CARIFTA athletes honoured at ministry reception
Members of the CARIFTA swim team
(CNS): The Ministry of Sports last week hosted a reception for the 2016 CARIFTA athletes, who brought home a combined 22 medals in swimming and track and field. On hand to honour the young sports men and women were Minister of Sports Osbourne Bodden, Director of Sports Collin Anglin, the president of the Cayman Islands Amateur Swimming Association Michael Lockwood, coaches and parents.
Coach Kendrick Williams introduced the 2016 track-and-field team, which collected two golds, three silvers and two bronzes at the games. Lacee Barnes came home with two medals – a gold in shot put, and a silver in discus. Daneliz Thomas earned the Cayman Island’s second gold in track and field, for her performance in the javelin throw. Jamal Walton took second in the 400m. Dominic Dyer earned silver for the U-18 3,000m, as well as a bronze in the 15,000m. Rasheem Brown leaped his way to a bronze medal in the 110m hurdles.
Swimming technical director Bailey Weathers also took to the podium to introduce the swim team, which had a 15-medal haul, placing the Cayman Islands seventh overall in the pool, and second in open-water events.
The most decorated swimmer was Sabine Ellison who took home four gold medals and one silver. Other gold medallists included Lauren Hew and Catriona MacRea. Holly Stradling and Corey Frederick Westerborg also proved their skill in the pool, winning a silver and bronze medal, respectively.
Ria Plunkett and John Bodden performed well both in the pool and in open water. Plunkett earned two bronzes, while Bodden earned a gold and bronze. Cole Morgan, Edward Weber, Jonathan Key and John Bodden worked together to take home the silver medal in the 4x200m relay.
Bodden note how well the athletes had performed and represented the country. “The Government makes a significant amount of investment in our young people through sports, and it is extremely gratifying to see athletes seize the opportunities for development with both hands and represent the Cayman Islands in this way as these athletes did this year. It is most certainly a motivator for them and for others,” he said.
He also praised the supporting personnel and families who made tremendous sacrifices in helping these young athletes succeed. He concluded by saying, “As minister, I will always be in your corner.”
Category: Sports, Swimming, Track & Field
