32
Caribbean Life, April 21-27, 2022
By Azad Ali
The first-ever Caribbean Games is
on and will be held in Guadeloupe from
June 29 to July 5.
Caribbean Association of National
Olympic Committees (CANOC) President,
Brian Lewis made this announcement
while delivering remarks at the
opening ceremony of the Chefs (de mission)
Seminar, which was held at the
Hotel Fleur d’Epee, Gosier, Guadeloupe
on April 2.
Twenty-three participants from 20
(CANOC) member countries traveled
to Guadeloupe for the seminar and an
additional nine more member countries
joined virtually with three CANOC executive
members present.
During his official opening remarks,
Lewis urged participants to be conscious
of the immense challenge confronting
the hosts as well as all of CANOC
members, in realizing the Games and
the importance of banding together to
ensure success.
From left, Jamaicans Tina Clayton, Serena Cole, Brianna Lyston and Tia Clayton celebrate their world U20 4x100m record at
the Carifta Games. World Athletics/Athelstan Bellamy
By Nelson A. King
A women’s world U20 4x100m record highlighted
the 49th edition of the CARIFTA
Games in Kingston, Jamaica, from April
16-18, as athletes and fans passionately celebrated
the return of the event after a twoyear
postponement, World Athletics said on
Tuesday.
“The three-day event saw Jamaica maintain
its Caribbean dominance on home soil,
topping the medal table with 45 gold, 29 silver
and 18 bronze medals,” it said. “The Bahamas
finished second with four gold, six silver and
seven bronze medals, followed by the British
Virgin Islands with four gold, two silver and
one bronze.”
Alongside the world U20 4x100m record
of 42.58 set by Serena Cole, Tina Clayton,
Brianna Lyston and Tia Clayton, World Athletics
said there were several other exceptional
performances from the next generation of
regional stars,” sparking hope for a bright
future.”
“It was clear from the 100m heats that
there would be plenty of fireworks in the
finals. However, an unlikely candidate — not
from Jamaica — emerged and drew admiration
from the appreciative crowd with a flawless
display of sprinting,” World Athletics said.
“Adaejah Hodge, representing the British Virgin
Islands, kept winning and shaving chunks
off her personal best times throughout the
rounds.”
In the U17 final, World Athletics said she
recorded “a superb win” in 11.29 (0.5m/s), just
0.02 off the Games record held by 2018 world
U20 champion Briana Williams.
This followed performances of 11.54
(-3.2m/s) in the heats and 11.44 (0.8m/s) in
the semifinals.
“I was trying to break the 100m record
because Briana Williams and I share birthdays
and it would have been cool if both of
us broke the Carifta record,” said Hodge, who
now holds her country’s national U20 record.
“I’ve waited for this competition for so
long,” said the 16-year-old. “I’ve watched the
CARIFTA Games on TV and just wanted to
come here and execute my races how I wanted
and make myself and everybody proud, and
the way my mom celebrated meant the world
to me,” added Hodge.
In the men’s U20 final, World Athletics said
De Andre Daley recovered from “a sluggish
start to finish with a flourish,” posting a lifetime
best of 10.23 (0.7m/s).
“His fleet-footed Jamaican teammate Bouwahghi
Nkrumie (10.28) had looked the likely
winner after detaching from the field with
his trademark explosive start and led with
30 metres to go before Daley motored by and
relegated him to the silver,” World Athletics
said.
It said Jamaica has a reputation for producing
some of the fastest 4x100m relay times in
the world, including world records.
On Saturday April 17, it said the quartet
of Cole, Tina Clayton, Lyston and Tia Clayton
— in that running order — “triggered
unrestrained celebrations inside the national
stadium after they broke the women’s world
U20 4x100m record with a 42.58 run.”
World Athletics said it improved on the previous
record of 42.94 also set by a Jamaican
quartet last year at the World Athletics U20
Championships in Nairobi, Kenya.
“This was the second world record for
me,” said Cole. “However, this one felt different
because it was in front of our supporters
and the celebrations at the end made us feel
great.”
following year, with only vaccinated fans
allowed.
CPL said, “With restrictions now being
relaxed in T&T, the unique energy and
excitement of cricket fans will come alive
at all the matches, bringing a return to the
fantastic atmosphere the tournament has
missed over the previous two years.”
Since April 4, fans have been allowed to
attend sporting events with no restrictions.
Minister of Sports, Shamfa Cudjoe said:
“The Government of T&T is excited to
partner with the Hero Caribbean Premier
League and welcomes back the Biggest
Party in Sport to the home of Carnival, as
we host the 2022 edition of the CPL.”
able to make it to the semi-finals of the
global tournament for the first time since
2015. They were also the first team to ever
come through from the qualifiers and make
the the final four of the main tournament.
Australia Meh Lanning was named captain
of the Most Valuable Team after guiding
her side to the title and scoring 394
runs.
Four Australians have made the team,
including Player-of-The-Tournament, Alyssa
Healy.
cial aspect of their game-play, which needs
to be worked on, if they are to churn out
improved results in the near future.
Simmons said this camp was not focused
on fitness but on skills that need to be
enhanced to improve overall competitiveness.
Sixteen players are involved in the camp,
which is conducted by Cricket West Indies.
West Indies are currently ranked ninth in
One-Day International (ODIs) and seventh in
T20 Internationals, which ends this week.
West Indies’ Jason Holder and coach Phil Simmons during nets at the Sir Vivian
Richards Stadium, Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda on March 7, 2022. JASON
CAIRNDUFF
Continued from Page 31
Continued from Page 31
Continued from Page 31
Spin bowling
CPL matches
ICC Most
Valuable Team
Jamaican quartet breaks world U20
4x100m record at CARIFTA Games
Caribbean
Games