As the first CARIFTA Games trials approach in February, athletes from Linden are intensifying their training efforts to meet the qualifying standards.
Training is underway at the Linden Synthetic Track and Purple-heart Street ground, where Coach Johnny Gravesande is working with eleven athletes, including five first-timers, aiming to achieve success at the CARIFTA trials.
Currently at an 80% completion rate in preparation, Coach Gravesande expresses optimism about reaching 100% by next week.
The athletes, competing in various categories, share their aspirations for the upcoming meet:
- Duquan Farrell, a 100/200M and long jump athlete, is aiming for a time of 10:8 after narrowly missing the qualification in the previous attempt.
- Kaidon Persaud, a 400/800M athlete, has high expectations and hopes to make the CARIFTA team.
- Ebo McNeil, a 300M athlete, expresses his determination to do his best and make his coach proud.
- Kenetha Fraser, a 100/200M and long jump athlete, shares her goal of achieving qualification timings in all three of her events.
- Donelle Fraser, an 800/1500/3000M athlete, sets expectations to meet the timings for all her events.
Coach Moses Pantlitz is also preparing ten athletes, including first-timers Akaie Blecher and Timothy Smith, for the CARIFTA trials at the Linden Synthetic Track.
Pantlitz emphasizes the added advantage of training on the synthetic track.
The first CARIFTA Games trials are scheduled for Sunday, February 4, at the National Track and Field Centre in Leonora.