Sport
World-Class AthletesReturn Home to Warm Welcome
Cydonie Mothersill
Cayman Islands on Wednesday,21 March, staged a 'welcome back' reception for world-class athletesKareeme Streete-Thompson and Cydonnie Mothersill at the Owen RobertsInternational Airport arrivals area.
Government officials and representativesof local track and field organisations were also on hand to greetthe athletes, who made local history at separate internationalmeets earlier this month.
On Sunday, 11 March, Thompson, a professionalathlete, placed second in the long jump at the World Indoor Championshipsin Lisbon, Portugal. This was his best-ever showing. The sameweekend Mothersill won the 200m race at the American CollegiateIndoor Championships. A fifth year student at Clemson Universityin South Carolina, she recorded the second-fastest time for theyear at an indoor US meet.
Among those who welcomed the athletes wereMinister Hon. Edna Moyle, Permanent Secretary Mr. Carson Ebanks,Youth and Sports Director Mr. Charles Branche, and representativesfrom the Cayman Islands Amateur Athletic Association and the localOlympic Association. Community members invited by the Ministryof Sports also showed their appreciation for the two athletesand their achievements.
Mr. Charles Branche, said: "I thinkthat both Kareem and Cydonie performances were excellent. I believethis will motivate our young athlete to emulate their performances."
He continued, "the Cayman Islands isgetting quite a lot of mileage and publicity from these two athletes.The money spent on them is money well spent," he opined.
"This win was really special as itwas my last year at the NCAA Indoor Championship," said Mothersill."The plan now for me is to transfer my success from the indoortrack to the outdoor circuit. I am mentally prepared, and nowI am working on the physical part. My coach has me training harder,"she explained.
"I would like to thank my Mom - AngelaWhittaker, family and the CI Sports Department for their beliefin me," she concluded.
Streete-Thompson and Mothersill will alsovisit the Truman Bodden Sports Complex on Thursday, 22 March,to sign autographs for participants in the Inter-primary Trackand Field Championships.