Shafiqua Maloney earns NACAC open silver medal

TOP VINCENTIAN female athlete, Shafiqua Maloney, was nipped at the finish line by Nia Akins of the USA last Saturday, August 16, 2025, in the final of the Women’s 800m at the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Open Championships held in Freeport, the Bahamas.

Maloney clocked 1:59.98, behind Akins who won in 1:59.75.

For Maloney, it was her first medal at the NACAC Open, having won the NACAC Under-23 event, as well as silver in the 400m, both achieved in 2021.

Maloney, who made a grand statement last year at the Paris Olympic Games, placing fourth in the 800m finals thus creating history, become the first Vincentian athlete to qualify for an Olympic final.

During the Olympics, Maloney reset the all-time St Vincent and the Grenadines 800m record with a 1:57. 59 clocking in the semi-finals.

A multiple record holder, Maloney also owns the St Vincent and the Grenadines bests at indoor in the 800m, and the mile.

Additionally, Maloney is the custodian of the St Vincent and the Grenadines 400m and 1500m, and was part of a quartet that holds the female 4 x 400m record.

Other 2025 NACAC Open performances by Vincentians, apart from Handal Roban’s gold in the men’s 800m and Maloney’s silver, St Vincent and the Grenadines was represented by four other athletes at the 2025 NACAC Open Championships.

Mc Kish Compton clocked 10.72s to finish fifth in his semi-final of the men’s 100m, while Brandon Valentine-Parris finished sixth in his 400m semi -final with 47.60 clocking.

Jeremiah Laduca was sixth in his semi -final in men’s 800m with a clocking of 1:52.26; and Jabari Michael-Khensu was seventh in his men’s 100m semi- final, timing 10.92s and placing sixth in his 200m semi -final, with a time of 22.04s.