Antiguan Barbudan – By Samuel Peters
Antiguan Barbudan Athletes Receive
Antigua and Barbuda’s young athletes were greeted with a warm and celebratory welcome at the V.C. Bird International Airport following their impressive performances at the 53rd CARIFTA Games in Grenada.
Family members, coaches, supporters, and well-wishers gathered to welcome the team, applauding their achievements on the regional stage and recognizing their dedication and commitment to national representation.
Minister of Education, Sports and Creative Industries, Hon Daryll S. Matthew, commended the athletes for their efforts, highlighting both medal-winning performances and personal bests achieved throughout the competition.
He emphasized the importance of representing Antigua and Barbuda with pride and noted that the team’s performances reflected discipline, preparation, and growing strength within the nation’s athletics program.
Leading the way was standout female sprinter Tyra Fenton, who delivered a historic performance by capturing gold medals in the 100m and 200m, along with a bronze in the 400m of the Under 17 Category.
Fenton’s achievement marked a significant milestone, as she became the first Antiguan athlete to secure medals in all three events at the CARIFTA Games.
Reflecting on her performance, Fenton expressed confidence in her preparation and abilities, noting that while she aimed for three gold medals, she remained proud of her accomplishments and personal best in the 400m event.
In the field events, Zonique Charles secured a silver medal in the Female Under 17 javelin, narrowly missing out on gold, while in the Male Under 20 Maliek Francis, the team captain, captured bronze in the same discipline.
Francis, who holds the national Under-17 javelin record, spoke about the challenges faced during competition but remained motivated, indicating his intention to return stronger in upcoming meets.
Beyond the medals, several athletes recorded personal best performances, including Ryan Aikin, Shaquan Garding, Jaeda Pigott, Shawn-Ze Joseph, Elite Thomas, Geron Henry, and Fenton herself.
Officials noted that these improvements are a strong indicator of the country’s upward trajectory in athletics, particularly within the Under-17 program.
Head Coach Jawakie Jones praised the team’s overall effort, highlighting their first-place finish among OECS countries and a sixth-place overall finish at the Games.
Looking ahead, athletes have already set their sights on upcoming competitions, including the Whitsuntide Games, as they continue training and refining their performances.
