Sports
July 14, 2006

Samuel off to Carifta

Delonhi Samuel is following his father’s footsteps and plans to leave further imprints for his off springs to match.

The son of former national long distance athlete, Dane Samuel, Delonhi is representing St. Vincent and the Grenadines at the Junior Central America and Caribbean Games in Trinidad and Tobago, July-14-16 at the Haseley Crawford Stadium.{{more}}

The 14-year-old who was born in Canada will compete in the Under-17 1500m and 3000m.

This is Delonhi’s second time representing St. Vincent and the Grenadines at a regional meet.

He joined the national squad in Guadeloupe last April for the Junior Carifta Games, where he placed eighth in the 3000 m , clocking 10 minutes 04.16 seconds.

But his trip home this time around is two-fold. Delonhi hopes also to make the final team to the CONCACAF Under-17 Football Qualifiers set for Trinidad and Tobago next month.

An accomplished right back or defensive midfielder, Delonhi’s late arrival last year ruled him out of making the Under-15 Team to the CFU Invitational Competition.

Hailing from a sporting family, Delonhi is the nephew of Bigna Samuel and Tyrone Grant, who were both national representatives.

Bigna dominated the track in the mid 1980’s winning gold in the 800m at Junior CAC in Barbados in 1982.

Grant represented St. Vincent and the Grenadines at cricket and football. He was a member of the famed 1979 football team.

Apart from Delonhi, twelve other members make up the St. Vincent and the Grenadines team.

Female Under-17 athletes, Aneisha Anderson and Krystal Neverson will compete in the 100m and 200 M, Kelisha Ashton and Kimberley Garraway- the 400M, with Gabriella Kydd and Carlene Nanton selected for the 4X 100m and 4 X 400 M relays.

Middle distance athlete Kericha Fraser will compete in the 800m and 1500M.

Courtney Williams, Lawrence Arthur and Jemmerson Leach are the other Under -17 males selected.

Williams and Arthur are slated for competition in the 100m and 200M, and Leach, the 800m and 1500M.

The squad is completed by the two Under-20 athletes, Stevern Richards and Ronica Williams. Richards will run the male 200m and 400m, while Williams seeks glory in the female 800m and 1500m.

The management team in charge of the athletes includes Santa Cruickshank – chaperone, Godfrey Harry-coach and Gideon Labban-manager.