Making the grade

Five of Barbados’ best triathlon athletes have secured their place for the 2022 CARIFTA Triathlon and Aquathlon Championships to be held in Bermuda in September.

The first of two qualifiers was staged yesterday at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex to determine who will represent Barbados at the fourth edition of this event. President of the Barbados Federation of Island Triathletes (BFIT), Darren Treasure, told Barbados TODAY that they are hoping to have the final team ratified in June that will train towards CARIFTA.

“Things are going along smoothly. We are hoping and optimistic that CARIFTA will take place this year despite the Covid-19 surges. At first, we weren’t sure if it was going to happen but now we feel even more confident,” Treasure said.

The last CARIFTA Triathlon and Aquathlon Championships was held in 2019 in Jamaica and Treasure explained that the national athletes were eager to get back out into competition. In addition, Treasure said that so far several countries have expressed an interest and they are reigning champions Guadeloupe, Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Jamaica, Bermuda, and the Bahamas and he was hoping that others will come on board.

“Here in Barbados, we have been fortunate to have some level of training amongst our younger athletes. Everyone is working very hard and we are fortunate to do something despite the COVID setback,” he said.

Before Covid-19, Treasure revealed that they were reaching a total of 200 athletes and they are hoping to reach that stage once again.

“Some of the athletes have been away from the sport for two years, so they just want to get back into it and Bermuda, given the location and how to get there is some distance, yes, but we want to support Bermuda.

“Given that we are just coming out of Covid and the cost of airfare, it has been very difficult to get corporate support. Given where we are coming from and do not have all the funding in place, it is going to be a financial challenge,” added Treasure.

Those talented young athletes slated to represent Barbados so far from September 24th to 25th, are Cain Banfield, Luke McIntyre, Zindzele Renrick-Williams, Laila McIntyre and Hailey Banfield.

Track and field CARIFTA U-17 Boys 3000m gold medallist Finn Armstrong is expected to be part of the Barbados team for Bermuda as he is one of the best junior triathlon athletes in the country. Armstrong did not feature in yesterday’s opening qualifier but is capable enough to represent Barbados when called upon. He is the reigning aquathlon champion as well and past performances by the 15-year-old have more than likely cemented him to represent Barbados.

The second and final qualifier is slated to be held on June 12 at the Gymnasium and Treasure is hoping to see a good turnout among the junior competitors. The Barbados team will hope to gain a much-desired championship win at the CARIFTA Triathlon and Aquathlon Championships, an achievement that has so far eluded them.

According to Treasure, since its inception, Barbados has accounted for at least 20 medals in each championship but so far had a best finish of second place.

“We have not won it yet, but we have been number two, twice. We have never won it before but we have always had a strong team. Guadeloupe always has a strong team and we are number two behind them normally and we are hoping to take the top spot this time around. We have always been right on their heels,” explained the president.

morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb