The Barbados team has returned home from the CARIFTA Games, with athletes taking stock of their performances — some celebrating gold, others already focused on improvement.
Under-17 boys’ shot put gold medallist Kamaal Armstrong returned with quiet confidence, saying his victory was always part of the plan.
“It feels great, but I knew it was coming,” he said. “All I had to do was go and execute the plan me and my coach set out and compete for the gold.”
Armstrong explained that while the competition in Grenada was formidable, his focus remained internal rather than on rivals. “It was just for me to go there and be mentally prepared for anything, everything that could happen … and that I was.”
Armstrong also noted that challenging weather conditions, including rain, were not an excuse. “The conditions were fair. It wasn’t the best to suit what I was looking to do, but you can’t blame it on the weather all the time. Sometimes you don’t perform to the best you could … sometimes you get in your own head.”
Looking ahead, Armstrong is already setting goals for the future.
“Hopefully make Under-18, but I’m looking forward to training and getting ready for next season,” he added, while praising the warm welcome home. “The reception is great. Love the energy, love the vibes.”
Meanwhile, 16-year-old distance runner Lashay Wilkinson took a more reflective approach after placing sixth in the 3 000 metres.
“I did very bad, to me, because this is my third CARIFTA and I still haven’t medalled,” Wilkinson admitted. “I came fourth last year and I expected better for myself.”
However, she acknowledged the challenging lead-up to the games, which included limited preparation time.
“I went from a trip from Curaçao playing football, came straight and qualified for CARIFTA, then went from qualifying to BSSAC, then to CARIFTA … and in between I didn’t have much training.”
Despite her disappointment, Wilkinson said she is trying to maintain perspective. “I can’t be too hard on myself … but I’m still disappointed.”
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