SKN CARIFTA Team Achieves High Marks in Athletics Competition

The 52nd CARIFTA Games, held on April 22, 2025, witnessed a commendable performance from the St. Kitts and Nevis (SKN) team, showcasing both individual brilliance and collective strength. While the team didn’t secure any gold or silver medals, their efforts resulted in three bronze medals, two national junior records, a new national record in the U20 Boys 4x400m relay, and five personal bests, highlighting the team’s dedication and potential for future competitions. This performance underscores the growing athletic prowess within the federation and sets a positive trajectory for future CARIFTA Games participation.

DeCheynelle Thomas, Josano Henderson, and Akanye Samuel-Francis each clinched bronze medals in their respective events, contributing significantly to the team’s overall standing. Henderson’s bronze medal performance was further complemented by a personal best in the U17 Javelin, demonstrating his continuous improvement and commitment to the sport. Samuel-Francis’s bronze medal accomplishment was particularly noteworthy, as it was accompanied by a national junior record in the U20 400m hurdles, signifying a breakthrough in his athletic career. These individual achievements exemplify the dedication and talent within the SKN team, providing inspiring examples for aspiring young athletes in the federation.

Jermahd Huggins was another standout performer for Team SKN, setting a new national junior record in the Decathlon and achieving a personal best in the grueling multi-event competition. This accomplishment showcases Huggins’ versatility and athleticism, highlighting his potential for future success in combined events. Similarly, J Amory achieved a personal best in the U17 Shot Put, demonstrating progress and dedication to his field event discipline. These personal bests, alongside the medal wins, contribute to a sense of optimism surrounding the future of athletics in St. Kitts and Nevis.

Tejuan Webbe also contributed to the team’s positive showing with a personal best in the 110m hurdles, demonstrating continued development in his event. Although not resulting in a medal, this personal best underscores the individual growth and commitment to improvement within the team. The cumulative effect of these personal bests, in addition to the medals and national records, paints a picture of a dedicated and progressively improving athletic program within St. Kitts and Nevis.

One of the most significant achievements for Team SKN was the establishment of a new national record in the U20 Boys 4x400m relay, with a time of 3:16.88 seconds. This accomplishment not only demonstrates the individual speed and strength of the relay team members but also highlights their ability to perform cohesively as a unit. This national record reflects the growing strength of the relay program in St. Kitts and Nevis and signifies a positive trend for future relay competitions.

While St. Kitts and Nevis’ performance was commendable, the CARIFTA Games were dominated by the regional powerhouses. Jamaica topped the medal table with an impressive haul of 78 medals, including 30 gold, 27 silver, and 21 bronze. The Bahamas secured the second position with 37 medals, including 16 gold, 13 silver, and 8 bronze, while Trinidad and Tobago finished third with 25 medals, comprised of 9 gold, 6 silver, and 10 bronze. The performances of these dominant teams underscore the high level of competition within the CARIFTA Games and set a benchmark for aspiring nations like St. Kitts and Nevis to strive towards in future competitions. While the medal tally placed SKN further down the standings, their individual accomplishments in the form of bronze medals, national records, and personal bests demonstrate a promising future for the federation in regional athletics. The experience gained by the athletes at this level of competition will undoubtedly contribute to their individual growth and, collectively, to the development of a stronger athletic program in St. Kitts and Nevis.