The 50th CARIFTA Track & Field Championships opened this evening in Nassau, Bahamas with an impressive opening ceremony program depicting a sampling of the cultural life and music of the host nation along with the traditional march pass of the competing teams including a smart looking 21 strong Cayman Islands team lead by co-captains Brianna Smith and YaNelli Dawkins.
Prior to the opening ceremony the athletes had their first workout at the Stadium under the watchful eye of Coaches Holness and Williams and were later visited at their base at the Breezes Resorts where they were addressed by the President, First Vice-President and General-Secretary of Cayman Athletics. All three stressed the importance of the athletes striving to improve on their Personal Bests for the events in which they are competing.
News from the camp was that last Year’s Under 17 Boys High Jump Silver medalist, Andrew Stone, will forego competing in this event due to a strain but will be present to challenge for another Gold medal in the Under 20 Boys Long Jump, where he will renew rivalry with the two athletes, he beat at last Year’s Championships for the Gold medal.
Competition will commence tomorrow morning at 9:00am local time with the following athletes slated to compete: Arion Wright in the Boys Octathlon, Aaliyannah Anderson in the Under 17 Girls 100m and Jaden Reid and Devonte Howell in the Boys Under 20 100m.
