As the regional sports community prepares for a landmark milestone in athletic competition, the Antigua and Barbuda National Olympic Committee (ABNOC) has formally revealed its full 18-athlete squad set to compete at the centennial edition of the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games. The historic 100th anniversary tournament is scheduled to take place from July 24 to August 8, 2026, in the capital city of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo.
The 2026 CAC Games carry special significance for the region, celebrating a full century of organized cross-border athletic competition that dates back to the inaugural tournament held in 1926. Organizers project that this year’s event will welcome more than 6,000 competing athletes from approximately 40 nations across the Central American and Caribbean region, making it one of the largest multi-sport regional events on the 2026 global calendar.
One of the most notable hurdles the ABNOC has had to navigate is an unexpected scheduling conflict: the 2026 CAC Games overlap with the 2026 Commonwealth Games, a separate international tournament that draws many of the region’s top athletes. Despite this logistical complexity, Antigua and Barbuda has committed to fielding a full, competitive roster across six distinct Olympic sports, a decision that adds significant pressure to the ABNOC administrative secretariat. Teams and competitors will be required to comply with overlapping entry protocols, eligibility checks, and cross-tournament travel arrangements to meet both events’ requirements.
This conflict is most pronounced for Antigua and Barbuda’s track and field contingent, who will first compete at the Commonwealth Games hosted in Glasgow, Scotland, before making the transatlantic journey to Santo Domingo to join the CAC Games. To date, the ABNOC has confirmed the full breakdown of athletes, coaching staff, and support personnel for the upcoming tournament.
In athletics, the team will be led by head coach Kesswin Anthony, with competitors Cejhae Greene competing in the men’s 100-meter dash, Dwayne Fleming entered in both the 100-meter and 200-meter sprints, Christopher Johnson set to compete in the men’s shot put, and Geolyna Dowdye representing the nation in the women’s 100-meter and 200-meter events.
The swimming delegation, under coach Nelson Molina Fojo, features four competitors: Alandra Dublin will race in the women’s 50-meter freestyle, 50-meter butterfly, and 100-meter butterfly; Ellie Shaw is entered in the 50-meter breaststroke, 100-meter breaststroke, and 200-meter individual medley; Tivon Benjamin will compete in the men’s 50-meter butterfly, 100-meter freestyle, and 100-meter butterfly; and Stefano Mitchell rounds out the squad with entries in the 50-meter freestyle, 50-meter butterfly, and 100-meter freestyle.
For sailing, head coach Karl James will guide three athletes: Tiger Tyson in the men’s kite competition, O’zani Lafond in the men’s singlehanded dinghy event, and Shanoy Malone in the men’s regional singlehanded dinghy category. The beach volleyball pair of Raenor Sharpe and Miguel Pena Lugo will compete under the guidance of head coach Olsen Joseph.
In weightlifting, three competitors will represent the nation under coach Durand Meade: Daniel Antonio in the men’s 110 kg clean & jerk division, Ijauni Nathaniel in the men’s 79 kg clean & jerk category, and Kevesha Nedwell in the women’s 77 kg clean & jerk event. Finally, table tennis will see Stuti Kashyap compete in women’s singles and Mekhi Simmons compete in men’s singles, with Aleena Edwards serving as head coach.
Off the field of play, the team’s leadership and support structure has also been confirmed. Thomas Greenaway, ABNOC’s First Vice President, will serve as Chef de Mission for the delegation, with Alisha Francis acting as Team Assistant and Keston Daley filling the role of official physiotherapist. Both the ABNOC President and Secretary General will also travel with the team to attend the centennial tournament.
In a statement accompanying the roster announcement, ABNOC expressed its commitment to supporting the delegation as they prepare to represent the nation on this historic regional sporting stage, emphasizing the pride the organization takes in fielding a full team despite the logistical challenges presented by the 2026 scheduling overlap.