Top 10 Best Performances at CARFIFTA 2024

The 51st Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) Games held in the Spice Island of Grenada showcased three days of rich, competitive, and exciting performances over the Easter weekend, the immense talent and competitive spirit of the Caribbean’s junior athletes, culminating in a spectacular array of performances. The event not only serves as a crucial platform for these young talents to make a mark on the international stage but also continues the rich legacy of producing world-class athletes like Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser.

The CARIFTA Games has been a forum for Caribbean Track and Field Junior Athletes to prove to the world that they are indeed the ones to look out for on the international scene. 

Over the years the games have given athletes such as Debbie Ferguson, Kim Collins, Veronica Campbell, Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser, Yohan Blake, and Shaunae Miller who have all gone on to become World Champions in their respective events. 

Track and Field fans normally clear their calendar for this competitive event that brings out the best in both fans and athletes. This year’s edition of the meet saw Jamaica Topping The Medal Podium for the 38th Consecutive Times with a total of 44 medals, the Bahamas in 2nd with 25 medals, and Trinidad and Tobago in 3rd with 27 medals to rule out the top three. 

With CARIFTA 2024 being no less than exciting and record-breaking we had to do a Top 10 Countdown of the Best Performances. On your mark, get set go!

#10. ⁠Trinidad and Tobago upset Jamaica to win the Under Twenty Boys 4×100 meters relay

The 4×100 meters relay between Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago men has always been competitive, especially since Trinidad and Tobago retroactively became the 2008 Beijing Olympic Champions after Jamaica was disqualified. That has built a rivalry between the two countries at the CARFITA Games. Come Finals Jamaica was the favorite due to the fact that they had won the title at last year’s edition in the Bahamas with Deandre Daley’s revengeful anchor leg. However, Daley was missing from this relay quartet. 

The gun struck, and Jamaica was leading the race until the last exchange when both them and Trinidad and Tobago fumbled the baton. But despite being in lane seven Trinidad and Tobago propelled themselves to cross the finish line to win gold with 40.45 seconds, Jamaica earned silver with 40.55 seconds and Grenada took bronze with 40.71 seconds to mount the podium.

#9. Malachi Austin Wins 400 meters gold for Guyana

The 400 meters has always been one of the region’s strongest and most competitive events. The Boys Under Twenty Division of the event proved as Jamaica’s Marcinho Rose entered the event as the favorite. But Guyana’s Malachi Austin ran well in the Semi-Final round and proved that he was not leaving Grenada without a medal. 

In the Final, Marcinho Rose got the better start and led the race until the 350-meter mark and he looked to have been trying. This gave Malachi Austin the opportunity to make his move and win gold with 46.35 seconds, Marcinho Rose earned silver with 46.59 seconds and Joshiem Sylvester of Grenada got bronze with 46.93 seconds.

#8. Davonte Howell and Jaiden Reid Under Twenty Boys 100 meters Quinella

One of the main reasons for the CARIFTA Games to foster regional integration among athletes and this was seen in the Under Twenty Boys 100 meters. Jamaica is known for being the best Caribbean country in the boy’s 100 meters at the CARIFTA Games. However, Davonte Howell and Jaiden Reid of the Cayman Islands had plans to surprise fans in the Kirani James Stadium. Come the Final Davonte Howell got the best start and quickly separated himself from his competitors. While Jaiden Reid was fighting for silver with Jamaica’s Javrone Dunkley. In the end, Davonte Howell won gold in a very fast 10.15 seconds, and Jaiden Reid took silver with 10.34 seconds at the same time as Javrone Dunkley who took bronze to end quite a competitive 100-meter race.

#7. Nastassia Fletcher’s 400-meter and 400-meter hurdles double

The CARIFTA Games often see athletes doing more than one event like the 100-meter and 200 meters. But Jamaica’s Nastassia Fletcher decided that she wanted to do the Under Seventeen Girls 400-meter and 400-meter hurdles double. Fletcher won the 400 meters convincingly with 54.34 seconds. Less than a day later she returned to contest the 400 meters hurdles which she won gold with a time of 1:00.10 to complete a very successful CARIFTA Games

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#6. Clémentine Carias and Kimeka Smith tie for gold in the Girls Heptathlon Open

Multi-event athletes can be considered the most hardworking of all Track and Field athletes because they have to train for a plethora of technical events. The Heptathlon Open was quite a gusty competition from the start with Guadeloupe’s Clémentine Carias and Kimesha Smith of Jamaica. In the end, gold could not be separated between the two athletes who tied with 4699 points. This made both athletes be awarded gold in the event. Aliyah Francis of the Bahamas took bronze with 4181 points.

