Sports Minister praised athletes on performance
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE six- member delegation that represented the Federation at the just concluded CARIFTA Games in St. George's, Grenada came in for high praise for their performance at the Meet.
The four athletes and two technical staff returned to the Federation on Tuesday evening (Mar. 29) and were met at the RLB International Airport by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Sports the Hon. Shawn Richards, members of the St. Kitts-Nevis Amateur Athletics Association, Coaches and other well wishers.
During the three-day regional premier youth track and field competition, the Federation was able to attain one gold medal through Jermaine Francis who competed in the Under-20 High Jump, clearing a height of 2.11m.
In commending the team for their overall performance, Minister Richards said that Francis’ gold medal performance was a great accomplishment for the Federation.
He told the athletes that they all did well in representing the Federation amongst their peers from across 21 territories, of which St. Kitts and Nevis finished ninth.
“From a small island Federation, we were able to send off four athletes and from amongst the four of you we got one gold medal...and the other three did quite well in the events that they competed.”
The other three athletes were Leroy Chapman who placed sixth in the 800m heat of the Boys U-18, clocking 2:02:49 while the winning time was 1:56:08 by Guadeloupe’s Lidji Mbaye.
Also competing in the Boys Under-18 800m was Tahj Liburd who place fourth in his heat, clocking a time of 1:59:48. The event was won by Jamaican Anthony Cox in 1:56:59.
Meanwhile, the other athlete, Dimetre Borwne came ninth in the Boys U-18 Long Jump with his best leap of 6.55m.
Richards told the youngsters that they did well in “going out there and competing with all the young persons from throughout the region”.
President of the SKNAAA, Glen Jeffers explained that the chemistry between the team was exceptional and as such he knew that they would have performed excellently.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Head of the National Olympic Committee Alphonso Bridgewater. He however lamented the absence of a females on the team.
Bridgewater expressed the hope that there would be at least one of them on the team for the 2017 event.
