Athletes confident of medaling at Carifta 2024

Zichri Hepburn and Ajay Delpesche, both members of Alpian Allen House at the Troumaca-Ontario Secondary School, are confident of meddling at the 51st Carifta Games in St. George’s Grenada over the 2024 Easter weekend.

The duo spoke of the challenges they are expecting to face at the 51st Carifta Games, following the completion of the Senior Boys 4X400 metres relay at the school’s athletics meet last Saturday February 3, 2024 at the Cumberland Playing Field.

Hepburn said he knows that the competition will be hard, but he is in the best shape in his career to date, and believes he can bring a medal to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. “I can win a medal,” he emphasised.

He will be competing in the 5,00-metre race, and spoke of his new found drive since transferring from the Central Leeward Secondary School to the Troumaca-Ontario Secondary School. He credits the school’s coach, Wildarnrick Samuel for his new found drive, fitness level, and willingness to work harder towards achieving his goals.

Zichri Hepburn also credits persons in his community who he says keep encouraging him and even pull him up if he is doing something wrong.

Ajay Delpesche gained national attention in April 2022, when he cleared 1.88 metres on Friday April 8, 2022, to erase the 40-year old Secondary Schools high jump record of Rohan Saunders-Phillips of the St Martin’s Secondary. Saunders-Phillips’ mark of 1.87 metres was achieved in 1987 at the Arnos Vale Playing Field.

Speaking at the end of the Boys 4X400 metres relay last Saturday, he pointed out that he has been training since June 2023, “so my body is fully fit”.

He recalled that it was his first time doing the high jump, but decided to give it his all. He too made the transfer from the Petit Bordel Secondary School to the Troumaca-Ontario Secondary School, where he has joined with his cousin Delron Delpesche, and the two have been pushing each other in training. He too credits the school’s coach Wildarnrick Samuel with that new-found drive to do better.

Zixhri Hepburn and Ajay Delpesche will compete in different events, Hepburn in the 5,000 metres and Delpesche in the 200 metres.