Sport

CIAAA selects 2001CARIFTA Team

David Esdaile

The 2001 CARIFTA Team:

Michael Letterlough - discus
Ronald Forbes -100 m and 400 m hurdles
Schwannah McCarthy ­100 m hurdles
Jenna Gaio ­ 200 m and long jump
Calicia Burke ­ long jump
Keisha James - 100 m and 100 m hurdles
Nicholas Washington ­ 400 m and 800 m.
Stephan Johnson ­ long jump
Robert Ibeh ­ 100 m, long jump
David Hamil ­­ 200 m and 400 m.
Chester Hurlston ­ discus and shot put
Keswick Wright 4 x 100 relay
Omar Wright ­ high jump
David Esdaile 800 m & 1,500 m.
Rhymeich Rocket 200 m.
Matthew Thompson ­100 m & 200 m.
Don Parsons ­ javelin
Eric Webster ­ 100 m and 200 m.|

The Cayman Islands Athletic Association has announced the 2001CARIFTA team that will travel to Barbados in April to representCayman.

National Athletic Coach Kenrick Williamssaid, "I think Cayman will be well-represented at the CARIFTAChampionships. It is a fairly young team and while I believe theremight not be a high medal count, we are looking forward to ourathletes performing at a high level."

"The athletes have really worked hardand as a team they are very dedicated. I have seen remarkableimprovements in Chester Hurlston and Michael Letterlough. We expectthat Omar Wright and Ronald Forbes will have medal performance,"he said.

The CARFTI Championships has become morethan just a showcase for young track and field athletes to displaytheir potential annually throughout the Caribbean. It is a 'sandbox'in some ways, for tomorrow's Olympians and world stars. For instance,Cayman's star-long-jumper, Kareem Streete-Thompson and 200-metresprinter Cydonie Mothersill have utilized the CARIFTA Championshipsas a launching pad for their athletic careers.

The CARIFTA Championship now plays hostto over 400 athletes from 26 member countries.

There are two age groups for competition:Under 17 and Under 20 both girls and boys, their age being determinedat December 31 in the year of the competition.

Coach Kenrick Williams will head the 18-membercontingent along with team manager and assistant coach BernieBush and chaperone Dania Gall-White. The events will cover thegambit of track and field events from discus, javelin, shot-put,to 100 metres straight through to 1,500 metres and relays. Caymanwill also be strongly represented in, the relay in the boys' andgirls division in the U-20 age group.

The Cayman team will also include a fewoverseas students like Nicholas Washington, David Hamil, KeishaJames and Robert Ibeh. Coach Williams pointed out that while OrantisRankine qualified for CARIFITA, he would not be traveling withthe team because he has suffered a hamstring injury. Sponsorsfor Cayman's CARIFTA team are: CUC, CNB, Truman Bodden, RotaryCentral, Maples & Calder, CIBC, Cayman Airways, Deloitte &Touche and Bank of Bermuda.

Return