Carifta medallists for Palo Seco Games

Carifta Games medallists from Antigua/Barbuda and Guyana and leading cyclists from Barbados and Jamaica will be among the contenders in the revived Petrotrin Palo Seco International Games which starts today at the Palo Seco Velodrome from 1 pm. According to George Commissiong, the acting Corporate Communications Manager of Petrotrin, the Palo Seco International Games, after and absence of four years, will showcase the best emerging talent among the juniors as well as the top local senior athletes. Commissiong, Chairman of the Games is confident that spectators will enjoy the programme of events.

Before the action starts, there will be the colourful parade of all participating teams — both athletics and cycling — and officials. The Petrotrin Cadet Corps band will supply the music and lead the parade with the salute taken by the Minister of Energy Eric Williams, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Roger Boynes and Petrotrin’s Chairman Malcolm Jones. Guyana’s Andre Blackman who copped the sprint double at the Southern Games and diminutive Jennifer Chichester, gold medallist in the 3000 metres and runner-up at the Manny Ramjohn Games at the Ato Boldon Stadium as well as Carifta Games 5000 metres gold medallist Cleveland Forde are expected to participate.

Top Caribbean middle-distance female runner Janil Williams will head a powerful group of eight athletes from Antigua and Barbuda. Among the regional cyclists are Barbadian Carlitos Jones and Jamaican Horace MacFarlane who were members of the West Indies Cycling team in recent Beacon Insurance West Indies vs The World Cycling series staged by Phillips Promotions Limited. They will be battling with American Josh Weir and Trinidadian US-based Roger Farrell and local top guns Elisha Greene, Clinton Grant, Shannon Metevier and Joshua Alexander on the concrete banked velodrome. Overall, there will be five international races — 500 metres, 1000, 3000 and feature 15000 — plus the match sprints (quarter-finals, semi-finals and final).

A total of 57 events are carded for the programme which includes Open and Invitational races for the senior athletes in the 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1500 metres as well the Under 20s, Under-17s and Under-15s. Among TT’s Carifta Games medallists who will be on show are Carlan Arthur, Wanda Hutson and Kelly-Ann Baptiste. Palo Seco’s Jules LaRode who dominated the Southern Games and the Point Fortin Games in the open 800, 1500 and 3000 metres will once again throw down the gauntlet to all-comers in what promises to be grand finale of the year.