#5. Sabrina Dockery Upsets Theianna Lee Terrelonge to win the Under Twenty Girls 100-meter

Jamaican women are known for their fierce rivalry amongst each other especially in the 100 meters. From Merlene Ottey versus Juliet Cuthbert during the 80s and 90s, to now Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce versus Elaine Thompson-Herah. These rivalries have also influenced the younger athletes to have rivalry with each other. 

From the beginning of the season, Sabrina Dockery and Theianna Lee Terrelonge have been competing with each other. In all those matchups Terrelonge always had the upper hand. However, the CARIFTA Games showed that Sabrina Dockery was indeed tired of being beaten. In a quite a scintillating race Sabrina Dockery got the better start and began to pull away from Theianna Lee Terrelonge who tried to come back. In the end, Sabrina Dockery won gold with a new Personal Best of 11.26 seconds, while Theianna Lee Terrelonge earned silver with 11.32 seconds and Geolyna Dowdye got bronze with 11.64 seconds.

#4. Maleik Francis Under Seventeen Boys Javelin Throw Record

The Caribbean has been getting better in field events, especially the Javelin Throw. It can be said that Keshorn Walcott’s 2012 London Olympic gold medal has had an effect on the improvement of the event. Maleik Francis of Trinidad and Tobago was able to follow in Keshorn Walcott’s footsteps when he threw a Games Record of 68.84 meters to win the Under Seventeen Boys division of the Javelin Throw. This performance was somewhat unexpected, and this proves that Maleik Francis is one to watch for the future.

#3. Jaeda Robinson Under Seventeen Triple Jump Record

Jamaica continues to show that they are not only fast sprinters but also excellent jumpers. In the Girls Under Seventeen Long Jump, Jaeda Robinson leaped a Games Record of 12.69 meters on her second attempt of the competition to win gold. Tessa  Clamy of Guadeloupe earned silver with 12.09 meters and the High Jump Champion Jamaica’s Zavien Bernard took bronze with 11.69 meters to leave with her second medal of the games.

#2. Robert Miller’s Under Seventeen Boys 400-meter Hurdles Record of 52.19 seconds

The Caribbean region is slowly becoming better in the 400 meters hurdles and Jamaica’s Robert Miller is adding to that growing legacy. In the first round of the competition, Miller looked comfortable and seemed to have had a little bit more in the tank for the Final. When the Final came Robert Miller got a good start and was biding his time nicely because he did not want to crash into any of those barriers. A surge off the last hurdle, Robert Miller crossed the line in a new Games Record of 52.19 seconds to place his name into the CARFITA history books.

#1. Nickecoy Bramwell breaks Usain Bolt’s Long Standing 400 meters Record

Jamaica’s Nickecoy Bramwell has been quite consistent in the 400 meters. Most of his races have looked smooth and he seemed to have been saving his best performance for the right moment,  the CARIFTA Games. When the starter sounded his pistol Bramwell got a credible start as he bounced the first 150 meters and laid all out of his energy to the line in a new Championship Record of 47.27seconds, erasing the previous record of 47.33seconds that was done by the legendary Usain Bolt in 2002. Bramwell was quite humbled by his performance and grateful that he was able to not only to win gold but to get the record. Once Nickecoy Bramwell remains healthy then he will be quite a fantastic 400 meters runner for years to come.

Here are 6 Honourable Mentions:

#6.   Bahamian Taysha Stubbs, a 17-year-old rising star, secured the Gold in the Under 20 Girls Javelin event With a remarkable throw of 50.94m

#5.  British Virgin Island’s Michelle Smith strikes double gold in the Girls Under Twenty 800 meters and 400 meters hurdles.

#4.     Jamaica’s Nastasia Flecther wins double gold in the 400 meters and 400-meter hurdles.

#3.     Kemario Bygrave of Jamaica leaves Grenada with double gold in the Under Twenty Boys  800 meters and 1500 meters.

#2.     Tafari Waldron wins 1500 meters gold for Trinidad and Tobago.

$1.     Habiba Harris of Jamaica wins 100 meters hurdles gold with a windy 12.93 seconds.

The 51^st edition of the CARIFTA Games was one of the best, the hosts and organizers of the meet did a splendid job, and they will now hand the baton to Trinidad and Tobago for the 2025 CARFITA Games. Congratulations to all the athletes who participated in CARIFTA 2024! 

Which performance at the 51st CARIFTA Games took your breath away? Do you think Nickecoy Bramwell has what it takes to be the next big star in track and field? Let us know your thoughts and predictions in the comments below! We can’t wait to hear from you!

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Caribbean Focus Sports by Jirie