Cayman’s track athletes get another chance to test themselves this weekend as the international outdoor season approaches.
The Cayman Islands Athletic Association holds its annual Truman Bodden Track Meet at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex on Friday from 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 4 p.m.
This meet will be used as a qualifier for bigger meets later in the year and is sponsored by lawyer, entrepreneur and former politician Truman Bodden.
It has been staged for over 20 years and is one of the major track meets on the association’s calendar.
Bodden has been an enthusiastic supporter of track and field in the Cayman Islands for over two decades and has assisted in obtaining corporate sponsorship from other local businesses. He always attends and gives out medals and trophies.
The association expects senior and junior athletes will turn out in numbers vying for a chance to qualify for the CARIFTA Games over the Easter weekend, Central America and Caribbean Games, Caribbean Union of Teachers championships and North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association Under-23.
Athletes likely to be competing this weekend include Kiara McLaughlin, Daneliz Thomas, Jonathan Frederick and Pearl Morgan. The newly renovated track will be tested with an eye by athletes for the approaching inter-primary and inter-secondary championships.
Thomas won a javelin bronze at last year’s CARIFTA Games, aged only 14. She has already thrown the qualifying mark and will return to CARIFTA for another two years to compete in the Under-17 division. She already shows the potential to emulate Cayman’s javelin star Alex Pascal.
Thomas threw a personal best of 37.99 metres in finishing behind Dominica’s Shanee Angol (43.89m) and Barbadian Hayley Matthew (40.30m). Thomas will be a favorite for gold at this year’s championships in Martinique.
Meet director Kenrick Williams said, “ We expect a good turnout of primary and high school athletes, some of whom will be hoping to get into the CARIFTA team.”
Other hopefuls include Javdon Nelson, Lacee Barnes, Rochel Gardner, Tahj Lewis and Delano Callender.
“We are introducing for the first time the 2,000m steeplechase which is an event that road runners specializing in slightly longer distances should try out.”
Bodden has been an enthusiastic supporter of track and field in the Cayman Islands for over two decades and has assisted in obtaining corporate sponsorship from other local businesses.
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