The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

A decision to switch from his speciality in the 400 metres hurdles and open one lap race to compete in the multiple events payed off a big dividend for Lavardo Deveaux with a trip on the medal podium at Oaktree Medical Center’s 50th CARIFTA Games over the weekend.

Not that he didn’t feel he had a shot at a medal in either of his events in the under-20 boys division, but with what seemed to be a sure bet to succeed, Deveaux opted to take a shot at the octathlon, which was a combination of eight events contested over two days of competition.

In the final analysis, he completed the two-day competition on Sunday in the combined 100m, long jump, shot put, 400m, 110 hurdles, high jump, javelin and 1,500m with a total of 5,197 points to garner the silver medal.

Jamaica’s Courtney Williams claimed the gold with 5,253, while Jermaine Huggins bagged the bronze for St Kitts & Nevis with 4,813.

His team-mate, Reanno Todd, had a little more difficult path as he got disqualified in the 400m at the end of day one. He came back and went through all of the events on day two, but didn’t get to complete the 1,500m run, ending up with 3,508 points at the bottom of the 15-man field.

Deveaux, on the other hand, said he was determined to see his way through to the end.

“I just wanted to see how well I would do and to get the experience of competing in the event,” Deveaux said. “Once I got the hang of every event, I decided to make it my event. I went to every practice, learning the techniques of every event. It was a wonderful experience.”

The 17-year-old Deveaux, however, said he was inspired from a quote he read from Anna Hall, the American 2022 World Championships’ heptathlon bronze medallist, who summarised how she wrote everything down in a book that she did in practice and competition.

Taking heed of what he heard from Hall, Deveaux said he wrote down everything he was taught by his coaches – Daron Lightbourne, Corrington Maycock and James Rolle - in practice and he went over every detail before he stepped into the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium to begin his trek in the gruelling competition.

During the first day of competition on Saturday, Deveaux collected 810 points after running 11.23 seconds in the 100m, 567 for clearing 5.91m in the long jump, 500 for his heave of 10.24m in the shot put and 790 for clocking 50.53 in the 400m.

Sitting in second place going into the final day of competition on Sunday, Deveaux came back and added 894 for his time of 14.64 in the 110m hurdles, 596 for his clearance of 1.64m in the high jump, 579 for his toss of 49.37m in the javelin and 561 after his exhausting run in 4:59.79 in the 1,500m to complete the event.

“My strengths were the hurdles, javelin, 100, 400 and shot put,” Deveaux said. “My weakest events were the long jump, high jump and the 1,500m.”

Despite the highs and the lows he encountered, Deveaux had enough strength to dance to the rhythmic sound of the junkanoo music as he celebrated his initial appearance in the games.

But because of his success, Deveaux said he will definitely be back for an encore.

“It’s something that I will continue to work on, especially in my jumping and my 1,500,” explained Deveaux, who admitted that his body took a toll in those events.

With the games over and done with, Deveaux admitted that he could not have done it without “God on my side,” his coaches, his family and friends in supporting him in his first time competing in “CARIFTA” and in the “octathlon.”

“I am truly proud of myself,” said Deveaux, who noted that he’s not disappointed in the fact that he didn’t get to compete in an individual event.

“I felt the competition was there pushing me along. I had to fight with the heart of a lion. Feeling the vibe from the fans, especially after finishing the 1,500m, I really thought they were going to take out in the wheelchair. But hearing the junkanoo music, I had to get up and vibe with them.”

The CV Bethel 2022 graduate, who is preparing to head off to college in August to further his athletic prowess celebrated by dancing to the junkanoo music as he reflected on his trail to his silver medal performance. He said he will definitely be back bigger and stronger for the games in Grenada in 2024 where he intend to go for the gold.