As the host country for the ninth Central American and Caribbean Games, Jamaica celebrated its first medal at the Ward Theatre. Dudley Lawson earned a silver in the mid-heavyweight weightlifting category, also setting a new snatch record with a lift of 265 lbs. Venezuela took gold, and Trinidad claimed bronze.

Published Thursday, August 16, 1962

Jamaica gets first medal

Gleaner Sports Reporter

Jamaica got her first medal for the Ninth Central American and Caribbean Games, yesterday, at the Ward Theatre when Dudley Lawson came in second for a silver in the mid-heavyweight section of the weightlifting.

Lawson also created a snatch record with 265 lb. Venezuela won the gold medal and Trinidad the bronze.

The host country lost another possible medal because of the absence of star swimmer Paul Nash through influenza.  Nash missed the final of the 100 metres backstroke in which he had clocked the third fastest time in the heats on Monday. Jamaica’s Randy Mair came seventh in the event, in which Mexico claimed all three medals.

Mexico, also bagged a gold and bronze in the 1500 metres freestyle, a gold in the 400 metres women’s freestyle, and a silver and bronze in the women’s 200 metres breaststroke.

Colombia claimed the other gold of the day, and Puerto Rico two silvers and a bronze.

In football Jamaica was beaten by the Netherlands: Antilles 3-1 after leading 1-0 at the time. But in the first half they gave the best display seen from a local side for many years. Jamaica paid for that, however, in the, second half when they lacked the drive to maintain their lead over the runners-up in the Eighth Games in Caracas.

Back to weightlifting and Colombia got their second gold medal of the Games from Jaime Rojas in the light-heavyweight division. 

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