Matthew Thomson
Schwannah McCarthy
Sport
Cayman Gladiators
ready for CARIFTA
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| | Matthew Thomson | |
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| | Schwannah McCarthy | |
The team was originally composed of 18 athletes,but filtered down to 14 due to injuries, overseas student schoolcommitments, etc. The four athletes that will not be travellingwith the team are David Hamil, Keisha James, Nicolas Washingtonand David Esdaile.
Bernie Bush, president of the Cayman IslandsAmateur Athletic Association, was quick to point out that it wasnot "due to discipline" why the four athletes were nottravelling with the team.
"We have a very good team. I am sorrythat we have lost some of our experienced athletes, but I believethis young team will perform. We are hungry for good results.We will see a lot of personal best and national records set atthese Games," he predicted.
Don Parsons, competing in the U-20 age groupin the; Javelin event stated that he was looking forward to theCARIFTA Championship and that it was a good opportunity.
"The games will help me to know whatlevel of competition I am at. I am hoping to place in the topthree. I believe that I will do well and that I am ready,"said Parsons.
Michael Letterlough, the Cayman Team captainsaid: "I believe the team is focused. I am prepared and focused.It is a young team and we have a number of first timers, but Ibelieve that as team captain, and as a whole we are prepared andlooking forward to the trip."
The Championship will take place over atwo-day period in the Barbados National Stadium from 14-16 April.Some 24 Caribbean countries will be competing including Jamaica,Bahamas, Trinidad, Guadeloupe, St. Vincent, St. Kitts, PuertoRico, Martinique, French Guyana, Guyana and Turks & Cacaosto name a few. It is perhaps all fitting that Barbados host the30th CARIFTA Games as they were the first country back in 1972to host the inaugural event.
Even in earlier times before the Championships,top ranking junior champions from several countries developedinto world ranking performers and there is no doubt this trendwill continue as the Games progress annually. Two shining examplesof this are Cayman's Kareem Streete-Thompson and Cydonie Mothersillwho are sending shock waves through the athletic world that Caymanhas a place amongst the elite.
There are two age groups for competition:Under 17 and Under 20, both boys and girls, their age being determinedat 31 December in the year of competition. The age-group conceptis official throughout the region where each territory followsthat pattern in their own domestic championships. Countries havebecome quite aware of their commitments and top class coacheshave been provided for them as they challenge for gold, silverand bronze medals.