Over the 2026 Easter weekend, the CARIFTA Track and Field Championships delivered a historic moment for Antigua and Barbuda’s young track and field athletes, who turned in a standout performance that earned widespread celebration from the nation’s National Olympic Committee (ABNOC).
Leading the charge was sprinter Tyra Fenton, who delivered an unforgettable performance by claiming two gold medals in the Women’s 100m and 200m events, plus a bronze medal in the Women’s 400m. Fenton’s multi-medal success was not the only bright spot for the delegation: Maliek Francis secured a bronze medal in the men’s javelin competition, while Zonique Charles added another bronze to the team’s tally in the women’s javelin. By the end of the championships, Antigua and Barbuda’s entire team had secured an impressive 6th place on the overall medal table, a result ABNOC has highlighted as a marked achievement for the small island nation.
Cliff Williams, Secretary General of ABNOC, emphasized that this year’s CARIFTA medalists represent the country’s most promising contingent for future success at regional, continental and global competitions. To nurture this emerging talent and help the athletes transition smoothly into professional sports careers, ABNOC has announced a comprehensive targeted support program tailored to the athletes’ holistic development.
The three-pillar support framework covers on and off-field needs: first, dedicated mentorship and sport-specific coaching that extends beyond training sessions to address off-track challenges; second, academic and life-skills support designed to foster balanced development, ensuring athletes are prepared both for elite competition and long-term life beyond sports; third, customized structured preparation for major multi-sport events, ranging from regional championships and Continental Games to World Championships, the Commonwealth Games, and ultimately the Olympic Games, including specialized training to build competitive mindset and event readiness.
To further strengthen this athlete development pathway, ABNOC has made a formal pledge to bring in an international sports methodologist to collaborate directly with the country’s local coaching and development teams. This expert will support the design of long-term athlete development roadmaps, share global best practices in elite sports training, and help prepare the emerging medalists to advance to the next stages of their competitive careers.
ABNOC notes that this commitment to nurturing high-performing young athletes is not limited to CARIFTA track and field competitors. It extends to high achievers from CARIFTA Swimming and other top emerging athletes across every sport practiced in the nation. “We are incredibly proud of everything these athletes have already accomplished,” the organization affirmed, “and we remain fully dedicated to providing the resources and tailored guidance they need to compete and excel on the world stage.”