The Cayman Islands Athletic Association 2023 CUC Youth and CARIFTA Track and Field Championships concluded 4 March., at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex, with some notable finishes from the young athletes.
While the CIAA has not officially announced their CARIFTA line up, the Cayman Compass is aware of a few results at the event that should guarantee spots at the games, set for 7-10 April in Nassau, Bahamas.
Coaches says athletes like long jumpers Anthony Chin Jr. and Andrew Stone and shot put and discus thrower Brianna Smith appear ready to claim a spot on the Cayman team.
“There is a good [group] of athletes going to CARIFTA this year, I would think,” CIAA president Delroy Murray told the Compass. “I think the under-20 boys are going to be strong, the under-17 boys as well, and the girls are going to be strong in the field events.”
The local championships featured athletes across 10 schools, both elementary and secondary, joined by five clubs, totalling around 365 competitors.
The track-and-fielders were cheered on by more than 100 spectators in the stands, something Murray says was influenced by the school athletes.
“The younger ones, the non-CARIFTA age group athletes, are guaranteed that people will come out to cheer on their children and grandchildren, etc.,” he said.
He noted that the event went well. “Outside the national championships, this is the major championships for our age group athletes,” he said. “I am impressed with the turnout and, certainly, if all goes well, we can build on this going forward.”
Murray added that the CIAA received funding to help bring more competitors to the CUC meet.
“World Athletics gave us a grant to increase participation,” he said. “So, what we did this year was, we paid the airfare and the accommodation for a team from [Cayman] Brac and we also arranged transportation for the eastern districts and West Bay to get their athletes to us.”
The Compass reached out to the CIAA to get the full list of athletes pegged to represent Cayman at the CARIFTA Games next month, but the association said it would make an official announcement “shortly”.
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