Barbados dominates at home to complete the trifecta

Barbados secured a resounding victory at the 2024 CARIFTA Triathlon, Aquathlon, and Mixed Relay Championships, held on August 16-17 at Brandons Beach and the Mighty Grynner Highway. The home team’s dominance was evident across all categories, earning them the overall team title with an impressive 207 points when the curtains came down.

Bermuda finished a close second with 180 points, followed by Trinidad & Tobago (58 points), Jamaica (43 points), and Aruba (36 points). Approximately 190 athletes from 12 territories represented the largest participation in the seven-year history of this competition.

After the opening day, following the triathlon, Bermuda led the team standings with 91 points. Barbados was close behind, however, with 84. Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada, and Jamaica rounded out the top five.

Bermuda, though, went on to take charge of the mixed relays as well, taking 42 points. Barbados got to 28, with Aruba third on six.

Winner Yele Renwick Williams cooling off after a hard fought victory.

In the individual triathlon events, Barbados excelled, claiming top spots in several categories, and keeping the contest close. But the team’s strong performance was highlighted by their dominance in the aquathlon, where they secured the overall title with 95 points to 47 for Bermuda.

Barbados’ Fynn Armstrong and Isis Gaskin in the 16-19 age categories for male and female respectively added gold in the aquathlon to their triathlon titles. The triathlon in that category incorporated a 750m swim, 20km bike, and 5k run. The aquathlon included only the swim and run.

In the male division, Barbados’ Luke McIntyre, who had just missed out on a podium finish in the triathlon, secured the silver in the aquathlon behind his teammate. 

Bajan duo working together in the 11-12

In the female 13-15 age category, inclusive of a 400m swim, 10km bike, and 2.5k run, it was Laila McIntyre who improved on her silver medal in the triathlon to capture the gold in the aquathlon. Her teammate, Isabelle Mayer, also improved on her triathlon bronze medal with a silver in the aquathlon. Alexis Lashley finished sixth in the same category.

Yele Renwick-Williams doubled as he also won the aquathlon to go with his triathlon gold from the previous day in the male 11-12 category. His teammate Liam Beckles was sixth. Athletes in that division completed a 200m swim, 5km bike, and 1.5k run.

Tahira Fraser from Barbados won bronze in the female division behind Bermuda’s Naomi MacGuiness and Colette Durkin.

In the 20-21 female category Zahra Gaskin added aquathlon gold to her triathlon gold, while her teammate Chara Hinds was second in the aquathlon. 

(CG)