media_artricles :: 2013

THA honours Tobago Carifta stars

The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) honoured the Tobago athletes, who competed with distinction at the 42nd annual Carifta Track and Field Championships which took place in Nassau, Bahamas on the Easter weekend.

The nine Tobago competitors returned with four medals, all gold and were the guests of honour at Coco Cafe in Crown Point on Friday.

Mark London led the way with wins in the boys Under-20 800 metres and 1500m.

The Bishop High School sixth former first took the 1,500m on the first day of action on March 30 at the new Thomas A Stadium in 4:01.07, to improve on the bronze he won in the event in 2012 and returned to capture the 800m for the second straight year two days later in 1:51.34 seconds.

London, in his last year as a junior, ended his Carifta campaign eight medals (five gold and three bronze) to become the most successful Tobago athletes in the history of the Carifta Games. In the 2010 edition in the Cayman Islands, the Zenith Athletic Club runner won the boys U-17 1,500m and the 3,000m events.

Chelsea James and Andwuelle Wright were the other gold medallists. James of Signal Hill Secondary School/Tobago Falcons retained her girls U-17 shot put crown in fine style improving the record of 14.02 she set in winning in 2012 to 14.48 in Bahamas.

James also surpassed the qualifying standard (13.50) for the World Youth Championships in Ukraine in July 10 to 14. She missed out on a second medal taking fourth place in the discus event in personal best of 38.63m.

Wright also defended his title, holding on to the boys U-17 long jump gold in a personal best of 7.29m. The Signal Hill Secondary student also qualified for the World Youth Championships and also the Pan American Junior Championships in Medillin, Colombia from August 2-4.

Omari Benoit (Bishop High) was fourth in the boys U-17 high jump with a personal best leap of 1.95, the same distance cleared by the bronze medallist O’Brien Wasome of Jamaica. Edson Moses was sixth in a personal best clearance of 1.90m. Shakeil Waithe (Scarborough Secondary/Zenith) finished fifth in the boys U-20 javelin (54.90).

Kenejah Williams (Scarborough Secondary) was sixth in the boys U-20 shot put (16.15) and seventh in the discus (46.90). Miguel Hackett (Pentecostal Light and Light High) was seventh in the boys U-17 800m in 2:06.66 while Khemani Roberts (Signal Hill Secondary/Zenith) was also seventh in the girls U-17 high jump with a distance of 1.55m, well below the 1.70m she cleared one week before the Carifta Games. The winning height in Bahamas was 1.68m by achieved by Britny Kerr of Jamaica.

At the 2012 Carifta Games, Tobago athletes also won four of six gold medals won by the National contingent.. London, James, Wright and Williams were champions.

Present at the function were Secretary of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Gary Melville, assistant secretary Jomo Pitts, administator Angela Lawrence, acting Sport Director Peter Granville, former Sports Director Theophilus Trim, parents and coaches.

Melville in bringing remarks said it was special that Tobago athletes won half of the gold medals for the country and all the winners (from Tobago) were repeat champions.

He said, “The Carifta Games is spring board for excellence. I want to congratulate Mark, Chelsea and Andwuelle for repeating because to do so is a significant feat. I want to also thank the six others.”

Melville said the achievements were great given the challenges with the unavailability of the Dwight Yorke Stadium which is under repairs.

“I want to encourage the young people to participate in athletics. I know we did not have to best of seasons given the challenges with the stadium and the play grounds. We would have done well at the Games if we have competed independently because Tobago is dominating athletics in the country. All nine of you are ambassadors and role models for the young people.”

Melville also thanked the parents for their support.

Wright, speaking on behalf of the athletes, thanked all for supporting and asked for continued assistance for “continued excellence”.

Top