SVG opts out of 2012 Junior Carifta Games
There was a no show by St Vincent and the Grenadines at this yearâs Junior Carifta Games held over the Easter weekend in Bermuda.{{more}}
SEARCHLIGHT understands that a decision was taken by the Executive of Team Athletics SVG not to participate in the 41st edition of the regional track and field meet.
The decision was taken because none of the local athletes made the required standard for the various events, coupled with the high cost of airfare to that part of the Caribbean.
Several Vincentian junior athletes were sent to the Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada Carifta trials recently to test their abilities and measure their times against their counterparts.
At the 2011 Carifta championships in Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines was represented by Brandon Parris, Nicky Ann Stephens at the Under-17 age group in the male and female divisions, respectively.
Ezra Samuel and Shanel Mc Kie participated in the Under-20 age group.
The last time St Vincent and the Grenadines attained a medal at the Junior Carifta Track and Field Championships was in 2009 in St Lucia, when
Delhonni Samuel-Nicol won silver in the male under-20 5000 m.
St Vincent and the Grenadinesâ last gold medal was attained in 1989 through Marvette Collis in the female Under-17 200 m.
Having forgone the Carifta games, the junior athletes will, however, head to the XIX Central American and Caribbean (CAC) junior championships scheduled for El Salvador from June 28 to July 1.
At the CAC level, fifty percent of the airfare is refunded to the participating countries.
St Vincent and the Grenadines is expected, however, to field a small contingent to the Carifta Swimming championships scheduled for the Bahamas this weekend.(RT)
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