CARIFTA athletes congratulated for outstanding performances
– during stop at Reg. 5 outreach, the athletes met and interacted with several govt officials who congratulated them for their outstanding performances at the games
– govt will continue to invest in athletes – Director of Sport
DPI, Guyana, Saturday, April 27, 2019
Some of the athletes that participated in the 48th CARIFTA Games made a stop at the ‘government comes to you’ outreach held yesterday in Fort Wellington, Region 5 on Thursday, April 25. Accompanied by Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, the athletes met and interacted with several government officials who congratulated them for their outstanding performances at the games.
Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings with some of the CARIFTA athletes.
The games, which were held in the Cayman Islands, saw Guyana sending its largest contingent to date. Guyana participated in track and field, swimming and chess while accumulating the country’s largest medal haul to date. The athletes garnered five gold medals in swimming, 10 overall medals in track and field and placed 5th in chess.
Audriel Austin, who participated in the games for the first time and copped a bronze medal in the girls U-17, 800 metres race, said: “I am proud of the place I got because not many people get the chance to go to CARIFTA.”
Princess Browne picked up a bronze medal in the girls’ U-17 Triple Jump competing in her second CARIFTA games. Browne said that she faced stiff competition but will use it as a motivator come next year. “I really wanted the gold, but unfortunately I got the bronze, I am still thankful for that but that inspired me to train harder to come back bigger, and better next year.”
Jones said that with the accomplishment of Team Guyana, he is excited to see what the future holds and pledged the National Sports Commission continued support of such events.
He also pointed out that several of the athletes that participated at the event are on scholarships from the NSC – Chantoba Bright, Claudrice McKoy and Daniel Williams who are at the University of Guyana and Munroe College in the United States respectively.
“It is testimony to the fact that once you make an investment in sport, it is like a business and you have to treat it like a business and once you invest in a business you will get returns, so we are seeing the rewards of the investment of the government and those investments will continue and increase in the future,” Director Jones underscored.
Isaiah Braithwaite.
Images: Keno George.