St. Kitts – Nevis CARIFTA Performance Boosts National Pride

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
March 25, 2008 (SKNIS)

The quality of the performances by local athletes and event organisers for the recently completed CARIFTA Games has added significantly to our Nation’s pride.

So said several spectators in reflecting on last weekend’s event. Mr. Ian Nisbett, a local taxi driver told SKNIS that all Kittitians and Nevisians should be proud of the positive feedback which had been received from visiting athletes and patrons.

The Honourable Richard Skerritt, Minister of State for Tourism, Sports and Culture, said the new Silver Jubilee Athletic Stadium received high accolades from sporting officials in the highest levels of regional track and field.

He added that the success of the competition was the result of the collective efforts of a wide mix of individuals, organisations and institutions that came together to help make the 2008 CARIFTA Games the biggest and most exciting in its 37 year history.

According to Minister Skerritt, CARIFTA in 2008, and Cricket World Cup in 2007, have helped to change the way we think of ourselves as event organizers and hosts, and confirmed that St Kitts and Nevis is truly capable of achieving its sporting dreams.

“We should not take our recent international sporting event achievements for granted,” the Minister stated. “Sporting Associations and our Ministry of Sports must continue to work together with all stakeholders if we are to build on our recent successes”.

Team St. Kitts and Nevis won five medals in total at the weekend event. Team Manager Anthony Wiltshire revealed that Meritzer Williams won silver in the Girls Under 100 and 200 Meter Dash. Vanessa Bennett raced to second in the Finals of the Under 17 4×400 and 4×100 Meter events. She also won bronze in the Girls Under 17 200 Meter Dash.

The total is one better than the medal count of four last year when the national team won one silver and three bronze medals. Mr. Wiltshire explained that Kadeem Smith, Whitley Williams and Tamika Williams were hit by the injury bug. Whitley could not compete due to a nagging previous injury, while Smith and Williams were injured during the competition. The three athletes were favoured to medal in their respective events.

Manager Wiltshire also thanked the patrons for their support and noted that this was the largest attendance for a CARIFTA Games that he has ever witnessed. He credited the fan support for the commendable showing by the local squad.