The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

IT WAS a CARIFTA celebration for both the country’s athletics and aquatics teams following their performances at their respective regional championships.

Both teams were hosted to a welcome reception to acknowledge their accomplishments yesterday at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

The Bahamas Aquatics Federation’s 36-member team made history by winning their fourth consecutive title with their triumph Monday night at the 35th CARIFTA Swimming Championships in Wildey, Barbados. It was also their seventh title in the last eight editions of the meet.

Team Bahamas finished with 975 points to finish ahead of Jamaica who scored 833.50 points. The Cayman Islands was third with 754 points.

The Bahamas also finished with the most overall medals (65) in total - 14 gold, 22 silver and 29 bronze.

“It speaks to the collective accomplishment of this team,” said Bahamas Aquatics Federation President Algernon Cargill. “We had a vision. We set a goal this year to four-peat. We are only losing two senior members next year. And our goal is to five-peat as CARIFTA champions. The resiliency of our swimming team and of our federation, we made it possible. We have this dream and we know what it takes.”

The meet is expected to return to The Bahamas in 2024 for its 37th edition.

In Athletics, the Bahamas’ 54-member team finished second at the 49th CARIFTA Championships in Kingston, Jamaica, with 17 total medals, including four gold, six silver and seven bronze.

The Bahamas is expected to host the 50th edition of the meet at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium in 2023. “I saw the will, the determination on each athlete that represented us proudly in Kingston,” said BAAA President Drumeco Archer. “We have one year to go and it is our expectation that we are not hosting the CARIFTA Games for a Jamaican party.

“We are hosting the 50th edition, perhaps the most important edition of the CARIFTA Games here in the Bahamas, and we promise to produce the best team the Bahamas has ever produced.

“It will take immediate planning and produce a collective effort.”

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg applauded the work of coaches, parents and officials behind the scenes while looking ahead to building upon this year’s success.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank the coaches and the parents. I know how hard it is to put in this work. I know the dedication it takes. We appreciate you because without you your kids could not be who they are. We know that you motivated them and inspired them to keep pushing and that’s why they are where they are today,” he said. “It is this administration, this minister’s desire to empower you to give you the inspiration, the tools, the facilities to be who you need to be and that’s the best in the world.”

He admonished the country to get behind the efforts of both teams as aquatics looks to extend its historic streak and athletics attempts to make history of its own as hosts in 2023.

“Let’s get together,” Bowleg said. “Let’s start our work now.”