Headlining the team are, Tianna Springer and Javon Roberts, along with Nerissa McPherson, Attoya Harvey, Malachi Austin, all of whom bring valuable experience to the team having enjoyed success at previous stagings of the Games. The likes of Sahel Cornett, Charisa December, Nalicia Glen, Rondell Green, Jamal Sullivan, Robert Marcus and Dhanielson Gill, who will compete in Under-20 category, are also expected to represent the Golden Arrowhead well.
Meanwhile, the Under-17 unit consist of Athaleyha Hinckson, Duel Europe, Skylar Charles, Kaidon Persaud, Ezikeil Millington, Easter Mc Kinnon, Ryan Joseph, Akilla Blucher, Keneta Fraser, Marissa Thomas and Nathaniel Samaroo.
The selection process involved a rigorous three-day trial recently, where 19 members were initially selected, 11 of which gained selection through qualifying process. The other four members were eventually shortlisted after several meetings, to complete the final squad. The AAG has high expectation that this team will make its mark at the three-day Easter Weekend meet.
Thelson Williams (Manager), Akeem Stewart (Physiotherapist), Wayne Pantlitz (male coach), Trishel Thompson (female coach), will accompany the team.
NB: The Carifta Games will be live on SportsMax and the SportsMax App.
Jamaica picked up another gold medal in the U17 Girls event while Guyana secured their gold medal in the U17 Boys race.
Smith, who won the U17 800m in Jamaica in 2022, took the lead after 400m and never looked back. She widened her lead over the last 100m to win her second gold medal of the Games in 2:09.71. The battle for the other two medals was intense as Jamaica’s Kishay Rowe, Haiti’s Victoria Guerrier and Barbados’ Layla Haynes fought tooth and nail for a spot on the podium.
In the end, Haynes managed to grab silver in 2:11.91, just ahead of Guerrier who clocked 2:11.99 for take the bronze. Rowe was credited with the same time but was awarded fourth place.
Cumberbatch led from the front from start to finish and never looked threatened winning in 1:51.34. Favian Gollop of Barbados stormed home from fourth place with just over 100m to go to win the silver medal in 1:52.33. Stefan Camejo won Trinidad and Tobago’s second medal in the race, taking bronze in 1:52.92.
Alikay Reynolds of Jamaica timed her run perfectly in the final 80 metres to take gold in 2:14.67. Ashlyn Simmons of Barbados relinquished her lead late and was forced to settle for the silver medal with a time of 2:16.28 while her teammate Chamecia Bryan took the bronze in 2:16.81.
Guyana’s Javon Roberts won the U17 Boys two-lap race in 1:56.64 with a late surge to get by Delano Todd of Jamaica (1:57.44) and Trinidad and Tobago’s Brandon Leacock, who stopped the clock at 1:58.17.
