IT’S this time of year again, as a combined 1,100 track and field athletes and swimmers — from as far as Suriname in the south to Bermuda in the north — go stride for stride and stroke for stroke at two of the most prestigious sporting events in the Caribbean.
The CARIFTA Track and Field Championship — dubbed the ‘Caribbean Mini Olympics’ — now into its 46th edition, will commence on Saturday (31) March in the Bahamas.
The event will host 26 countries and 500 athletes, along with 400 volunteers and about 150 local and international officials.
It is the premier track and field junior competition in the region.
While the 33rd edition of the CARIFTA Swimming Championship splashes off on that same day at the Jamaica National Stadium Pool with explosive events, as over 600 swimmers will be in action.
Saint Lucia will be represented at both championships.
Commonwealth Youth Games gold medalist, Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred, will be returning to the same venue, the Bahamas, where she created history by being the first female to win a gold medal in a track event at the games.
Alfred is expected to lead Saint Lucia’s charge at the games, along with Mechaela Hyacinth and Rueben Nichols, all with international experience at the youth level.
Alfred will be taking aim at a CARIFTA silverware when she compete in the 100 metres for girls Under-20 at 9:50 am on Saturday and will return for Day Two, Session Four, to team-up with Mechaela Hyacinth, DyetteDejerel and Kimani Alphonse in the 4×100 metres relay semifinal.
The remainder of the squad: Zoe Dorville -100 metres, 200 metres (season best 12.13 seconds/24.83 seconds) Lizzie Alexander -100 metres (season best 12.13 seconds, NebiaMontrope – 800 metres, 1,500 metres (season best – 5 minutes 03.97 seconds), Lilyanna Sylvester – 1,500 metres (season best – 5 minutes 04.69 seconds, (female under -17).
Asa Francis – 800 metres, 1,500 metres (season best – 2 minutes 00.50 seconds) (male – under -17).
Dyette Dejerel – 200 metes, 4×100 metres, Kimani Alphonse – 200 metres, 400 metres, 4×100 metres (season best 24.42 seconds/ 56.95 seconds), Mechaela Hyacinth -100 metres and 4×100 metres (female under -20).
Shelton St. Rose -100 metres, 200 metres (season best 10.74 seconds), Armani Modeste -200 metres (season best – 21.69 seconds), Reuben Nicholas – 400 metres, Taric Xavier – 1,500 metres, 3,000 metres (season best – 4 minutes 18.19 seconds/ 17 minutes 02.20 seconds) (male under – 20).
Lilyanna Sylvester – 3,000 metres (female open).
Jean – Claude Auguste – Octathlon (season best 4,306 points) (male open).
The team will be under the watchful eyes of Coach – Makeba Alcide (female) and Claude Charlemagne (male).
Meanwhile, two new faces have been included in a 10-member squad by the Saint Lucia Amateur Swimming Association (SLASA), along with two officials for the 33rd edition of the CARIFTA Aquatics Championships at the National Stadium Pool in Kingston and James Bond Beach, St. Mary, Jamaica.
Making their debut at this year’s championship are D’Andre Blanchard, and Naekeisha Louis in the 11-13 age group.
The other members of the squad include: Naima Hazel 11-12 age group and a silver medalist in the 2017 Carifta Swim Meet in the Bahamas, Allandre Cross and Mikaili Charlemagne in the 13-14 age group. Jayhan Odlum-Smith, Jamaar Archibald, Devin Boodha and Terrel Monplaisir.
Monplaisir, silver medalist at the 2017 Carifta Swim Competition will compete in the 15 – 17 age group.
In the Open Water segment is Veronica Brown, who will compete in the 5K at the James Bond Beach.
The team will be under the watchful eyes of Head Coach Brian Charles, while Constance Rene will take charge of the Saint Lucia Swim Delegation as Manager.
