Dalton Myers | Carifta Games still has value to Jamaica

The 48th staging of the Carifta Games concluded at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex in the Cayman Islands with the Jamaican contingent dominating, as expected, with a total of 85 medals. In fact, Jamaica has topped the medal table for 35 consecutive years (1985-present), amassing approximately 1,640 medals (770 gold, 532 silver, 338 bronze) in total. The closest rivals are Bahamas, with 610 medals and Trinidad and Tobago , 577.

Jamaican athletes dominated the event even as several of the top schoolboys and schoolgirls had withdrawn for varying reasons. This suggests that our track and field programme is still doing well.

The Carifta Games remains key to our development in track and field and should be seen as important going forward. I personally have no issue with coaches and school administrators offering options for athletes to choose the Penn Relays over the Carifta Games, once it’s in the best interest of the athlete. The truth is, both showcase Brand Jamaica.

Let me hasten to say, however, that the Carifta Games is very relevant to Jamaica’s junior athletes and the country as a whole. Track and field can be considered both an individual and team sport, but it primarily relies on individual performances. As a result, each race, throw or jump can be competitive, depending on who else is in the event. Therefore, it is still an opportunity for the athlete to improve on his/her performances or use the event to prep for later competitions.

Different ambience

While the meet does not and cannot provide the ambience of an ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships, it does provide the first, and in some cases, the only, opportunity for athletes to travel and represent their country. It also gives our athletes another opportunity to learn to compete outside of their territory and provides an understanding of how to adjust to different environments with different starters, officials, media, et cetera. It also gives the juniors a chance to bond and understand various team dynamics while competing overseas. Not all will make it to a Penn Relays team, or get a scholarship to go overseas; so the Carifta Games offers that platform to perform at another level. As we saw in the Cayman Islands, while the rest of the region may never catch us because of our size and school programme, there are junior athletes from other Caribbean countries who will push our athletes to the line or even win gold in various events. It then teaches our juniors about competition and how to manage victory and defeat.

Insularity has been the biggest challenge to regionalism, but I highly doubt there are persons who would think the CARIFTA Games has lost its significance to Jamaican athletes. In case there may be someone with that in their mind, then it’s a timely reminder that at the Carifta Games, we have had major records by junior athletes. We remember Usain Bolt’s 19.93s (WJR) in the 200m in 2004; Yohan Blake’s 10.11s in the 100m (2007), Aileen Bailey’s 11.03s in the 100m (1998), Natoya Goule – 2:05.90s in the 800m (2008), and Kemoy Campbell – 8:46.49s in the 3000m in 2007. They have all gone on to represent the country at the Olympics. Outside of those, there is a plethora of other notable athletes who have retired or who continue to compete for Jamaica and have done exceptionally well. It is always difficult to say directly that Carifta made them who they are but same can be said about other competitions. What is clear, though, is that the Games created an avenue and a unique Caribbean stage for them to hone their talents. How we select the team is for another debate, but to see Kevroy Venson, Briana Williams, Shaquena Foote, Kai Chang, Wayne Pinnock and others continue to showcase our talent abroad is still something worth celebrating, and it allows other youngsters to dream of wearing the national colours. I have been to the Games as both a fan and part of broadcast team, and I can safely say that for us, the fans, it is yet another opportunity to celebrate our athletes and feel that sense of pride seeing them represent the country.

Dalton Myers is a sports consultant and administrator. Email feedback to daltonsmyers@gmail.com or tweet @daltonsmyers