T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) has extended congratulations to the national junior athletics team, which returned home on Tuesday after successfully competing in the 43rd Carifta Games in Fort-de-France, Martinique.
T&T bagged 25 medals comprising six gold, seven silver and 12 bronze, which helped them to second place in the overall medal standings behind Jamaica, who ended the four-day event with a record 88 medals.
Barbados placed third with 16 medals, while Guyana and Guadeloupe were fourth and fifth, respectively.
Yesterday, president of the TTCB Azim Bassarath said he was elated at the performance of the young athletes and was certain that everyone would be justifiably proud of their effort in placing second in the Caribbean.
He said over the years only cricket and athletics have provided the platform for local athletes to realise their full potential and judging by the showing of the young athletes, T&T has a lot to look forward to from them in the near future.
"I want to recognise the National Association of Athletic Administration (NAAA) for the tremendous effort they have been making through their development programmes and all avenues that they have been pursuing to place our athletes on top," said Bassarath.
T&T's top athlete was Machel Cedenio, who grabbed two gold medals in the U-20 400m on Saturday in 45.95 seconds and led the 4X400 metres boys Under-20 team to gold in the final session of the competition on Monday afternoon. The relay team comprised Cedenio, Asa Guevara, Nathan Farinha and Theon Lewis. Their winning time was 3:06.02, which bettered second placed Jamaica who clocked 3:07.71.
Bassarath said the national junior athletes have shown that they possess the talent and the ability to challenge the highly favoured Jamaicans for top honours in athletics, but that victory has only come through hard work and determination.
He said all young people should look up to the Carifta athletes, since their performances are worthy of emulation and that they have set a high standard for others to follow.