T&T’s head coach Reynold Porter Lee is pleased with this country’s 23-medal haul, and fourth-place finish at the recently concluded 49th Carifta Games in Kingston, Jamaica.
“The team’s overall performance at the 49th Carifta Games was one of excellence. Especially coming out of a situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic where sports and sporting activities were not allowed to take place,” said Porter Lee on Friday.
“This performance of purpose and dedication to achieve goals set for themselves in collaboration with their coaches and parents have earned us a tally of 23 medals, a fourth-place finish. This result I would rate as one of the best we have accomplished under the circumstances we faced over the last two years.”
Porter Lee headed a 56-athlete national team that emerged with two gold medals, 11 silver, and 10 bronze at the region’s elite youth track and field over the Easter weekend (April 16-18) after a two-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Keeran Sriskandarajah and Aaron Antoine reached the top of the podium for T&T. Sriskandarajah in the boys’ Under-17 1,500 metres and Antoine in the boys’ U-20 high jump.
Sriskandarajah was also among the silver medallists in the boys U-17 800m. The others were Tennique Vincent (girls U-17 high jump), Kayleigh Forde (girls U-17 1,500m), Anthony Diaz (boys U-20 javelin), Andrew Steele (boys U-17 long jump), Kenika Cassar (girls U-17 javelin), Nathan Cumberbatch (boys U-20 800m), Shaniqua Bascombe (girls U-20 200m) along with three relay teams the boys U-20 and U-17 4x400m and boys U-17 4x100m.
Bascombe (girls U-20 100m) was also among the bronze medallists along with Jaden James (boys U-20 discus), Troy Llanos (boys U-20 1,500m), Kaiyin Morris (boys U-17 400m), Gianna Paul (girls U-20 heptathlon), Natasha Fox (girls U-20 400m hurdles), Adriana Quamina (girls U-17 discus), Tafari Waldron (boys U-20 5,000m) and the girls’ U-20 and U-17 4x100m relay teams.
Performances that thrilled relay coach Kelvin Nancoo.
He said: “I’m very satisfied after coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. These guys really put out their best and they really, in terms of heart, in terms of performances, they did very well for T&T. They gave it their all. They left everything on the track.
“I think basically we were not as fit as the Jamaicans but we scared them three times in the relays, three times when they had to fight us but in terms of baton passing we were better than they were, just they had the artillery that we didn’t have.
“I thought Aaron Antoine was excellent. Our 1,500m winner was superb and basically, I thought that the runs of the relay teams, the 4x4s, were superb. Jamaica had to fight and get to us at the last 15m -20m and that is excellent coming from a team that had to train, for just barely three weeks. We have done extremely well.”
Nancoo and Porter Lee returned to T&T with the national youth athletics team on Tuesday as proud coaches.
“The highs were the achievements of the athletes attaining PBs (personal bests), booking places in the finals of their individual events, and achieving podium positions under very competitive situations,” said Porter Lee, who also praised his staff.
“In addition to this, the courage, determination and heart displayed by the athletes, coaches, medical staff, management and supporters at the meet.”