NACAC Championships Day 1: Jerome Blake (9.95 CR), Jonielle Smith (11.05), Josh Awotunde (21.68 SP)
Freeport, Bahamas – August 15, 2025. The opening day of the 2025 NACAC Championships delivered fireworks on the track and in the field, with championship records, national pride, and standout performances highlighting a thrilling start to the three-day meet.
Men's and women's 100m finals:
Canada’s Jerome Blake stole the spotlight in the men’s 100 metres, powering to gold in 9.95 seconds, a new NACAC Championships record. The Jamaican-born Canadian sprinter pulled away in the final 30 metres, edging Ryiem Forde of Jamaica (10.01) and Rikkoi Brathwaite of the British Virgin Islands (10.15). The performance underscored Blake’s growing status as a global contender as Canada continues its resurgence in sprinting.
In the women’s 100 metres, Jamaica’s Jonielle Smith stormed to victory in 11.05 seconds, narrowly beating Liranyi Alonso (11.10) from Dominican Republic. Host nation star Anthaya Charlton brought the home crowd to its feet, claiming bronze in 11.12 seconds to secure the Bahamas its first sprint medal of the meet.
The women’s 100 metres hurdles continued Jamaica’s dominance. Amoi Brown glided over the barriers to win in 12.83 seconds, defeating Tatiana Aholou of Canada (13.01) and Aasia Laurencin (13.04) from Saint Lucia.
Jones and Gittens-Spotsville Fly in the Long Jump:
The women’s long jump final produced one of the most competitive field events of the night. Alyssa Jones of the United States struck gold with a winning leap of 6.74m (+0.2). Puerto Rico’s Alysbeth Félix earned silver, while Tyra Gittens-Spotsville of Trinidad & Tobago thrilled regional fans with bronze at 6.64m.
Power on Display in the Throws:
The throws finals added muscle to the day’s action.
In the men’s discus throw, Jamaica’s Fedrick Dacres produced a statement win, hurling the discus 65.10m to secure gold ahead of American Sam Mattis (64.06) and fellow Jamaican Chad Wright (62.85). The victory signaled a return to top form for Dacres, a perennial global finalist.
The men’s shot put was dominated by the United States’ Josh Awotunde, who unleashed a massive effort of 21.68m to equal the championship record set in 2018. Awotunde’s series confirmed his reputation as one of the world’s most consistent performers in the circle.
Day 1 Medal Highlights
| Event | Gold (Result) | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men’s 100m | Jerome Blake (CAN) – 9.95 CR | Ryiem Forde (JAM) | Rikkoi Brathwaite (IVB) |
| Women’s 100m | Jonielle Smith (JAM) – 11.05 | Liranyi Alonso (CUB) | Anthaya Charlton (BAH) |
| Women’s 100m Hurdles | Amoi Brown (JAM) – 12.83 | Tatiana Aholou (CAN) | Aasia Laurencin (USA) |
| Women’s Long Jump | Alyssa Jones (USA) – 6.74m | Alysbeth Félix (PUR) | Tyra Gittens-Spotsville (TTO) |
| Men’s Discus Throw | Fedrick Dacres (JAM) – 65.10m | Sam Mattis (USA) | Chad Wright (JAM) |
| Men’s Shot Put | Josh Awotunde (USA) – 21.68m | — | — |
What’s Next:
Day 1 set the tone with speed, flight, and power, and more excitement is on the horizon. Day 2 will bring the 200m, relays, high jump, and more throwing finals, as North America, Central America, and the Caribbean’s best battle for continental supremacy.
The NACAC Championships are off to a blazing start — and the stage is set for even more record-breaking drama in Freeport.
