 49.78 split to prevail in 3:26.08. Kiana Horton and Jasmine Blocker, who ran with Okolo on the victorious 4x400 relay July 15 at the inaugural Athletics World Cup in London, also contributed, along with leadoff leg Briana Guillory.

Kiara Parker, Shania Collins, Dezerea Bryant and Jenna Prandini led the Americans to a win in the 4x100 relay in 42.50. Bryant was also a member of the winning U.S. relay at the 2015 meet in Costa Rica.

Nathan Strother, Obi Igbokwe, Michael Cherry and Kahmari Montgomery dominated the 4x400 relay for the U.S., securing victory in 3:00.60.

With the Americans not executing the exchange from the first to second leg on the men’s 4x100 relay, it opened the door for Canada to capture its first relay title in NACAC history. Bismark Boateng, Jerome Blake, Mobolade Ajomale and Aaron Brown clocked 38.56 to hold off Barbados (38.69).

Although Jamaica didn’t win a relay, the country earned three gold medals on the final day, with world leader Fedrick Dacres winning the discus throw with a sixth-round effort of 224-7 (68.47m). Fellow Jamaican Traves Smikle took second at 214-9 (65.46m) and American Reggie Jagers placed third at 205-8 (62.70m).

Shanieka Ricketts repeated as women’s triple jump champion for Jamaica, overtaking American record holder Tori Franklin in the fifth round, then building on her lead with a sixth-round leap of 46-9 (14.25m). Franklin held on for second at 46-2.75 (14.09m) and Dominica’s Thea Noeliva Lafon placed third at 45-1 (13.74m).

Shericka Jackson won the 200 for Jamaica in 22.64, edging Crystal Emmanuel (22.67) and preventing Canada from crowning its first NACAC women’s champion. Reigning World 400 gold medalist Phyllis Francis took third in 22.91.

Maggie Ewen became the first American female and only the third in meet history to earn medals in two throwing events by winning the shot put with a third-round effort of 59-9 (18.22m). Ewen also took bronze Friday in the discus throw.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Cleopatra Borel, the 2007 NACAC champion, took second at 58-6 (17.83m) and American Jessica Ramsey finished third at 58-4.75 (17.80m).

Andy Bayer became the first American male athlete to win multiple NACAC gold medals in the same individual event, repeating in the 3,000 steeplechase in 8:28.55. The U.S. earned its third podium sweep of the meet, with Travis Mahoney taking silver in 8:29.29 and Jordan Mann finishing third in 8:45.14.

Marquis Dendy made his first attempt in the men’s long jump hold up for the remainder of the competition, producing a wind-legal leap of 27-2.50 (8.29m). Jamaica earned silver and bronze with Tajay Gayle jumping 27-0.50 (8.24m) and Ramone Bailey delivering a leap of 26-6.50 (8.09m).

Kyron McMaster of the British Virgin Islands won the men’s 400 hurdles in 48.18, with Jamaica’s Annsert Whyte taking silver in 48.91 and American Khallifah Rosser grabbing bronze in 49.13.

Kate Grace surged ahead of fellow American Shannon Osika (4:06.92) in the final 100 meters of the 1,500 to prevail in 4:06.23, marking the second time the U.S. earned two NACAC medals in the event.

Canada’s Gabe Stafford held on for bronze in 4:07.36, with 2015 champion Rachel Schneider placing fourth in 4:09.50.

Izaic Yorks edged Patrick Casey by a 3:51.85 to 3:51.87 margin, giving the U.S. gold and silver in the men’s 1,500 for the second straight NACAC meet. Canadian Charles Philibert-Thiboutot earned bronze in 3:52.60.

American Scott Houston won the men’s pole vault with a 17-10.50 (5.45m) clearance, edging Canada’s Shawn Barber at 17-8.50 (5.40m).

Ariana Ince produced a sixth-round throw of 195-6 (59.59m) to win the women’s javelin title for the U.S., with American Bethany Drake and Puerto Rico’s Coralys Ortiz tying for second at 179-6 (54.71m), but Drake earning silver based on a better second mark.

Aside from not finishing the men’s 4x100 relay, the U.S. was only shut out of a medal in three individual events, the final one being the men’s 200, with Trinidad and Tobago’s Kyle Greaux capturing gold in 20.11. Brown took silver for Canada in 20.20 and Jamaica’s Nigel Ellis earned bronze in 20.57.