2025 CARIFTA TEAM INTRODUCED

By Staff Writer

This year’s Cayman Islands CARIFTA team was introduced at a media event held on Thursday, April 10th at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex in George Town, Grand Cayman.

Twelve young persons will be heading to Trinidad on 19th April to vie for medals and personal bests in their respective

Cayman Athletic Association President Delroy Murray noted that he wanted to recognize the incredible effort the youngsters and their parents and coaches have made, noting, “They’ve earned their selection to the 2025 CARIFTA Team and Games and this meet will be a catalyst for their future development.”

The Athletics President said athletics as a stepping stone for life was an integral part of the mission of the Association.

“We expect great things from here,” he told the room of young athletes, adding that among the expectations from them were personal bests.

Mr. Murray said the CARIFTA hopefuls had put in the hard work and as a result were going to a higher level in their sporting careers.

“We now need to make that hard work pay,” he exclaimed, adding, “You are equal to anyone of them and we must make the opposition pay!”

He said though their competitive counterparts are from larger countries and have the luxury of competing with more people, the records and results based evidence tell us that Cayman’s athletes can compete internationally.

Cayman ranks 13th among 26 countries in terms of CARIFTA results and 11th in medals.

Despite being the smallest of all the countries to compete, Cayman has medaled in nearly evert sport at CARIFTA, a fete officials said they were extremely proud of and hoped to continue/extend. 

Mr. Murray said previously, the Cayman Islands had selected their CARIFTA teams based on promise; something to put on your resume and we were not getting the results. However, he noted that in the recent times that has changed and now the Islands’ athletes are selected using an entirely different methodology.

“We have now made it much harder for the athletes to qualify for the CARIFTA team,” he said.

Mr. Murray explained that what officials did was to take the 5th place average from all events and set that as the standard, which means that our Caymanian athletes have a much higher chance of being in the finals.

“You all have that ability,” he told the team of athletes, explaining that, “….The records tell us we can compete internationally and this is no small fete,”.

He told the room of media, parents, athletes and sponsors that outside of ‘Champs’, the CARIFTA Games are the highest standard youth meet in the world.

“It means that the pedigree is here,” he said. “Remember it is not just a competition it is a championship, which means we win as a team. Embrace the moment, aim for personal bests and behave like a champion and you will become a champion,” he remarked.

Chief Executive Officer for Cayman Utilities Company (CUC), the main sponsor of the Cayman Islands; CARIFTA Team, Mr. Richard Hew thanked the Cayman Athletics Association officials and congratulated the team, noting that it was a pleasure to work with them

“CUC has been a sponsor of track and field in the Cayman Islands for 46 years and we see ourselves as not only sponsors but investors in our youth,” he said, adding that he wished the youngsters every success.

“Hold your heads high and represent your country,” he said.

Officials said CUC’s commitment to the CARIFTA Team was an inspiration and both the Association and the young athletes looked forward to a continued partnership.

As part of this year’s CARIFTA contingent, the athletes will have their masseuse traveling with the team and a host of past athletes such as Cydonie Mothersill will also be joining the youngsters on their journey.

The 2025 CARIFTA Athletics Games will be held at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Trinidad from April 19–21, while the CARIFTA Aquatics Championships take place at the National Aquatic Centre from April 19–22, with Open Water events on April 23 at Five Islands Beach.