BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - SPRINTER Omhunique Browne won the Federation’s only medal at the recently held 17th Pan American Junior Championships in Columbia.
Running in the 200 metres race, the American-born sprinter of Kittitian parentage first won her heat in a time of 23.46 seconds guaranteeing her advancement to the Finals.
Browne’s performance in the Finals earned her a Bronze medal, clocking a time of .3 seconds over that acquired in the heat.
Despite being born in the USA, Browne is eligible to compete for the twin-island Federation because it is the birthplace of her father.
She currently attends the Pasadena City College and is the school’s first female athlete to have won two CCCAA State titles in the same meet.
Browne recently took part in St. Kitts-Nevis Amateur Athletic Association’s National Invitational and Club Championships, where she outclassed her opponents in both the 100 and 200 metres.
The 18-year-old athlete stated that she chose to represent St. Kitts and Nevis because while growing up she always heard her father talk about the place of his birth, and she thought it best to represent the Federation as a gift to him.
Browne also made it to the 100 metre Finals but placed fifth.
Other commendable performance by athletes from St. Kitts and Nevis came from Rico Gumbs, who set a new National Junior Record in the 200m with a third place finish in his heat, clocking 21.24 seconds; Alkronus Bridgewater, who ran a personal best of 21.66 seconds in the 200m; while Kajon Parris did his 800m heat in 2:03.06.
Also, Stavia Lewis who recorded 33m in the Women’s Discus; Kristal Liburd who jumped 5.79 in the Women’s Long Jump; Nathaniel Huggins who leaped 6.98 meters in the Long Jump; Adrian Williams who threw 62.15m in the Javelin while his colleague J'Anthon Sillidy had a throw of 59.38m.
The male 4x100m team finished fifth in a time of 40.61 seconds.
The 12-member team travelled to Columbia last week for the Games which was held from August 23 to 26.
