It was all gilts and glamour at the opening of the 51st CARIFTA Games at the Kirani Athletes Stadium in St. Georges Grenada where 28 countries including the host are taking part from March 29 to April 1, 2024.
The official opening ceremony saw the parade of the teams under the hot blazing sun in the Spice Isle.
Those who packed the stadium were not disappointed as each country that paraded did it with flare. Grenada’s Governor General Dame Cécile Ellen Fleurette La Grenade, GCMG OBE DStJ officially declared the games open.
Senator Jonathan Lacrette, the minister of Youth and sports, and other top regional athletes officials.
They all urged the athletes to “abide by the ruling of the judges” be ambassadors to their country, and “compete hard but at all times be disciplined.”
Coach Hamilton gives tips and instructions to Addison James during the Discuss event.
After the official opening, it was back to business as the athletes continued their quest for supremacy.
Dominica took part in the Boys Discuss through Addison James but fouled in his three throws and so bowed out.
In the girl’s 100-meter dash, the up-and-coming Kerelle Etienne qualified for the finals coming first with a time of 12.05 seconds.
Etienne, who is regarded as one of Dominica’s “young and bright prospects” in the sport later that evening despite nursing a hamstring injury gave it her best try in the finals but was outdone by Guyana, Jamaica, and Barbados in first, second and third place respectively.
She placed 4th with a time of 11.85 seconds.
After her event, she stated, “I feel great, over the past years, I have been able to reach the top three or four places,” she said.
She urged those vying to reach the top to “don’t give up despite the results.”