分类： sports

As one of the most anticipated regional track and field competitions on the Caribbean sports calendar approaches, Barbados’ delegation to the 2024 CARIFTA Games has kicked off its journey to host nation Grenada, with athletes and coaching staff carrying strong morale and quiet confidence into the April 3-6 tournament.

Team manager Angela Jackson shared updates on the squad’s preparations and mindset with local outlet Barbados TODAY on departure day at Grantley Adams International Airport. The first contingent, made up of 42 competing athletes, departed Barbados on the scheduled timeline, while the remaining 18 team members are scheduled to arrive in Grenada within 24 hours to join the group. Jackson was among the officials accompanying the first batch, alongside co-manager Duante Harvey, Athletics Association of Barbados president Noel Lynch and multiple lead coaches. First-time and returning competitors alike completed their pre-departure check-in procedures, with many first-time athletes accompanied by family members as they prepared for the biggest regional meet of their young careers so far.

Jackson emphasized that the entire squad is brimming with excitement to compete on the Grenada track, describing the overall team mood as consistently positive heading into the championships. “The mood is very good. The athletes are all excited and looking forward to arriving in Grenada and giving of their very best,” she noted.

When asked about potential medal expectations for the Barbados team, Jackson declined to make any concrete predictions on the team’s final medal haul, but highlighted that the 2024 delegation has strong, well-balanced depth across events, particularly in the Under-20 division. Instead of focusing on pre-set medal targets, the coaching and management staff’s core goal is to encourage every athlete to perform to the best of their personal ability. “I can agree that the team is very strong in certain areas, and all that we can do is to expect them to give of their best. Of course, I am not going to touch on any medals prediction whatsoever. We are just encouraging each and everyone on the team to give of their best and once that is done we will be quite satisfied,” Jackson explained.

She also reflected on the team’s preparation cycle, noting that the build-up to CARIFTA was largely smooth, despite facing minor time constraints caused by the tight gap between the Barbados Secondary Schools Athletics Championships (BSSAC) and this year’s regional tournament. Due to the compressed timeline, the team was only able to host one mandatory pre-competition workshop focused on anti-doping education, a critical session given that nearly a third of the squad are first-time CARIFTA competitors. Coaching staff have been working closely with these rookie athletes to help them adjust to the higher stakes of regional competition and get into the right competitive frame of mind before the opening event.

Beyond the official delegation, dozens of parents, friends and local sports supporters were present at the airport to send off the team, with many of these well-wishers also planning to travel to Grenada in the coming days to cheer on the Barbados squad throughout the four-day championships.

The streets of Bridgetown erupted in celebration on Monday as St Michael School paraded their athletic supremacy following a dominant victory at the Dasani BSSAC Championships. Marking their second consecutive title win, the triumphant team embarked on a jubilant motorcade that captivated local communities and showcased exceptional school spirit.

Departing from their campus at 10 a.m., dozens of elite athletes, spirited cheerleaders, and dedicated coaching staff rode atop decorated trucks through key city areas. The procession generated enthusiastic responses from residents who lined the streets to cheer and wave at the passing champions.

Head coach Gabriel Burnett revealed to media that the victory celebration had been strategically planned before the championships concluded, reflecting the team’s extraordinary confidence in their capabilities. “It feels tremendous,” Burnett stated. “We prioritize what our athletes desire, and annually they request this motorcade. We ensure we deliver this experience for them.”

The coaching veteran emphasized that the repeated success stemmed from systematic preparation rather than overconfidence. “This achievement aligns completely with our expectations since last year. While some might misinterpret our assurance as arrogance, we maintained profound confidence in our developmental process and competitive execution,” Burnett explained.

As architects of an enduring athletic legacy, St Michael School continues to reinforce its reputation as an institutional powerhouse. Burnett outlined his philosophy of shielding athletes from pressure while steering the program: “I consistently remind our competitors that all glory belongs to them while I assume all operational challenges. Having competed at Olympic level myself, I don’t perceive external pressures as overwhelming. Our sponsor Pedialyte Sport provides tremendous support without imposing expectations.”

The victory parade progressed from Welches through Station Hill before arriving at Combermere School, which had simultaneously secured its third consecutive boys’ title. Anticipation built dramatically as students gathered at perimeter fences seeking vantage points. After tense negotiations, Combermere principal Robin Douglas granted permission for controlled interaction between the rival institutions.

The scene transformed into an impromptu celebration as hundreds of students converged to the infectious rhythms of Machel’s 2025 hit “PARDY.” For fifteen memorable minutes, traffic slowed to a crawl as motorists, school officials, and community members joined the cross-school festivities. In a powerful display of sportsmanship, recently competing athletes linked arms in unity before the motorcade returned to Bridgetown, concluding an extraordinary celebration of youth athletic excellence.

The Barbados Amateur Basketball Association Premier League delivered an electrifying display of athletic prowess this Sunday, featuring four intense matchups that kept fans on the edge of their seats. At the Barbados Community College venue, teams demonstrated exceptional skill and competitive spirit throughout the evening’s proceedings.

In the headline contest, C.A.M Smart Assurance City United Celtics secured a decisive 97-82 victory over Burger King Clapham Bulls. Derion Hurley emerged as the Celtics’ standout performer with an impressive 20-point contribution, receiving strong support from teammates Kiserian Adams (19 points) and Deroni Hurley (16 points). Despite the team loss, Clapham Bulls’ Simeon Maynard delivered the evening’s highest individual performance with 24 points, accompanied by Manuel Alleng’s 18-point effort.

