Bermuda's Brittney Marshall, a winner last year, struck gold again in the girls' under-17 shot putt at the 32nd annual CARIFTA GAMES in Port of Spain, Trinidad on Saturday.

Marshall clinched the win on her third attempt with a heave of 12.44 metres - by far her best effort for the year.

Trinidad's Annie Alexander, the only other competitor to surpass the 12 metre mark, won the silver medal.

It was the CedarBridge Academy student's third consecutive gold medal at the junior track and field championships and her fourth medal in four years. Marshall was also a silver medallist in the girls under-17 shot putt in 2000.

Marshall was due to compete again yesterday in the girls' under-17 discus, an event in which was a silver medallist last year.

Meanwhile, despite establishing a new national women's record of 5.98 metres in the girls' under-20 long jump, Bermuda's Zindzi Swan had to be content with a sixth place finish this time around. Swan had captured the gold medal and set a new national junior record (5.83 metres) at last year's Games.

Branwen Smith held the previous national record, set back in the 1970s. Elysee Vesanes of Martinique won yesterday's event with a leap of 6.28 metres.

Swan's effort was a personal best for the year and good enough to earn her a berth at July's CAC Championships in Grenada.

CARIFTA debutant, Deon Brangman, placed sixth in the boys' under-20 high jump after clearing the bar at 1.98 metres - also a personal best for the year. Brangman qualified for July's IAAF World Youth Championships to be held in Canada.

Competing in his first CARIFTA Games, 14-year-old Tristan Francis ran in the boys' under-17 100 metres, advancing through to the semi-finals where he placed fifth and 15th overall with a time of 11.52 seconds. The youngster also qualified for July's IAAF Youth Championships.

Bermuda's Derrick Golding, competing in the boys' under-20 discus, could only manage a throw of 36 metres which was not enough to see him through to the finals. However, Golding will be looking for a better performance in today's shot putt - his favourite sport.

Due to see action yesterday were Bermuda's Michelle Trott and Francis in the junior boys' 200 metres in addition to Marshall (discus) and Latroya Darrell in the girls' under-17 high jump. Darrell was a silver medallists at last year's Games.

In total, over 600 athletes from 23 countries are competing in Trinidad at this year's Games.