Four Cayman athletics clubs returned home after a successful showing at the 2026 Speed Capital Caribbean Invitational and CARIFTA Qualifier.
The invitational, which took place on 21 Feb. at the Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar, Florida, featured over 30 clubs from across the United States and the Caribbean.
Local clubs’ success
Mustang Track Club saw significant success, sending 24 athletes to the competition and returning with 24 medals in total – 10 gold, eight silver, and six bronze.
One athlete of the club, DaQuana Howell, secured her spot for the 2026 CARIFTA Games after clocking 12.00 seconds in the 100-metre sprint of the girls 15-16 age division.
Howell’s qualification brings the Mustang Track Club’s official count to two athletes, joining Reagan Jacques, who previously qualified for the U17 Boys High Jump.
Reflecting on the invitational, Mustang Track Club said, “Several others are just a tenth of a second away, and we’re believing that breakthrough will come at the upcoming Interscholastic Championships or at CARIFTA Trials later March.”
The sole representative of Hy-Tech Tigers Track Club was Kerikea Edwards who clocked two personal bests in the under-15 division: a gold winning 25.45 seconds in the 200m and a second-place finish in the 400m at 58.01 seconds.
Her 400m performance surpassed the CARIFTA qualifying mark of 58.43 seconds, securing her spot in the U17 division for the upcoming Games.
Speed Athletics contributed to the medal haul with 14 podium finishes from their 10 competing athletes.
All 14 medals – seven gold, three silver, and four bronze – were earned through individual performances.
The club also recorded 11 new personal bests and four season bests, while Aria Marriott (17-18 division) and James Crooks (Open division) both secured MVP honors.
Vision Academy 345 finished the meet with 12 medals, including eight golds, two silvers, and two bronzes.
Individual standouts Jah’Mauri Watkis and Walter McLaughlin earned MVP titles for the 17-18 and 15-16 age divisions, respectively.
Vision Academy’s head coach Adrian Riley said, “The performances were very good and I’m hoping the athletes can maintain what we have already started and just continue to grow and build from here as a club … and finish up the season strong.”
“We’re looking forward to an exciting week next week as it relates to the [Inter-Secondary Athletics Championship], so let’s see what’s in store for us,” Riley added.
With the Inter-Secondary Athletics Championship scheduled for 2-5 March and CARIFTA Trials following later in March, coaches remain optimistic about adding more names to the national roster.
The Cayman athletes securing qualifications for the 53rd CARIFTA Games will compete at the Kirani James Athletics Stadium in Grenada from 4-6 April alongside the best under-17 and under-20 track and field talent in the Caribbean.
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