The Carifta Games curtain raiser largely belonged to Jamaica who claimed an impressive 27 medals on day one of the regional track and field event at the National Sports Centre.Bahamas, however, showed they are emerging as a force to be reckoned, especially in the sprint events, following their own impressive haul of 13 medals.Carifta hosts Bermuda scooped a pair of medals with Kyrah Scraders winning silver and Taylor-Ashley Bean claiming bronze.Scraders came second in the Under-17 girls 1500m in a time of four minutes and 55.46 seconds, while Taylor Ashley Bean grabbed bronze in the girls Under-20 1500m in 4:53.14.There was disappointment, however, for medal hopeful Akeila Richardson who narrowly missed out on a podium place, finishing fourth in the girls Under-20 triple jump with a leap of 11 metres.Richardson, who won bronze medals at the last two Carifta events, said the windy and wet weather condition hampered her bid to medal at the Games.“I was hoping to do better. I had some good jumps earlier on, but unfortunately they were fouls,” she said.“That threw me off my focus a littled bit — I was just trying to jump as far as I could. Sadly, it wasn’t enough for me to finish on the podium.”Fellow Bermudian Keunna Dill came in just behind her in fifth. Sabina Allen, of Jamaica, won gold with a leap of 12.18m.In the boys under-20 1500m, Dage Minors finished fifth in a time of 4:12.92, one position ahead of his team-mate Juma Mouchette who crossed the line in 4:13.13.Mouchette believed he could have run a smarter race, admitting: “I can’t complain about this race. I messed up on my part for the last lap when I went too early.“Throughout the race I thought I paced myself well. It was rough in there and everybody was pushing so I can’t get mad at that race. I guess the best man won at the end of the day.“I always have a strong finish. But I feel if I could’ve held off in that last lap I could’ve placed better.“My time was 4:13 so that wasn’t my best race. But I can’t do nothing about it now.”There was also disappointment for sprinter Kyle Webb, whose second place finish in the under-20 boys 100m heat of 10.96 wasn’t quick to reach the finals.In the Under-17s girls 100m, Taahira Butterfield clinched a place in the final, where she came seventh in a time of 12.23.Jamaica once again reaffirmed their reputation the Caribbean’s top sprinters, with Shauna Helps grabbing gold in the girls Under-17 100m in 11.66.Bahamas showed signs that they are developing a fine stable of young sprinters of their own, though, taking a one-two in the girls Under-20 100m, with Antonique Strachan claiming gold (11.22) and Carmiesha Cox taking silver (11.54).Jamaica reigned supreme in the boys under-20 100m, with Jazeel Murphy winning gold (10.31) and Jevaughn Minzie (10.33) claiming silver. Shane Jones of Bahamas came third (10.41), while his team-mate Jonathan Farquharson, a pre-race favourite, was disqualified for a false start.The Bahamas did taste gold medal success in the boys under-17 100 metres, however, with `Cliff Resias blitzing his way to the finish line. Jamaica’s Michael O’Hara came second (10.68) and Nicholas Douglas, of Trinidad, finished third.In the boys Under-17 1500m, Jamaica’s Webston Pennant claimed gold (4:18.93) ahead of his team-mate Orville Dixon (4:20.38. Barbados’ Pius Emillien earned bronze with a finish of 4:23.73.