Daija Reid, star of last weekend’s National Association of Athletics Administrations of T&T (NAAATT)/National Gas Company (NGC)/Republic Bank National Junior Championships, as expected was named on the national team to represent the country at the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Under-13 and U-15 Age Group Championships.
The meet is scheduled to take place in Managua, Nicaragua this weekend and T&T’s delegation comprises 12 members–a team manager, three coaches, and eight athletes, announced by NAAATT on Tuesday.
In a historic first for the association, all officials hail from the sister isle of Tobago, a proud milestone that highlights the growing strength of athletic development according to a release from the NAAATT. Another note, the team features family pairings; siblings Gloria and Kerlon Henry of Rising Super Stars (RSS) Phoenix, and mother-daughter duo Kelsey Toussaint-Reid, the team manager and Daija (Zenith).
All four athletes who previously competed in the U-13 category are returning this year to compete in the U-15 division. They are Reid and Ryanna Regis (Mercury), the girls’ team and the boys’ team of Jafari Edwards and Kerlon.
Reid, Edwards and Henry excelled on the weekend, picking up multiple medals in their respective U-15 category.
Reid notched four gold medals in the Girls U-15 category. The long jump, the 60m hurdles, shot put on the first day and landed her fourth title on Sunday when she leapt to the top of the podium in the high jump.
Edwards helped RSS Phoenix claim its fourth junior title grabbing three titles. He prevailed in the boys’ U-15 high jump, long jump and 80m hurdles.
Henry was second in the long jump but topped the 300m hurdles and was part of the winning Phoenix 4x100m relay team. He also competed in the high jump but placed eighth.
Regis also had success winning a silver medal after placing second in the high jump.
Gloria and Shania Baynes (Kaizen Panthers)will represent T&T in the U-13 girls’ category at the NACAC youth championships. Jeremiah Hector and Azzirion Williams make up the boys’ team.
Henry shined in helping RSS Phoenix win its third national juvenile title the previous weekend. She nabbed triple gold in the girls’ U-13 400m, 300m hurdles and long jump.
Hector and Baynes also collected medals that weekend. The former won gold in the boys’ U-13 high jump and Baynes was second in the girls’ version of the event.
According to the NAAATT: “These Championships serve as a vital stepping stone for emerging athletes, offering exposure to the run, jump, and throw event groups within a structured regional competition.”
The team, which will be coached by Arlon Morrison, Chevelle McPherson and Soren Bishop, departs on Friday and returns on Tuesday.
T&T contingent
Athletes
U-13
Girls: Gloria Henry, Shania Baynes
Boys: Jeremiah Hector, Azzirion Williams
U-15
Girls: Daija Reid, Ryanna Regis
Boys: Jafari Edwards, Kerlon Henry
Technical staff
Team Manager: Kelsey Toussaint-Reid
Coaches: Arlon Morrison, Chevelle McPherson, Soren Bishop