Walton wins Cayman’s first gold

By Cayman Sports Buzz
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Updated: 26 June 2017

Walton crosses the finish comfortably in first.

Jamal Walton delivered the first gold medal for the Cayman Islands at the 2017 NatWest Island Games, when he won the men’s 200m sprint in convincing fashion at the Gutavallen stadium in Visby, Gotland on Monday.

Walton, 18, was clearly the favourite heading into the final. He dominated the heats and semi-finals.

Lining up in lane three of the six lanes used for the final of the half-lap sprint, the Caymanian stormed ahead of the field and held on down the stretch and making good on the prediction by the stadium announcer that all eyes should be on Walton.

His time of 21.55 seconds was an improvement on the 21.77 and 21.80 he ran in the heats and semi-finals respectively. His nearest rival finished in 22.05 seconds.

“It feels great. I know I had to come out here and represent my team and win the race,” he told CaymanSportsBuzz.com moments after crossing the finish line.

Despite the breezy conditions that forced Walton to adjust his start, it was always going to be his race. “When I got out of the blocks and caught the guy in lane four, who was the second fastest coming in, I knew I had it,” he said.

Also collecting medals on Monday were Daneliz Thomas, who won silver in the women’s javelin, and Jeavhon Jackson, who claimed bronze in the men’s 400m hurdles.

Medals also came in the pool, when Lauren Hew touched the wall second in the women’s 200m freestyle with a time of two minutes, 3.61 seconds; and Eddie Weber won bronze in the men’s 1500m freestyle (16:14.99). Jonathan Key was one spot back in fourth.