No medals for SVG track and field athletes at Junior Carifta Games

For the third successive year, St Vincent and the Grenadines has ended without a medal at the Junior Carifta Games. The drought was extended when the 53rd edition of the Games ended at the Kirani James Athletics Stadium in Grenada last Monday, April 6, 2026 following three consecutive days of competition.

A 4th place in the Under-20 male triple jump from seasoned representative J’avair Cato, was St Vincent and the Grenadines’ highest finish. Cato’s place was based on his best jump of 15.11 meters.

He also doubled up in the long jump, gaining himself a 6th place with a leap of 6.92-m, as he bids farewell to the Games.

Whilst Cato ended his four-year sojourn at Carifta, Jada Davis became a beacon of hope as she won hearts when she competed in the Under-17 Girls 3000-m.

Davis, who turns 13 later this year, did a personal best of 11.04.92, finishing 8th among the pack.

More so, Davis ensured that her time was faster than the national Under-20 record over the distance, bettering Zita Vincent’s 11:09. 56, accomplished in 2017.

Vincent’s time was done on the grass surface of the Arnos Vale Playing Field.

Also competing in the Under -17 female category were Ayah Stapleton, Ariel Stepehens and Tashanique Francis.

Stapleton timed 2:31.44 in the 800-m placing 12th and 1500-m, she placed 13th after clocking 5:20.56, whilst Stephens in the high jump was best at 1.45-m that placed her 12th and, in the triple jump her 10.56-m gave her 9th place.

Francis in shot putt threw 9.81-m, which was 13th best among the lot.

Meanwhile, in the Under-17 Male age group, Jeremiah Wright had the highest placing when he ended 6th in the 1500-m with a time of 4:19.42.

Wright in 800-m timed 2:04.27, and had an overall finish of 13th .

Also competing was Evonte Nimblett who was 10th in the high jump, with his best height of 1.75-m and in the long jump was 11th, having registered 5.49-m.

Kevonte Pollin threw the javelin at 36.46-m, but that distance only earned him 11th place, and Joranny Welcome in the 200-m timed 23.17 seconds to dock 17th .

St Vincent and the Grenadines’ other competitors did not fare well in the Under-20 age group. Jaheim Williams tallied 5183 points in the Decathlon, that earned him an 8th place, but he claimed the St Vincent and the Grenadines record, overtaking Godwyn Roban’s 4759 achieved in 2022.

Kesiann John in the hepthalon registered 3858 points and a 7th place finish. Like Williams, she eclipsed Gail Ann John’s 3661 points to become the National Under -20 record holder.

Other results saw Trevel Sylvan who competed in the high jump, placing 12th after he cleared the bar at 1.85-m, whilst Isaiah Patterson failed to clear the entry height in the high jump. And Reine Lau Browne in the 100-m hurdles did 15.55 seconds to end up in 12th position.

The last time St Vincent and the Grenadines medalled at the Junior Carifta Games was in 2023, when Amal Glasgow took bronze in the Under-20 male 400-m.

The host for the 2027 Junior Carifta Games has not been announced, but interest has been shown by St Kitts and Nevis, as well as Trinidad and Tobago.