FREEPORT, Bahamas – A pair of 1-2 finishes led to a haul of nine medals, five of them gold, for Team USATF Friday on the first day of the 5th NACAC Athletics Championships at Freeport Stadium - Grand Bahama.
Reversing the placings from the last time this meet was held in 2022, Daniel Haugh came out on top in the men's hammer throw with a 77.08/252-10 in round three to beat American record holder and reigning USATF champion Rudy Winkler, who earned silver with a best of 76.87/252-2. Winkler set the meet record in 2022 with a 78.29/256-10 effort, and he led through two rounds here before Haugh's big throw.
Temperatures in the mid-80s, coupled with a fresh sea breeze, tempered the pace in the men's 5000, where Andrew Hunter outkicked Cooper Teare to lead a 1-2 U.S. sweep. Hunter, who was fourth at the USATF Championships, clocked 14:38.85 to edge Teare, the fifth-placer at Eugene two weeks ago, by .04 seconds.
Taylor Roe also seemed untroubled by the warm conditions as she smashed the meet record in the women’s 10,000 with a 32:19.84 that put her more than a minute ahead of the silver medalist. Roe, who has picked up three U.S. titles on the road this year, including the half marathon crown, chopped almost a minute off the Championships record of 33:12.42 that was set in 2022 by Stephanie Bruce.
Fresh off a massive lifetime best to win the USATF Championships, 2022 World Championships bronze medalist Josh Awotunde dominated the men's shot put with three throws beyond 21 meters, including his winning blast of 21.68/71-1.5. Awotunde tied the meet record that was set by Darrell Hill in 2018 and won by more than two feet over Mexico's Uziel Muñoz, the eighth place finisher at last summer's Olympic Games in Paris.
Two years ago, Alyssa Jones captured her first national title in the women's long jump, taking gold at the USATF U20 Championships. She added her first senior international crown with a 6.74/22-1.5 in round two after opening up with a 6.70/21-11.75 on her first attempt. That would have been good enough to win, and she added a 6.63/21-9 in round three to solidify a superior series.
The bronze medalist at the USATF Championships, Dylan Beard moved up to silver in the men's 110 hurdles with a 13.39 into a stiff wind. Baylor's Demario Prince took the gold in 13.35. U.S. champion Ja'Kobe Tharp easily advanced to the final with a 13.47 in the heats, but did not start the final.
Sam Mattis, the No. 2 all-time U.S. performer, ended up on the second step of the podium in the men's discus with a second round toss of 64.06/210-2 to earn silver. Mattis had the lead after that effort, before Jamaica's Fedrick Dacres, the 2019 World Championships silver medalist, topped that in the next round with the winning throw of 65.10/213-7. USATF champion Reggie Jagers placed fourth with a best of 60.46/198-4.
In running event prelims, CJ Allen (49.29) and Aldrich Bailey (49.62) had the two fastest times in the men’s 400 hurdles. Brandon Miller was the quickest of all advancers in the men’s 800, winning heat two in 1:46.14.
Jenoah Mckiver was the only man to dip under 45 seconds in the 400, clocking 44.96 to take heat two, and Lynna Irby-Jackson won the first heat of the women’s 400 in 51.17. Jessica Wright secured a spot in the women’s 400 hurdles final with a 55.0 in the first heat.
Results are available here.
TEAM USATF MEDALISTS (9)
GOLD (5)
Alyssa Jones, women's long jump (6.74/22-1.5) Josh Awotunde, men's shot put (21.68/71-1.5) Andrew Hunter, men's 5000 (14:38.85) Taylor Roe, women’s 10,000 (32:19.84) Daniel Haugh, men's hammer (77.08/252-10)
SILVER (4)
Sam Mattis, men's discus (64.06/210-2) Dylan Beard, men's 110 hurdles (13.39) Cooper Teare, men's 5000 (14:38.89) Rudy Winkler, men's hammer (76.87/252-2)
BRONZE (0)