Several Cayman Islands’ track and field athletes returned home Monday, 17 June, with smiles on their faces after performing impressively at the North American Central American and Caribbean New Life Invitational meet in the Bahamas.
Among the group were Caymanian Olympic hopefuls Davontè Howell and Rasheem Brown – both of whom claimed silver medals and clocked personal best times at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium.
In the 100 metres final, Howell ran a staggering 10.09 seconds behind Bahamian Wanya Mccoy (10.06). It’s the second time Howell has run a best time this year – the first was at the 51st CARIFTA Games in Grenada, where he stopped the clock at 10.15 seconds to win gold.
His time in the Bahamas was .9 seconds off the Olympic mark but with the qualifying window closing on 30 June, Howell believes he is capable of earning his place on team Cayman in Paris.
“Without such a strong support system behind me,” he said, “I would not be able to accomplish the things I have … I put a lot of work in to be where I’m at right now, and God has allowed me to continue to show my talent to the world.”
He noted that when he made his silver-medal run, it was after a restless night, but despite his lack of sleep, adrenaline helped to skyrocket him to a new personal best.
“This shows me that my body is capable of running an Olympic standard time and I hope to do so in the coming meets,” he said.
While Howell intends to run a qualifying mark, he is also one of the top contenders from Cayman who could receive an invitation from the Olympic Games Tripartite Commission based on his recent performances.
Howell believes he stacks up well against the elite scheduled to line the track in France.
“There will be a lot of competition in Paris, but I believe that I am a person who rises … and I won’t fear away from it,” he said.
“I believe that I will be nervous as any U20 athlete would be at their first Olympic Games, but I think that my coaches, both in Tennessee and the Cayman Islands, have prepared me for this moment and I am ready to seize the opportunity.”
Howell’s countryman and teammate, Brown, also has his sights set on the Paris. Outside of Kemar Hyman and Jaden Reid, Brown is the highest-ranked Caymanian by World Athletics.
During the Invitational meet in the Bahamas, Brown finished the 110m hurdles in 13.49 seconds – .22 off of an Olympic time.
“It gives me momentum going into my next two meets, which is an opportunity to push for an Olympic standard,” Brown told the Compass.
Brown, the Caribbean Games inaugural champion in the 110m hurdles in 2022 and last year’s silver medalist at the CAC Games, said that he is hopeful of representing Cayman in Paris but understands the circumstances.
“Who deserves it the most will receive it,” he said. “You have Davontè Howell, Jaden Reid and myself … and, as of now, I feel like every man has a chance and there are two more meets that is crucial for each man, so may the best man win.”
The unofficial Cayman Islands team for the Olympics currently comprises two athletes – swimmer Jordan Crooks and sailor Charlotte Webster.
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