Grand
Cayman, Cayman Islands –
Guyana and Barbados, each armed with a reigning champion, are
confident going into the 48th
annual CARIFTA Games, scheduled for Easter weekend (20 to 22 April)
at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex. This will be Cayman’s third
time hosting the event, which will attract over 500 athletes from 27
countries.

In
2018 Guyana won one gold, one silver and seven bronze medals. This
year the team is depending heavily on its overseas athletes to bring
them glory, specifically Claudrice McKoy and Joanna Archer, both
attending Munro College, and long jumper Chantoba Bright, who is
studying at University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).

Bright,
who is the defending U20 long jump champion, will be among the
favourites to win long and triple jump medals. This will be her
final year participating in the Games and the seven-time CARIFTA
medallist said she is excited because she’s in great shape and is
ready to defend her long jump title.

“My
training is also preparing me to take the triple crown this year. I
expect to go out there and execute and bring home the double gold in
the long and triple jump girls U20," said Bright who also won
bronze in the triple jump in 2018. “CARIFTA is a big deal for me
as well as my country. We take pride and joy in participating, and
look forward to competing annually, so our athletes and coaches work
hard to prepare for the Games. For me, CARIFTA this year is all
about executing and achieving the goals I’ve been working on for
the last two years which is winning the long and triple jump event,
having fun and ending my final year with a bang."

South
American Youth gold medallist Deshana Skeete and sprinter Loneil
Marks are also expected to add to Guyana's medal tally. Meanwhile,
17 Guyana-based athletes have secured qualifying marks and are
expected to accompany McKoy, Archer and Bright to Cayman.

Guyana
CARIFTA Team - Girls

• Brianna
  Charles (100m)
  
• Deshana
  Skeete (200m)
  
• Keliza
  Smith (400m)
  
• Adriel
  Austin (800m)
  
• Shaquka
  Tyrell (800, 1500m)
  
• Princess
  Browne (triple jump)
  
• Jahaziah
  Copeland (shot put)
  
• Anisha
  Gibbons (javelin)
  

Guyana
CARIFTA Team - Boys

• Osrick
  Pellew - Ruralite (100m)
  
• Loneil
  Marks (100, 200m)
  
• Osa
  Blair (100m)
  
• Daniel
  Williams (200m)
  
• Cordell
  Charles (1500m)
  
• Daniel
  Melville (800m)
  
• Matthew
  Gordon (3000m)
  
• Melon
  Lowenfield (high jump)
  
• Tremaine
  Browne (long jump)
  

Jonathan
Miller is expected to lead from the front for Team Barbados at this
year's CARIFTA. Miller, who recorded a personal best of 15.62m in
2018 to win the U20 boys' triple jump title, is expected to repeat.
Barbados won three gold, five silver and five bronze medals in 2018
and a squad of 33 athletes have been selected by the Athletics
Association of Barbados (AAB) to travel to the Games.

Barbados
CARIFTA Team – Girls

• Vivica
  Addison
  
• Anika
  Blackman
  
• Lagina
  Colucci
  
• Vanessa
  Greaves
  
  
• Zariah
  Greaves
  
• Layla
  Haynes
  
• Sarah
  Belle
  
• Asia
  Foster
  
• Rhea
  Hoyte
  
  
• Shanice
  Hutson
  
• Ashlee
  Lowe
  
  
• Chloe
  Lucas
  
  
• Shemia
  Odaine
  

Barbados
CARIFTA Team – Boys

• Kevon
  Hinds
  
• Savion
  Hoyte
  
  
• Caleb
  Massiah
  
• Aren
  Spencer
  
  
• Haile-Emmanuel
  Turney
  
• Tafari
  Bishop
  
• Kyle
  Gale
  
  
• Miguel
  Nicholas
  
• Jadon
  Brome
  
  
• Rasheeme
  Griffith
  
  
• Roneldo
  Rock
  
• Matthew
  Clarke
  
• Antonio
  Hoyte-Small
  
• Tramaine
  Smith
  
  
• Antonio
  Farrell
  
  
• Ahijah
  Hill
  
  
• Jameel
  Walkes-Miller
  
  
• Julian
  Forde
  
  
• Jonathan
  Miller
  
  
• Dalano
  Wickham
  
  

CARIFTA
tickets are now on sale for as low as $10. For more information
about CARIFTA Cayman 2019 and to purchase tickets visit
www.caymancarifta2019.ky.