Cayman’s standout track and field duo, Gabriella Linton and Kaliah Haye, successfully defended their positions at the 2026 CARIFTA Games, reclaiming the title of ‘reigning champions’.
Linton and Haye, both 14 years old, led the medal count for the Cayman squad during the three-day competition held from 4-6 April in Grenada at the 53rd edition of the Games.
The duo demonstrated consistent performance in the throwing events, ensuring that Cayman maintained its standing on the podium among the region’s top junior athletes – ranking eighth out of 27 competing countries.
Linton successfully defended her under-17 girls shot put title on the opening day of the meet. Her winning throw of 14.19 metres secured the gold medal, while her teammate Haye followed closely to earn a bronze medal in the same event with a distance of 13.97 metres.
Haye further solidified her position by reclaiming her gold medal in the under-17 girls’ discus with a throw of 47.06 metres. Linton also participated in the discus final, finishing just outside of the medal positions in fourth place with a new personal best of 41.43 metres.
Additional results for Cayman
The Cayman delegation saw several other athletes reach finals and record competitive times against their Caribbean neighbours.
The under-17 girls 4×100-metre relay team – consisting of DaNiqua Howell, Kerikea Edwards, Jeleah Maize and DaQuanna Howell – fell short of the podium after securing 4th in the finals with a time of 46.52 seconds.
In the 400-metre final, Kerikea Edwards finished in seventh place, marking a major milestone for Cayman Athletics as this was the first time since 2019 that Cayman has had a finalist in this event at CARIFTA.
In her other two events, DaQuanna Howell claimed sixth in the 100-metre finals and fourth in the 200-metre heats.
In the under-17 high jump, Reagan Jacques claimed fifth in the boy’s division while Giavanna Henry placed ninth amongst the girls.
In the under-17 boys’ octathlon – a combined events competition consisting of eight separate track and field disciplines – Walter McLaughlin placed sixth overall.
Also competing in the under-17 category, Talan Blake doubled up with third-place finishes in his 100-metre and 200-metre heats while Madison Lyn earned fourth in her 100-metre heat and Donardo Henry crossed the line sixth in his.
In the under-20 category, Jah’Mauri Watkis, the male team captain, secured fourth in his 400-metre hurdles heats while Delora Johnson, the female captain, secured sixth overall in long jump.
Related Videos
