Barbados’ CARIFTA squad is in high spirits ahead of this weekend’s regional championships in Grenada.
So says team manager, Angela Jackson who said the team is eagerly looking forward to getting on the track once they touch down in Grenada for the April 3-6 CARIFTA Games.
The first batch of 42 athletes left the island earlier today, with the remaining 18 set to join them within the next 24 hours.
Jackson, along with fellow manager Duante Harvey, president of the Athletics Association of Barbados, Noel Lynch and a number of other team coaches accompanied the first group.
Speaking to Barbados TODAY at the Grantley Adams International Airport shortly before the team’s departure, Jackson said the team was quietly confident.
“The mood is very good. The athletes are all excited and looking forward to arriving in Grenada and giving of their very best,” she said.
While she opted not to predict a medal haul, Jackson believes the squad is well rounded, particularly in the Under-20 division.
“I can agree with you [that] the team is very strong in certain areas, and all that we can do is to expect them to give of their best.
“Of course, I am not going to touch on any medals prediction whatsoever. We are just encouraging each and everyone on the team to give of their best and once that is done we will be quite satisfied,” Jackson said.
She described the team’s build up to the event as smooth, despite acknowledging there had been some constraints due to the quick turnaround time from BSSAC to CARIFTA.
“Well, the only workshop that we would have had this time around was anti-doping because of time constraints. We have a lot of young athletes who are on the team for the first time and they are being encouraged.
We’re working on them and we’re trying to get them totally in the frame of mind for competition,” Jackson said.
A number of parents and well wishers were also on hand at the airport, with scores of them set to join the team in Grenada over the coming days.
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