Bennett expects big medal haul at CARIFTA

Head coach of Jamaica's Carifta Games squad, Corey Bennett, is upbeat ahead of the team's departure for the regional track and field meet today.

"The athletes are coming off a high from the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Championships, and I am hoping that they will be highly motivated to continue with their excellent performances at the Carifta Games," Bennett told The Gleaner yesterday.

Bennett said it was tough to lose several top performers, but there are other capable athletes to replace them for the three-day meet which starts on Saturday in Willemstad, CuraÁao.

"We are taking it event by event as we have 84 athletes, who I think will do very well, and once the weather is fine, I expect another big medal haul," Bennett said. Jamaica won 86 medals at last year's meet in Grenada.

He added that he expects a lot from Christopher Taylor who was unbeaten at Boys' Champs, Junelle Bromfield, who is now a part of the powerful UTech programme, hurdler Britany Anderson and young sprint stars Kevona Davis and Michael Stephens.

Jamaica's haul last year included 42 gold, 28 silver and 16 bronze medals. Bahamas were next on 34 medals - six gold, 15 silver and 13 bronze.