Kim Collins Stadium, St. Kitts and Nevis - Utilizing his dual citizenship, Rai Benjamin of Mount Vernon had a task of a lifetime in representing Antigua and Barbuda at the Carifta Games. After clocking a leisurely 47.55 in the 400m finals, Benjamin would be facing off against Jamaican Akeem Bloomfield, who gained fame just last week in smashing the National Junior Record with 44.93 at the Jamaican National Championship.
Leading through the final turn, Benjamin was only caught in the final stretch. However, he held on for a new US #1 mark of 46.19, which is also US #3 All-Time. Benjamin will be considered in the relay pool for Monday evening, before returning to the states, where he will compete in California at the Arcadia Invitational. Not before catching some sun, however.
Benjamin was not the only New Yorker abroad. Brenessa Thompson of Medgar Evers, representing Guyana, went NY #11 All-Time in the 100m prelims, with her US #7 11.81. Unfortunately, she had to pull up in the finals with a nagging injury incurred at Easterns. And again, not before catching some sun.
Ariel Strunkey, who runs for Taft, also made the trip out, clocking 24.04 in the 200m prelims, good enough for US #15, and NY #13 All-Time. She runs the finals on Monday night, looking to break through the 24-second barrier. Her sister, Arianne, also hit 24.13 in the prelims, but did not make it back for the finals.