2019 Carifta Games begin:
TT will be well represented in the javelin, long jump, 100m and 400m events today when the 2019 Carifta Games start at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex in Cayman Islands, from 9 am.
TT are aiming to improve on last year's performance which saw the, return with 17 medals – four gold, six silver and seven bronze.
This country has been a powerhouse in javelin in the recent past and this is expected to continue. Today in the girls Under-20 javelin finals, Kymoi Noray and Antonia Sealy will compete for TT, looking to add to build on the 2018 Carifta javelin success, which saw a return of three gold and one bronze medal. Noray was one of those medallists, copping bronze in the girls Under-20 division.
In a recent interview with Tobago Sports Live Noray said, "This year my goal is to get a personal best and achieve a gold medal in my event."
She said competing at Carifta gives her an extra drive, as the meet features athletes who are fully committed to the sport.
In the girls Under-20 long jump, Jayda Williams and Caitlin Ragoonanan will be representing the red, white and black.
TT will have a number of participants in the 100m and 400m events, with medals in all the divisions to be decided today.
In the girls Under-20 100m, Akilah Lewis, who earned bronze in the event last year, will vie for another medal. She will be joined by Ayla Staniclaus in the event.
In the girls Under-17 100m, Shaniqua Bascombe and Taejha Badal will fly the TT flag. In the boys Under-20 100m, Kion Benjamin and Adell Colthrust will run, .The boys Under-17 100m will feature the duo of Devin Augustine and Shakeem McKay. McKay is hopeful he will get a good start to give him a chance to medal. "Mostly (I have been working on) my start because it is terrible, but I have been working on it and hopefully I get a great start at Carifta Games," he said.
It will be a busy day for TT in the 400m event with Rae-Ann Serville and Tamia Badal competing in the girls Under-20 category. In the girls Under-17 division, Natasha Fox and Malika Coutain will aim for a podium finish.
Among the boys, Nicholas Wilson will be TT's only entrant in the boys Under-20 and in the boys Under-17, Jordan Pope and Jessiah Jones will battle for a medal. The meet will conclude on Monday.
TT SQUAD:
Boys Under-17 – Devin Augustine (100m/200m/4x100m), Shakeem Mc Kay (100m/200m/4x100m/4x400m), Jordon Pope (4oom/4x400m), Jessiah Jones (400m/4x400m), Ryan Campbell (800m), Troy Llanos (3000m), Rinaldo Moore (110m hurdles/400m hurdles/4x100m/4x400m), Miguel Telfer (long jump/4x100m), Jayden Scott (discus/shot put), Tyrese Murray (discus), Veayon Joseph (javelin), Anthony Diaz (javelin/4x100m/4x400m), Ryan Campbell (4x400m)
Boys Under-20 – Kion Benjamin (100m/4x100m), Adell Colthrust (100m/200m/4x100m), Avindale Smith (200m/4x100m), Nicholas Wilson (400m), Genesis Joseph (1500m/5000m), Justin Gay (110m hurdles/4x100m),Tyrese Rawlins (110m hurdles/4x100m), Kelsey Daniel (triple jump/long jump), Jaydon Antoine (long jump), Joel Andrews (pole vault), Christopher Crawford (discus/shot put), Tyriq Horsford (javelin), Selvon Rochford (javelin), Anson Moses, Che Rochford, Dominic Cole (4x100m)
Girls Under-17 – Shaniqua Bascombe (100m/200m/4x100m), Taejha Badal (100m/200m/4x100m/4x400m), Natasha Fox (400m/4x400m), Malika Coutain (400m/4x400m), Karesa Kirton (110m hurdles/4x100m), Xea Bruce (400m hurdles/4x400m), Amber Mayhew (triple jump), Shakera Kirk (discus), Lalenii Grant (discus), Brianna Percy (shot put), Reneisha Andrews (4x100m), Kyah La Fortune (4x100m), Christine Marie Maharaj (4x400m), Atiya Croal (4x400m)
Girls Under-20 – Ayla Stanisclaus (100m/200m/4x100m), Akila Lewis (100m/200m/4x100m), Rae-Ann Serville (400m/800m/4x400m), Tamia Badal (100m hurdles/400m/4x100m), Safiya John (100m hurdles/hepthatlon/4x400m), Jayda Williams (long jump), Caitlin Ragoonanan (long jump/4x400m), Elizabeth Galera (discus), Ianna Roach (shot put), Antonia Sealy (javelin), Kemoy Noray (javelin), Leah Bernard (4x100m), Naomi Campbell (4x100m), Tatianna Martinez (4x400m), Nicola Pesnell (4x400m)
Officials – Lucretia Burns (manager), Ronnell Barclay (assistant manager), Nadine Hamid (head coach), Kelvin Nancoo (sprint & relays), Althea Busby (sprint & relays), Antonia Burton (sprint & relays), Eric Mc Cree (sprint & relays), Ismael Lopez Mastrapa (throws), Wendell Williams (jumps), Jamal James (middle and long distance running), Reynold Poter Lee (multi events), Arlon Morrison (multi events), Dr Anyl Gopeesingh (medical), Ruel Rigsby (medical), Kurlyn Smith Nicholas (medical), Anthony Walcott (medical), Dexter Thomas (medical)