Bermuda’s Team Enter Carifta Games Stadium

[Updated] The 42nd Annual Carifta Games got underway today [Mar 29], with the opening ceremony held at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium in the Bahamas.

The 26 countries participating in the Carifta Games took part in the Parade of Athletes. Escorted by members of the Bahamas Girl Guides, Antigua and Barbuda was the first country out the gate.

Fans packed the stadium to welcome all the teams with Bermuda getting a great reception, however the biggest applause of the night was saved for the host team who entered the stadium last.

The Carifta Games is an annual athletics competition founded by the Caribbean Free Trade Association. The games were first held in 1972, and always attracts the top young track and field athletes in the region who compete in two age categories [Under 17 and Under 20].

Bermuda is 9th on the all time Carifta medal table, having won a total of 97 medals — 22 gold, 35 silver and 40 bronze. The island also has the distinction of having one of the longest held records, with Sonya Smith setting a javelin record back in 1979, which still stands some 34 years later.

Bermuda’s Debbie Jones was named the first ever winner of the Austin Sealy Award — which is presented to the athlete judged the most outstanding — in 1977. The award has subsequently been presented to athletes including Usain Bolt, Kirani James, Yohan Blake, Veronica Campbell, Obadele Thompson and Debbie Ferguson.

Bermuda’s team for these Games consists of Tiara Derosa, Faheemah “Kyrah” Scraders, Quasshie Douglas, Sakari Famous, Kerri Furbert, Michaiah Robinson, Ethan Philip, Antonio Bailey, Bruce Degrilla, Justin Donawa, Chas Smith, Jeneko Place, Juma Mouchette, Dage Minors, Quinn Simmons, Zakiyyah Showers, Tahirah Butterfield, Rachel Fox, Kionje Somner, Daniel Oatley, Jahnai Perinchief, Naquan Smith, and Nate Hartwig.

Update: The full Carifta schedule is below [PDF here]

#BermudaTeens #BermudaTrackAndField #CARIFTAGames

Category: All, News, Sports