After finishing .15 seconds off the Olympic qualifying mark in the 100 metres, Caymanian sprinter Davonte Howell is still hopeful that he will join countryman and schoolmate Jordan Crooks in Paris to represent his homeland on the biggest stage.
Howell, 18, defended his 100-metre title at the 51st CARIFTA Games in Grenada last month, where he stopped the clock at 10.15 seconds – .15 seconds faster and he would have secured an automatic place on team Cayman, though with the qualifying window closing on 30 June, there is still hope.
“The Olympics is definitely a goal of mine and I hope to represent the country there this year,” Howell told the Compass.
His time at the Games came close to the championship record of 10.11 set in 2007 by Jamaican Yohan Blake and positioned him as the third fastest Caymanian in history for that event. Howell, who became the first male from Cayman to win CARIFTA gold in the 100m in 2023, reflected on retaining his title and further cementing his legacy at CARIFTA.
“I did my little celebration before the line because I heard the doubts of people not believing I could defend the title,” he said, although he admitted that he wasn’t very confident going into Grenada because of his times recorded earlier in the season.
However, he noted that after his preliminary race, he gained confidence, stating at that time, he had a point to prove.
“[I realised] I’m the only person in the field who has been in this situation,” he said. “So, I used that to my advantage. It also helped to have some supporters in the stands cheering my name.
“It was more of showing people that I’m still here. I was really happy as it was a big goal of mine and achieving that goal meant the world to me.”
‘Eventually reaching the record’
With his popularity growing, Howell, a freshman at the University of Tennessee, said he recognises a change in those around him.
“The attention has been nothing but positivity… it makes me want to continue to do great things and represent the island.”
Howell believes that his training in Tennessee will ultimately propel him to becoming the fastest sprinter Cayman has ever seen – a title held by three-time Olympian Kemar Hyman – but the oncoming Jaiden Reid is also in the running for that honour.
“Jaiden and I are both brothers and rivals and we are both definitely talented enough to challenge the record,” Howell said. “Even if not achieved this year, we are still juniors and have lots of time to grow and improve to eventually reach the record.”
Hyman’s record stands at 9.95 seconds, which was set in 2012.
While Howell still has goals he is chasing, he took time to thank all those who have made his successful journey possible thus far.
Cayman’s top 5 male 100m sprinters
Kemar Hyman: 9.95
Kareem Streete-Thompson: 9.96
Davonte Howell: 10.15
Jaiden Reid: 10.24
Tyrell Cuffy: 10.33
“First and foremost, I have to thank God for even allowing me to achieve my goals this far, coach Tyrone [Yen] for the training in Cayman which gave me the opportunity to find a school in the US.
“Coach Dwight [Thomas] and [Duane] Ross for the amazing training while I’ve been here in the US as well. My family has also been my biggest support system and I thank them for all the sacrifices they have made for me.”
Howell is hoping to compete in several outdoor school meets and plans to return home for the national championships in June.
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I watched the Carifta senior 100m final live on TV and Davonte scorched the best Caribbean sprinters winning comfortably. The commentators were very impressed as was I. As I understand it he does not have to achieve the qualifying time to compete in Paris and I truly hope he will be nominated by our Olympic Committee to represent Cayman in Paris, he has truly earned this honour.