The North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Athletics Championships, hosted in Tlaxcala, Mexico, got off to a promising start for the small Caribbean delegation of Antigua and Barbuda, with three of its young sprinters and middle-distance runners securing spots in event finals in the opening rounds of competition.
First among the advancing athletes was 23-and-under sprinter Geolyna Dowdye, who claimed victory in her women’s 100-meter semifinal with a time of 11.54 seconds to punch her ticket to the final round. In the championship final, Dowdye delivered an even faster performance, crossing the finish line in 11.27 seconds to take fourth place overall.
In the men’s Under-23 100-meter discipline, Dwayne Fleming also earned a place in the final after a strong showing in his preliminary heat. Fleming clocked 10.40 seconds to secure third position in his heat, enough to advance to the final round. Fellow Antiguan sprinter Kasiya Daley put up a time of 10.62 seconds in Heat 1, but fell short of the cut-off to move on to the next stage.
The Antigua and Barbuda Athletics Association (ABAA) later shared an update on Fleming’s final performance: the young sprinter had jumped out to an early lead at the 40-meter mark of the final, but began experiencing unexpected physical discomfort midway through the race. The issue derailed his momentum and ultimately kept him from contending for a podium finish.
Tyra Fenton was the third Antiguan athlete to lock in a final spot in early competition, finishing third in Heat 1 of the girls’ Under-18 400-meter heats with a time of 56.27 seconds. Her final race is scheduled to take place on Saturday.
Not all Antiguan competitors advanced out of the preliminary rounds, however. Kettia Ambrose finished fifth in Heat 2 of the women’s Under-23 400-meter event with a time of 55.69 seconds, a result that left her just outside of qualification for the final.
As the multi-day championships progress, the Antigua and Barbuda delegation still has multiple opportunities to earn strong results. Fenton is set to compete in her 400-meter final in the coming days, while Dowdye, Fenton and Daley are all scheduled to participate in the preliminary heats of the 200-meter events. Additionally, Craig Prendergast will contest the men’s Under-23 400-meter hurdles final for the national team.
In a statement released after the first round of competition, the ABAA extended well wishes to Fleming for a quick recovery from the discomfort he experienced during the 100-meter final. The association also reaffirmed its full ongoing support for the entire Antigua and Barbuda national team for the remainder of the championships.