University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee Freshman Duo Claims Two Medals At 50th CARIFTA Games
April 08, 2023 | Track & Field
NASSAU, Bahamas — Two freshman members of the Tennessee track & field program traveled to Nassau, Bahamas this weekend to represent their nations at the 50th CARIFTA Games, and both came away with medal-winning performances inside the Thomas Robinson Track & Field Stadium.
Representing the Bahamas, Lady Vol freshman Javonya Valcourt earned a silver medal in the U-20 women's 400-meter dash with a lifetime-best clocking of 52.12 seconds, dropping nearly two seconds off of her previous personal record.
Valcourt's time established a new freshman record for the Lady Vol track program and currently ranks second in the world at the U-20 level and 26th globally at the senior level. In the NCAA this season, Valcourt's time would rank second among freshmen and seventh on the 2023 collegiate list.
"So very proud of Javonya," Tennessee head coach Duane Ross said. "She's the athlete that every coach wants to coach. She's committed to being the best and completely committed to her coaches. I absolutely love training her each day, and her future is extremely bright."
Entering the meet with an outdoor PR of 53.73 set at last week's HPU VertKlasse Meeting, Valcourt posted the top time in prelims at the CARIFTA Games with a mark of 53.57 to win her heat and automatically advance to Saturday's final. She ultimately took second in the final behind Jamaica's Rickiann Russell (51.84) and was part of a 2-3 finish for the Bahamas, as Lacarthea Cooper placed third in 53.12.
Vol freshman and reigning U-20 world champion Brandon Pottinger represented Jamaica at the meet in the high jump and tied his compatriot Chavez Penn for first place, clearing the bar at 2.00 meters (6-6.75) on his first attempt Saturday evening.
The Miami native earned his second career medal at the CARIFTA Games after taking second last year with a mark of 2.14 meters (7-0.25) that currently stands as his outdoor personal best.
Representing the Bahamas, Lady Vol freshman Javonya Valcourt earned a silver medal in the U-20 women's 400-meter dash with a lifetime-best clocking of 52.12 seconds, dropping nearly two seconds off of her previous personal record.
Valcourt's time established a new freshman record for the Lady Vol track program and currently ranks second in the world at the U-20 level and 26th globally at the senior level. In the NCAA this season, Valcourt's time would rank second among freshmen and seventh on the 2023 collegiate list.
"So very proud of Javonya," Tennessee head coach Duane Ross said. "She's the athlete that every coach wants to coach. She's committed to being the best and completely committed to her coaches. I absolutely love training her each day, and her future is extremely bright."
Entering the meet with an outdoor PR of 53.73 set at last week's HPU VertKlasse Meeting, Valcourt posted the top time in prelims at the CARIFTA Games with a mark of 53.57 to win her heat and automatically advance to Saturday's final. She ultimately took second in the final behind Jamaica's Rickiann Russell (51.84) and was part of a 2-3 finish for the Bahamas, as Lacarthea Cooper placed third in 53.12.
Vol freshman and reigning U-20 world champion Brandon Pottinger represented Jamaica at the meet in the high jump and tied his compatriot Chavez Penn for first place, clearing the bar at 2.00 meters (6-6.75) on his first attempt Saturday evening.
The Miami native earned his second career medal at the CARIFTA Games after taking second last year with a mark of 2.14 meters (7-0.25) that currently stands as his outdoor personal best.
Players Mentioned
Jumps
/ Track & Field
Sprints
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