At the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Track and Field Championships hosted in St Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda’s star thrower Maliek Francis delivered a career-defining performance that cemented his place in the region’s athletics history. Francis dominated the men’s javelin competition, launching the implement to a stunning 66.11 metres to secure the top spot on the podium.
This extraordinary winning throw was more than just enough to claim gold: it rewrote two existing records in one go. First, it knocked out the long-standing Antigua and Barbuda national javelin record that had stood for 12 years. The previous mark of 65.70 metres was set by Oraine Brown at the 2012 NACAC Under-23 Championships held in Mexico, and Francis’ effort surpassed it by more than 40 centimetres.
Beyond the national record, Francis’ throw also claimed the new stadium record at the Kim Collins Athletics Stadium, the host venue of the 2026 championships. He overtook the previous venue best of 60.40 metres set by Abijah Nemdhari, improving the mark by a substantial 5.71 metres.
The historic win adds a sixth gold medal to Antigua and Barbuda’s overall tally at this year’s championships, and stands out as one of the most impressive and significant achievements in field athletics from the Caribbean nation in over a decade. Coaches and athletics analysts across the region have already hailed Francis’ performance as a breakthrough moment for Antigua and Barbuda track and field, highlighting the rising talent coming out of the small island nation.