The St. Kitts and Nevis Amateur Athletic Association (SKNAAA) has expressed its profound gratitude to the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, particularly the Ministry of Sports, led by the Honourable Shawn Richards, for providing financial assistance that was critical to sending a national representative team to participate in the 2018 FLOW CARIFTA Games in The Bahamas.
The support by the Government came in the form of a grant valued at EC$50,000 that help offset a portion of the cost needed to send the contingent of twenty (20) athletes, three of whom are based in the United States of America (USA), and four (4) officials to compete at the 47th edition of the CARIFTA Games from March 30th to April 2nd.
SKNAAA President, Mr. Val Henry thanked the Minister of Sports, and by extension the St. Kitts and Nevis Government, for its continued commitment to the development of track and field in the Federation.
Mr. Henry said, “I want to thank the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Sport for the contribution they have made to make this flight and this travel to participate in the CARIFTA Games this year possible. It came with the support to the tune of $50,000 which is tremendous in terms of making this possible for us and on behalf of you the athletes, the management team and the SKNAAA I want to again thank the Minister of Sport for the contribution and continued support of his ministry for track and field in this country.”
The national delegation, which is expected to return to the Federation later today, secured a total of four medals during the weekend events.
National Junior and Senior record holder in the 400mh, Reandra Richards, claimed St. Kitts and Nevis’ first medal when she finished third in her signature event. Richards finished with a season’s best time of 59.83 seconds.
Trishanni Warner then copped the gold medal in the under-17 girls 800m with a time of 2:15.73. In doing so, the 13-year old Charles E. Mills Secondary School student became the youngest athlete from the Federation to secure a CARIFTA medal.
The second bronze and third overall medal for St. Kitts and Nevis was picked up by the quartet of Junior Rouse, Sharim Hamilton, Timothy Caines and D’Ateyel Stanley in the under-17 boys 4x400m. The team finished in a time of 3:26.85.
The team’s fourth medal was secured by the under-20 girls 4x400m quartet of Reandra Richards, Jerencia Jeffers, Aliah Vanterpool and Nickeisha Howe, which placed third in a time of 4:00.53.
The St. Kitts and Nevis team was led by manager, Mr. Denville Francis and assistant manager, Mr. Stewart Joseph. They were assisted by Ms. Roatter Johnson, who served as the team’s head coach and Mr. Kurvin Wallace as assistant coach.