The historic first edition of the Caribbean Games will take place in Guadeloupe from June 29 to July 3, 2022. More than 800 U-23 athletes from 29 countries will compete in seven sports as they aim to make history.
23 participants from 20 CANOC member countries travelled to Guadeloupe for the seminar and an additional 9 more member countries joined virtually. Three CANOC Executive members were on hand.
During his official opening remarks Lewis urged participants to be conscious of the immense challenge confronting the hosts as well as all of CANOC, in realising the Games and the importance of banding together to ensure success.
"Each NOC/CGA is being called upon to do more. This is an investment in the future of our region,” Lewis said while noting that the Games must be a source of motivation and an inspiration to the Caribbean's youths and young people.
For his part, President of the CROS Guadeloupe, Alain Soreze, placed emphasis on having participants, 'welcomed home'.
He reminded all that "Guadeloupe is a member of CANOC and is committed to playing its part in the development of sport in the Caribbean". He ended his presentation with a resounding declaration, "We are the Caribbean!"
"The Chef seminar of the 1st Caribbean Games in Guadeloupe was a success. The chefs who came to Guadeloupe visited the competition venues where their athletes will try to bring back gold in June. Also, the visit of the Games Village was in an important step as it is by definition the heart of the Games. On April, 2nd, both onsite and virtual chefs attending received the key information regarding logistics and processes around the Games. We are all waiting to welcome you back in June," said Caribbean Games 2022 Director Julien Chipotel.
Air Antilles, a French airline based at Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport in Guadeloupe, was announced as the official air transportation partner of the games.
Alfred ran 11.34 in the preliminaries before returning to run 11.07 to comfortably win the final ahead of Trinidad & Tobago’s Akilah Lewis (11.55) and Leah Bertrand (11.57).
Alfred goes into the World Championships in Eugene later this month on the back of some excellent form. The Texas standout ran a personal best and national record 10.81, the fourth fastest time on the world this year, at the Big 12 Championships on May 14.
She then went on run 11.02 to win the 100m at the NCAA Championships on June 11.
Meanwhile, Trinidad & Tobago’s Kion Benjamin ran 10.36 to win the Men’s equivalent ahead of Franquelo Perez Occena of the Dominican Republic (10.55) and Antigua’s Darrion Skerritt (10.72).
Jamaica’s Anthony Cox, who was named in their World Championships squad on Friday as well, ran 46.15 to lead all qualifiers into the Men’s 400m final while the Dominican Republic’s Fiordaliza Cofil Fernandez (51.11) led all qualifiers in the Women’s equivalent.
Elsewhere, Puerto Rico’s Paola Fernandez Sola won the Women’s long jump with a 6.15m effort ahead of Cuba’s Yani Carrion Cremdelly (5.81m) and Guyana’s Chantoba Bright (5.85m).
Antigua’s Sheldon Noble jumped 7.31m to win the Men’s equivalent ahead of the Cayman Islands’ Louis Gordon (7.23m) and Grenada’s Nishon Pierre (6.91m).
Cox, who ran 45.65 for third at the Jamaican National Championships in Kingston on June 26, produced 45.48, his second fastest time, to win ahead of Barbados’ Kyle Gayle (46.23) and Cuba’s Lenord Padilla (46.24).
The Women’s equivalent was won by the Dominican Republic’s Fiordaliza Cofil Mendez in 51.31 ahead of the Bahamas’ Megan Moss (52.53) and Cuba’s Suan Rodriguez Mauricio (53.70).
Rasheem Brown of the Cayman Islands ran 13.72 to win the Men’s 110m hurdles ahead of the Bahamas’ Oscar Smith (13.96) and Guadeloupe’s Erwann Abenaqu (14.00).
Trinidad and Tobago’s team of Tamia Badel, individual 100m champion Akilah Lewis, Naomi Campbell and Leah Bertrand ran 45.19 for gold in the Women’s 4x100m relay ahead of Cuba (45.47) and the Dominican Republic (46.21).
Their Men’s team of Jayden Moore, Kion Benjamin who won the individual 100m title on Friday, Che Lara and Lorenzo Luces ran 41.64 for second in the Men’s sprint relay behind the Dominican Republic (41.31).
The British Virgin Islands quartet of Mikkel Bassue, Vadley Sylvester, Malik John and Ke’andrae Campbell ran 42.24 for bronze.
In the field, Barbados took silver and bronze in the Men’s triple jump through Jemuel Miller (16.28m) and Nathan Crawford-Wallis (16.11m). The event was won by Cuba’s Andy Salazar with a 16.40m effort.
The BVI’s Dijmon Gumbs threw 17.99m for silver in the Men’s shot put behind Cuba’s Juan Gomez (18.09m). Puerto Rico’s Jorge Nazario threw 17.60m for bronze.
