April 14, 2009
CARIFTA Games Complete Results
VIEUX FORT, St. Lucia, British West Indies - Fighting Illini women's track and field freshman Latoya Griffith brought home two medals from the 2009 CARIFTA Games, competing for her native Barbados on Sunday and Monday.
Griffith earned a bronze medal in the Under 20 division of the 400m hurdles on Sunday, timing a personal-best 59.05 to place third behind two athletes from Jamaica. The performance is recognized by the NCAA, and improves her qualifying time in the event for the NCAA Regional Championships. Griffith now ranks 17th in the NCAA and third in the Big Ten in the 400m hurdles.
On Monday, Griffith won a silver medal as a member of the 4x400m relay. Barbados timed 3:41.75 to finish second behind Jamaica (3:36.21) in the Under 20 race.
Griffith is no stranger to international competition, as she has competed for Barbados at the World Junior Championships and World Youth Championships. She improved her finish in the 400m hurdles from the 2007 CARIFTA Games, when she was fourth.
The CARIFTA Games is an annual track and field meet for the top junior athletes in the Caribbean territories. Jamaica brought home the most medals over the four-day competition, with a total of 67. Barbadoes won a total of 21 medals.
