Local Javelin prodigy, Tyriq Horsford will chase after his fifth consecutive gold medal at this year’s 48th edition of the Carifta Games track and field competition from April 20-22 in the Cayman Islands.
Yesterday, the National Association of Athletics Administration announced its selection for the games which represents an increase from the 42 athletes who made the trip to Nassau, Bahamas last year.
Horsford, last year’s Boys Under- 20 Javelin winner with a throw of 68.15 metres, will headline a cast of 58 young T&T athletes that are hoping to better last year’s haul of just 17 medals (four gold, six silver and seven bronze).
Moreover, the 19-year-old Tobago-based thrower will lead a record number of 19 athletes from the island that have made this year’s team.
Eleven medallists from the 2018 games return to repeat or better their feats including highly rated sprinter Shaniqua Bascombe, who won silver in the Girls U-17 200m last time out, as well and then won bronze in the Girls U-17 4x400m relay along with Rae-Ann Serville, Malika Coutain and Natasha Fox, all of whom are also returning to the premier junior track and field event in the Caribbean.
Other returning athletes include reigning gold medallists Avindale Smith, this time competing in the Boys U-20 200m and 4x100m. Smith won the U-17 Boys’ 400m, last year and Veayon Joseph in Boys U-17 Javelin.
T&T finished third overall in the medal count in the last edition behind Jamaica (44 gold, 27 silver and 11 bronze) and the Bahamas (6 gold, 14 silver, 15 bronze), but will be confident of bettering both their overall medal count and their overall placing.
National team and officials
Boys U-17:
Devin Augustine (100m/200m/4x100m), Shakeem Mc Kay (100m/200m/4x100m/4x400m), Jordon Pope (4oom/4x400m), Jessiah Jones (400m/4x400m), Ryan Campbell (800m), Troy Llanos (3000m), Rinaldo Moore (110m hurdles/400m hurdles/4x100m/4x400m), Miguel Telfer (long jump/4x100m), Jayden Scott (discus/shot put), Tyrese Murray (discus), Veayon Joseph (javelin), Anthony Diaz (javelin/4x100m/4x400m), Ryan Campbell (4x400m).
Girls U-17:
Shaniqua Bascombe (100m/200m/4x100m), Taejha Badal (100m/200m/4x100m/4x400m), Natasha Fox (400m/4x400m), Malika Coutain (400m/4x400m), Karesa Kirton (110m hurdles/4x100m), Xea Bruce (400m hurdles/4x400m), Amber Mayhew (triple jumph), Shakera Kirk (discus), Lalenii Grant (discus), Brianna Percy (shot put), Reneisha Andrews (4x100m), Kyah La Fortune (4x100m), Christine Marie Maharaj (4x400m), Atiya Croal (4x400m),
Boys U-20:
Kion Benjamin (100m/4x100m), Adell Colthrust (100m/200m/4x100m), Avindale Smith (200m/4x100m), Nicholas Wilson (400m), Genesis Joseph (1500m/5000m), Justin Gay (110m hurdles/4x100m),Tyrese Rawlins (110m hurdles/4x100m), Kelsey Daniel (triple jump/long jump), Jaydon Antoine (long jump), Joel Andrews (pole vault), Christopher Crawford (discus/shot put), Tyriq Horsford (javelin), Selvon Rochford (javelin), Anson Moses, Che Rochford, Dominic Cole (4x100m).
Girls U-20:
Ayla Stanisclaus (100m/200m/4x100m), Akila Lewis (100m/200m/4x100m), Rae-Ann Serville (400m/800m/4x400m), Tamia Badal (100m hurdles/400m/4x100m), Safiya John (100m hurdles/hepthatlon/4x400m), Jayda Williams (long jump), Caitlin Ragoonan (long jump/4x400m), Elizabeth Galera (discus), Ianna Roach (shot put), Antonia Sealy (javelin), Kemoy Noray (javelin), Leah Bernard (4x100m), Naomi Campbell (4x100m), Tatianna Martinez (4x400m), Nicola Pesnell (4x400m).
Officials: Lucretia Burns (manager), Ronnell Barclay (assistant manager), Nadine Hamid (head coach), Kelvin Nancoo (sprint & relays), Althea Busby (sprint & relays), Antonia Burton (sprint & relays), Eric Mc Cree (sprint & relays), Ismael Lopez Mastrapa (throws), Wendell Williams (jumps), Jamal James (middle and long distance running), Reynold Poter Lee (multi events), Arlon Morrison (multi events), Dr Anyl Gopeesingh (medical), Ruel Rigsby (medical), Kurlyn Smith Nicholas (medical), Anthony Walcott (medical), Dexter Thomas (medical).
