The Tribune

By JONATHAN BURROWS

Tribune Sports Reporter

jburrows@tribunemedia.net

DARVINIQUE Dean is set for another CARIFTA appearance with more experience and improved times going into the meet.

The under-20 athlete has been named to Team Bahamas for the CARIFTA Games in Grenada, where she will compete in the 400 metres and the 400-metres hurdles. She has also been selected to both the 4x100-metre and 4x400-metre relay pools. This will be her fifth CARIFTA team, which reflects her consistency at the national level over several seasons.
“I feel like I'm very prepared, especially thanks to my coaches, who made me come into this meet with a great mindset, and I feel like I’m ready to run and ready to perform exceedingly well,” said Dean.

Her main progress this season has come in the 400-metre hurdles.
At the BAISS meet, Dean ran a time of 59 seconds in back-to-back races, and both performances were personal bests. She has also improved in the 400 metres. Earlier this season, she recorded a personal best, which adds to her value in both the individual 400 metres and the 4 x 400 metre relay pool.

Her current personal best in the 400-metres hurdles is 59.60, which was set this season.
At the 2025 CARIFTA Games, Dean reached the final of the under-20 girls’ 400 metre hurdles and finished fifth overall.

She ran 1:00.25 in the preliminaries and followed with 1:01.56 in the final, which kept her competitive after moving up from the under-17 division.
The year before, she had already contributed to a medal result.

At the 2024 CARIFTA Games, she was part of The Bahamas’ team that won silver in the under-17 girls’ 4x100-metre relay, which remains one of her key results at the meet. With five CARIFTA teams behind her, Dean understands the structure of the meet, including the rounds and the level of competition.

The difference this year is in her times and the experience she brings into the competition.
“I feel like a pro, it comes naturally to me actually, I feel good,” said Dean on the feeling heading into her 5th CARIFTA.

“I expect to run a decent time and to PR and to come home with a medal, especially because this is my fifth CARIFTA team, so I feel like I have the mindset to go out there and medal,” said Dean.

She enters Grenada with a sub-60 performance in the hurdles, a personal best in the 400 metres, and previous experience in finals at this level.
That puts her in a position to compete across her events.