PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad– Trinidad and Tobago coach Kelvin Nancoo believes his charges “scared” Jamaica in the relays during last weekend’s 49th CARIFTA Games in Kingston but lacked enough “artillery” to challenge the powerhouses appropriately.
The Trinidadians picked up three medals in the sprint relays on day two and returned to snatch two in the distance relays on the final day.
Jamaica swept all eight relay gold in yet another dominant performance by the hosts as they collected 92 medals.
“I’m delighted after coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic,” relay coach Nancoo told the local newspaper.
Trinidad and Tobago (left) and Jamaica battle each other in the Under-20 boy’s distance relay final at the CARIFTA Games.
“These guys put out their best, and in terms of heart, in terms of performances, they did very well for T&T. They gave it all. They left everything on the track.
“I think 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.”
T&T clinched bronze in the girls Under-17 4×100 meters in 48.19 seconds, silver in the boys equivalent in 42.77, and bronze in the Under-20 girls in 46.12.
In the 4x400s, T&T produced an outstanding performance in the Under-17 boys to claim silver in three minutes, 18.89 seconds before again challenging the Jamaicans and taking silver in the Under-20 equivalent in a time 3:09.67.
“I thought that the runs of the relay teams, the 4x4s, were superb,” Nanc00 continued.
“Jamaica had to fight and get to us at the last 15m, 20m, which is excellent coming from a team that had to train for just three weeks. We have done extremely well.”
Trinidad and Tobago ended the meet with 23 medals – two gold, ten silver, and 11 bronze – while the Bahamas finished with 17 medals and Barbados 11.
Keeran Sriskandarajah won gold in the boys Under-17 1 500 meters in 4:10.58 ahead of Guyana’s Javon Roberts (4:12.54). In comparison, Aaron Antoine reaped success in the boy’s Under-20 high jump with a measurement of 2.16 meters to hold off Jamaican Brandon Pottinger (2.14).
Head coach Reynold Porter Lee said T&T’s success represented a triumph over circumstances.
“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,” he pointed out.
“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 [and] 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.”
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