Antigua and Barbuda Names 16 for 2026 ANOCES Track & Field Championships

Ahead of the highly anticipated 2026 ANOCES Track and Field Championships scheduled to take place in St. Kitts from July 4 to 5, 2026, Antigua and Barbuda has finalized a competitive 16-athlete roster that will carry the nation’s flag at the regional sporting event. This championship participation comes as part of a broader regional development initiative backed by Panam Sports, which has partnered with the Association of National Olympic Committees of the Eastern Caribbean (ANOCES) and local National Olympic Committees to elevate competitive sports across the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The collaboration extends beyond track and field, with targeted support for five key disciplines: swimming, table tennis, 3×3 basketball, athletics, and beach volleyball, all aimed at strengthening grassroots and elite sporting ecosystems across the region. The Antigua and Barbuda track and field delegation features a mix of decorated veteran competitors and rising young talents who have already proven their skill at regional competitions. Headlined by national 100m and 200m champion Geolyna Dowdye, the women’s squad also includes CARIFTA silver medal javelin thrower Zonique Charles, sprinters Soniya Jones, 400m specialists Kettia Ambrose and Shenika Bentick. On the men’s side, the roster boasts CARIFTA bronze medal javelin thrower Maliek Francis, alongside sprinters Jalen Dyett and Kadeem Campbell, 400m runners Cleon Joseph and Dion Shaw, 400m hurdler Craig Prendrgast, 100m standout Amori Jules, long jumper Terrance Thomas, shot putter Christopher Johnson, and 1500m runners Shawn-ze Joseph and Devon James. In addition to individual events across sprints, middle-distance races, jumps, throws and hurdles, Antigua and Barbuda will also field teams for three relay competitions: the mixed 4×400m relay, men’s 4×100m relay, and women’s 4×100m relay, bringing additional opportunities for podium finishes. In an official statement marking the team announcement, Cliff Williams, Secretary General of the Antigua and Barbuda National Olympic Committee (ABNOC) and sitting ANOCES Board Member, expressed gratitude for the ongoing institutional support that makes this regional competition participation possible. “We are grateful to Panam Sports and ANOCES for their continued support of regional programmes that strengthen competition across the OECS, and to the Antigua and Barbuda Athletics Association for their leadership in assembling this team, and the ABNOC, who lead this charge,” Williams said. “I wish our athletes every success and encourage all Antiguans and Barbudans to rally behind them as they compete with pride on behalf of our nation.” Beyond official team delegation duties, Williams will also take on additional responsibilities during the St. Kitts event, participating in planning discussions for future ANOCES competitions and attending the organization’s upcoming congress. The 16-member athletic delegation will be led by veteran sporting officials Heather Samuel-Daley, Kesswin Anthony, and former elite sprinter Daniel Bailey, who will guide the team through preparations and competition in St. Kitts.