The second annual Barbados Grand Prix delivered a mixture of triumph and adversity for Cayman’s sprinting duo who returned in hopes of both defending their titles.
Rasheem Brown put on another dominant display in the men’s 110-metre hurdles on 4 July, capturing gold for his team, the Lions, in 13.56 seconds, and contributing crucial points to help push them to a second-place finish in the overall team standings.
Back-to-back champion
Brown said that defending the title meant a lot to him because it showed consistency and growth.
“Winning once is special, but coming back and successfully defending the title proves that last year’s performance wasn’t a one-time result. It also gives me confidence that the work my coach and I have been putting in is moving me in the right direction,” Brown said.
“This victory is also significant because it helps fund and supports my journey towards the upcoming Commonwealth Games,” he added.
Returning to familiar ground at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex, Brown admitted that this year’s atmosphere felt different for him because he came in knowing what to expect.
“Last year, I was experiencing the meet for the first time, but this year I was much more comfortable with the environment and able to stay focused on executing my race. The competition was strong again, and I really enjoyed the atmosphere. It was great to return and perform well,” said Brown.
Mentally, Brown found himself in an even better space than during his breakthrough performance last summer.
“I felt much stronger mentally this year. I was calmer and more confident because I trusted my preparation. That confidence allowed me to stay composed and focus on my execution instead of worrying about the outcome,” he said.
“Physically, I’m still building toward my best performances, but I felt healthy and ready to compete,” he added.
Given the success of the meet in Barbados, Brown strongly believes that Cayman should consider establishing a similar team-based track and field event.
“I think Cayman would benefit tremendously from hosting an event like the Barbados Grand Prix. It would give our local athletes the opportunity to compete against high-quality international competition without having to travel, which is important for their development,” Brown said.
“It would also help promote track and field locally and inspire the next generation of athletes,” he added.
What’s next for Brown
With the Barbados Grand Prix wrapped up, Brown has a packed international schedule ahead which includes his third appearance at the Ed Murphy Classic in Tennessee on 10 July, followed by the Edmonton Classics in Canada on 12 July.
Brown will also then take on the Commonwealth Games in Scotland later this month, which is set for 23 July to 2 Aug.
“Right now, my focus is on continuing to improve each race and building toward the Commonwealth Games. My goal is to keep lowering my times, stay healthy, and represent myself at the highest level possible,” Brown said.
Every competition is another opportunity to sharpen my performance and continue progressing toward my long-term goals,” he added.
Howell faces adversity
While the day brought celebration for Brown, it was a contrasting story for fellow Caymanian sprinter and Olympian Davontè Howell.
After racing to victory last year in the 100-metre sprint with a time of 10.15 seconds, Howell returned this year determined to defend the title in front of his extended Barbadian family and to “become the first to run nine seconds on Bajan soil”.
Representing team Panthers, Howell started strong, but pulled his right hamstring, preventing him from securing the podium finish he wanted.
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