Several athletes produced standout performances across various age categories and achieved qualifying standards for the 2025 CARIFTA Games in Trinidad & Tobago at the Barbados January Classic held at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex in St. Michael on Saturday.
The Saturday event featured fierce competition in men’s, women’s, Under-17, Under-15, and Under-13 track and field events.
Aaron Morris of the Elite Distance Programme impressed in the 400m, clocking 48.20 seconds to win the men's category.
Morris, who was among seven Barbadian athletes already booking their places for the 2025 CARIFTA Games, finished ahead of teammate Brandon Hinds, who ran a time of 48.44 seconds.
Distance athlete Luke McIntyre also achieved the CARIFTA qualifying standard in the 5000m.
The field events saw Jayden Walcott qualify in the boys’ shot put while Aaron Massiah and Teon Haynes booked spots in the triple jump and long jump, respectively.
Shania Mottley and Kiami Rae-Oford secured spots in the girls’ high jump.
Shomari Shepherd-Rollins won the men's sprint double, winning the 100m in 10.78 seconds and the 200m in 21.72 seconds.
In the 1500m open races, Matthieu Clarke from the Elite Distance Programme led the men’s field with a time of 4:14.05, while Ashlyn Simmons, also from Elite Distance, took the women’s title in 5:02.24.
The Under-17 category saw standout performances from Kelia Betham of Talons Club, who won the girls’ 400m in 58.28, and Zachary Wall from Quantum Leap, who triumphed in the boys’ 400m with a time of 50.51 seconds.
Brendan Gill of Pacers Track Club excelled in the boys’ 3000m, finishing in 10:05.93 while Alec Simmons from the Elite Distance Programme clinched the boys’ 1500m with a time of 4:43.79.
In the Under-15 category, Darran Skeete of Elite Distance won the boys’ 400m in 56.70 seconds, followed by Brent Lashley of Quantum Leap, who finished in 56.88.
Taylor-Rai Wiggins from Quantum Leap won the girls’ 200m in 26.70 seconds, while Pete Vassell of Talons impressed in the boys’ 100m, finishing in 12.63 seconds.
Kanu Robertson of Talons Club won the boys’ 200m with a time of 24.94 seconds. In the girls’ 100m dash, Wiggins claimed another gold, finishing in 13.05 seconds.