Vincentian athletes and the Carifta Experience

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Vincentian athletes at the 39th edition of the Carifta Games held in Georgetown, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, 3 – 5 April 2010, fared as well as could be expected given the current state of the facilities here at home and the inadequacy of competitive action with people of a higher standard. That is the view of the leadership of Team Athletics St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Three athletes, Shaquille Branker, Danielle Da Silva and US based Lyndon Samuel, represented St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Their performances were reflective of where they were in terms of their training and preparation: Shaquille Branker U17, 7th in the Shot Put (7.66m) and 9th in the Discus (19.92m); Dannielle DaSilva U17, 6th in the Shot Put (7.67m) and 8th in the Discus (23.86m; Lyndon Samuel running the 800m placed 6th in his Heat in a time of 2:00.23 and 12th in the overall rankings.

Delohnni Samuel, silver medalist in last year’s Male 5000m was not released from his US College to attend the event erasing all hopes of medalling once again in what would have been his final Carifta year.

Prior to the departure of the team, Technical Director of TASVG, Gideon Labban, explained the rationale for the team’s section and advised the media of the organisation’s developmental focus that is currental being implemented.

It is expected that the two local female athletes are part of a core of young people being systematically prepared for several years at the Carifta and junior level competition. The cadre of identified athletes who emerged from the organisation’s Grassroots Talent Identification Programme (GTIP) will continue in training throughout the year. They will be involve din a series of regional; competitions and a local camp later in the year.

 

Next Year’s Carifta 2011 will be held in St. Kitts & Nevis.