From winning gold two consecutive years, to breaking a Commonwealth Youth Games record, 2023 could not have gone better for long-jumper Andrew Stone.
Standing at 6’4″, the 17-year-old had dreams of being a basketball player but realised his talents lay in athletics, where he has become one of the best Caymanian long jumpers in history – with several performances unmatched when compared to those before him.
“I didn’t know I would [make it] this far,” Stone told the Compass. “I thought I would excel in other sports. I really liked basketball.”
But last year, in the midst of his training for basketball, Stone’s track-and-field coach Tyrone Yen came up with a proposition for his athlete to qualify for the 49th CARIFTA Games as a long-jumper.
“I was like okay, and I started training, putting in the work and we went to the 2022 CARIFTA and I did well. And from that, it made me look at my sports life in a different way.”
‘Did well’ is an understatement but anyone who has ever met Stone has quickly realised that he is as humble as they come – usually never giving himself credit for his accomplishments.
Stone wound up winning gold at the 2022 CARIFTA Games in the under-17 long jump, with a leap of 6.76 metres, marking his first major medal.
“When I won, I realised I could go far,” he said.
Embracing the journey
Following the realisation of his own talent in athletics, he noted that he made a change in his priorities – putting long jump practice at the top of his list.
His dedication brought him to the 2023 CARIFTA Games, where he would prove that his performance in the previous year’s competition was no fluke.
Stone won the boys under-20 long jump event at the 50th edition of the Games in the Bahamas, making him the only person outside of Kareem Streete-Thompson to win back-to-back gold medals for Cayman at the CARIFTA Games.
Representing Mustang Track Club, Stone then competed a month later at the 31st Annual BAYTAF Classic, held at the University of South Florida, winning gold in the long jump and high jump, leaping over 2.07m for a new personal best and a record for the 17-19 age group.
While Stone says long jump is his favourite event, he does fancy his chances in high jump as well – something he credits to his time in basketball.
“I was known for dunking and it has really helped me a lot,” he said. “It has helped me jump higher, and apply more force when I jump, but I’m more used to long jump. I really enjoy doing long jump, more than high jump. I know the long jump will take me real far.”
Following the BAYTAF competition, Stone entered the 2023 NACAC U23 and U18 Championships in July, capturing a pair of silver medals, in the U18 high jump and long jump.
However, his most significant moment came in August, during the Commonwealth Youth Games. Stone broke the long jump meet record at that event with a jump of 7.70m to surpass the previous record of 7.67m, set by Richard Seklorwu in 2015.
He became the first Caymanian in history to win gold in athletics at the Commonwealth Youth Games since the event began in 2000.
While Stone has already found so much success in his young career, he said there is still more to accomplish.
“It’s been really good, and I want to improve and be at other competitions and do as well as possible,” he said.
Carving a legacy
Looking to reach the pinnacle in long jump, Stone is hoping to qualify for major competitions.
“The goal is to go out to the Olympics but for right now, I just want to continue to work really hard and trust God,” he said. “I know world juniors (the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships), and other big events are being held next year, so I will try my best to qualify.”
Through his ambitions, he also hopes to surpass Streete-Thompson’s long-standing Cayman national record of 8.63m that was set in 1994.
“I believe in myself and I think I can get the record from Kareem,” Stone said. “I feel like God has given me this talent. He has a plan for me and I just have to be patient and trust the process.”
Stone, who is one of two siblings, noted that outside of training, he draws inspiration from his family and how he was raised.
“When I was young, I always liked to go outside and just play; burn calories, you know? So that made me turn my attention to sports.
“What really motivated me, is my parents,” Stone said. “They have always worked hard for me and I want to do them a favour by working hard for them as well.”
Training has begun for both the international and local 2023-24 track seasons and Stone can always be found at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex.
He said it was important to remain consistent and humble, but he also wants the world to know him.
“I’m going to try to make sure that everybody knows my name,” he said. “I know how hard I work to accomplish all that I have.”
Stone will graduate from John Gray High school in a couple days and will be looking to join a university in the United States to continue his athletics career.
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