Fusionz Boutique Station Hill Cavaliers claimed another notable win, overcoming Premiumfit Bears 97-85 through exceptional teamwork. Gavin Philips led the Cavaliers’ charge with 22 points, while Deveron Knight (21 points) and Stephan Ottley (16 points) provided crucial scoring support. The Bears saw strong performances from Antoine Winter (23 points) and Akeem Williams (21 points) despite the final outcome.

KFC Pinelands demonstrated dominant form with a 92-76 triumph over Island Care Ambulance Service and BodyxB Lakers. Nathan Estwick’s 20-point performance set the pace, complemented by identical 19-point contributions from both Kadeem Brathwaite and Carl Thorpe. The Lakers’ Keefe Birkett shone individually with a game-high 24 points, supported by Brandon Ruck’s 16 points.

The evening concluded with an upset victory as NSC Tridents overcame Warrens Allstars 80-68. Issac Griffith’s 20-point performance anchored the Tridents’ success, with significant contributions from Zane Gaskin (19 points) and Ari-Mottley Squires (17 points). Warrens Allstars’ Trishon Gaskin (24 points) and Johnathan Dottin (20 points) delivered valiant efforts despite the team’s defeat.

Ahead of the prestigious CARIFTA Games in Grenada, Olympic athlete and national 400m record-holder Johnathan Jones has delivered a powerful motivational address to members of Barbados’ Elite Distance Track Club. The special reception, hosted at Co-Operators General Insurance on Sunday, served as both a celebration and strategic preparation session for the young athletes embarking on their regional competitive journey.

Barbados is set to make history by sending an unprecedented delegation of 61 athletes to the championships, with 16 representatives originating from the Elite Distance Track Club. Additionally, two club swimmers will compete at the parallel CARIFTA Swimming Championships in Martinique.

Jones, currently training in Florida, emphasized the significance of the selection achievement while outlining the mental framework required for competitive success. “You’ve earned your positions through merit, not favor,” he stated. “Medals are determined by performance on competition day, not predetermined by reputation. Approach each round systematically and pursue victory aggressively.”

Drawing from his own championship experiences, Jones highlighted the psychological approach cultivated by Coach Ramon Armstrong that propelled numerous athletes to podium finishes. “We operated with a conviction of superiority—a mindset where we acknowledged no competitors as better prepared or more capable. This mentality yielded medal-winning performances across our team.”

While emphasizing competitive intensity, Jones equally stressed the importance of embracing the experiential aspects of international competition. He reflected on the enduring personal connections formed during his own CARIFTA participations, noting that some friendships sustained to this day provide personal support networks beyond athletic contexts.

Coach Armstrong reinforced these messages while contextualizing the broader significance of the athletes’ participation. “Previous performances become irrelevant once you approach the starting line,” he advised. “Every competitor begins equally, and each has legitimate medal potential. You represent not merely individual aspirations but national pride, familial investment, institutional reputation, and club legacy.”

The coaching visionary acknowledged the athletes’ developmental progression while emphasizing that peak performance remains the ultimate objective. “We’ve witnessed your dedicated training and consistent improvement. Now we anticipate seeing that preparation translate into exceptional competitive representation for Barbados.”

Josh Read and Mark Jordan delivered a masterclass in strategic rally driving, securing a calculated victory in the Barbados Rally Club’s (BRC) Shakedown Stages this Sunday. The duo piloted their Ford Fiesta Rally2 to a precise two-second triumph, establishing an early psychological advantage for the upcoming BCIC Rally Barbados 2026. Despite not setting the fastest times on every stage, their consistent performance from the second of nine special stages proved decisive.

The event, which concluded with a prizegiving ceremony at the Conrad Hunte Cricket Ground in St. Andrew, saw Read emphasize the multifaceted challenge of winning Rally Barbados. ‘The stages were challenging, especially Pickerings with the amount of gravel on the road, but we kept out of trouble. My confidence is good. A lot of things need to be right to win Rally Barbados; we need to be fast, consistent and reliable,’ he stated.

Defending BCIC RB25 champions Kyle Gregg and Kreigg Yearwood, also in a Fiesta Rally2, led initially but were hampered by a power delivery issue. After a strong afternoon charge that included three stage wins, they managed to claw their way back to a commendable second place. ‘We were much sharper after lunch and I’m glad the trouble came in the Shakedown,’ remarked a philosophical Gregg.

The rally was not without drama for other top contenders. Two-time winners Dane Skeete and Tyler Mayhew (Subaru Impreza WRC S12) mounted an impressive recovery from 44th place after a disastrous opening stage, only to retire late due to mechanical woes. Adam Mallalieu, who was poised for a podium finish in his new Fiesta Rally2, suffered a final-stage excursion that dropped him to fifth.

This misfortune promoted the BCIC RB24 winning duo of Stuart Maloney and Kristian Yearwood (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) to third, a significant confidence boost following their heavy accident in last year’s event. Maloney described the day as a ‘block building’ exercise, expressing satisfaction with their progress and pace.

The event also served as a crucial testing ground under new central service regulations for the 2026 rally, placing greater emphasis on vehicle reliability. Of the 47 starters, 16 failed to finish, underscoring the demanding nature of the competition and setting the stage for an intensely competitive main event.