CARIFTA team named

A quality 33-member contingent has been selected by the Athletic Association of Barbados to represent the island from April 20-22 at the 48th CARIFTA Games to be held at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex in Cayman Island.

The Barbados team will seek to double its tally of 13 medals last year [three gold, five silver and five bronze] with the inclusion of several new faces who have made the required qualifying standard in the Under-17 and 20 Division this year.

Under-20 boys 100m champion Julian Forde of Harrison College (left) was selected along with Jameel Walkes -Miller of Christ Church Foundation School (wearing black and yellow) and Tramaine Smith of the Lodge School (in blue and white).

(From second left) hurdler Sarah Belle, long jumper and sprinter Shemia Odaine (wearing 795) along with Ashlee Lowe (right) have all been selected.

Quarter-miler Asia Foster of the St. Michael School (left) and Chloe Lucas of Christ Church Foundation School (right) were selected for Under-20 girls CARIFTA action.

Led by manager Angela Jackson and head coach Alwyn Babb, the team comprises Vivica Addison, Lagina Colucci, Zariah Greaves, Layla Haynes who are all representing Barbados for the first time in Under-17 action. Vanessa Greaves and Anika Blackman are making their second appearance.

Seven girls were chosen for the Under-20 age group and there are hurdler Sarah Belle, sprinter Ashlee Lowe, long jumper Shemia Odaine, discus and shot-put thrower Shanice Hutson along with quarter-milers Rhea Hoyte, Asia Foster and Chloe Lucas.

Foster, Lucas and Odaine are all making a first-time appearance at the CARIFTA Games having been knocking on the door since last year.

The majority of the team consist of males [20] with five Under-17s and 15 for Under-20s. In the Under-17 Division, there are Kevon Hinds, Savion Hoyte, Caleb Massiah, Aren Spencer and Haile Emmanuel-Turney.

The Under-20 Boys is a class field that comprises several CARIFTA medallists who are expected to dominate their individual events especially competing in the quarter-mile events.

Expected to grace the track for the senior boys’ category are Kyle Gale, Antonio Hoyte-Small, Rasheem Griffith, Tafari Bishop, Ronaldo Rock who have all represented Barbados before. Delano Wickham and Miguel Nicholas are also in the line-up. Those gentlemen are expected to compete in the 400m, 800m and 1500m races.

Barbados’ medal hopes in the Under-20 Boys sprints will rest on Matthew Clarke, Tramaine Smith, Jameel Walkes-Miller along with Julian Forde who did the 100m and 200m double at the Barbados Secondary Schools Athletics Championship.

Representatives for the senior males’ field events are high jumper Antonio Farrell, triple jumpers Jadon Brome and Jonathan Miller and javelin thrower Ahijah Hill.

The assistant coaches to Alwyn Babb are Desiree Crichlow, Ramon Armstrong and Ricardo Carter along with two unnamed medical personnel.

morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb