In a celebration of athletic brilliance and regional pride, Team Jamaica once again etched its name in Carifta history, capturing the overall title at the 52nd Carifta Games with a commanding 78-medal haul.
The Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, played host to three days of track and field excellence, where Jamaica claimed 30 gold, 27 silver, and 21 bronze medals, clinching its 39th consecutive Carifta crown and 47th overall.
While the final tally narrowly missed last year’s 84-medal mark, the depth, dominance, and dynamism displayed by Jamaica’s young stars underscored a continuing regional dynasty and a thriving pipeline of elite talent.
At the heart of Jamaica’s triumph stood a 16-year-old powerhouse—Kamari Kennedy—who rewrote the record books and claimed the prestigious Austin Sealy Award for the most outstanding athlete of the meet. Kennedy unleashed an 18.90m bomb in the Under-17 shot put, cracking the world’s top 10 for U18 men and breaking a year-old Carifta record.
But his crowning moment came just a day later. In the discus, he launched a monumental 60.87m throw, obliterating the previous mark by more than seven meters. Every legal attempt from Kennedy would have shattered the old record, with his shortest measured at 54.26m.
“Kamari is the embodiment of discipline, strength, and focus,” remarked a JAAA official. “He doesn’t just break records—he crushes them.”
Kennedy’s double-record dominance sealed his name in Jamaican sporting folklore as the 16th Jamaican to win the Austin Sealy Award, following 2023 winner Roshawn Clarke.
Sprint Queens and hurdle Kings: Douglas, Gordon, and more shine
In a Games stacked with standout performances, Shanoya Douglas blazed a trail few could follow. The 17-year-old speedster turned the Carifta track into her personal runway, securing four gold medals—a clean sweep of the Under-20 girls’ 100m, 200m, 4x100m, and 4x400m relays. Her 200m title was defended in a brisk 23.02 seconds, supported by a bounce-back bronze from teammate Sabrina Dockery.
On the boys’ side, Shaquane Gordon stamped his authority in the 110m hurdles, defending his Under-20 title in record-breaking fashion. Clocking 13.19 seconds, he bettered the longstanding 13.23 championship mark—just ahead of his teammate Daniel Clarke, who also dipped under the previous record with 13.21.
In the Girls’ Under-17 100m hurdles, Malayia Duncan and Nickayla Russell finished 1-2, while Tiana Marshall secured gold in the Under-20 edition. Meanwhile, the Bahamas’ Jahcario Wilson snatched the Under-17 boys’ title in 13.70 after a delay-marred final.
Air masters: High flyers and jump kings elevate the field
Jamaica’s supremacy wasn’t confined to the track. The field events delivered fireworks of their own, with jumpers and throwers rising to the occasion.
- Amani Phillips was unstoppable, pulling off the Under-17 long/triple jump double. His final long jump—a massive 7.49m—came after being briefly overtaken by 100m champion Michael Graham’s surprise 7.33m leap. But Phillips had one last response in him, delivering his best when it mattered most.
- Chavez Penn matched that energy, taking the Under-20 triple jump with 16.14m, adding to his earlier high jump title.
- Danielle Noble claimed a dramatic victory in the Girls’ Under-20 high jump, winning on countback over Shanniqua Williams as both cleared 1.80m.
- In the Boys’ Under-20 shot put, Despiro Wray launched 19.66m for gold, backed by teammate Devonte Edwards’ silver at 18.74m.
Jamaica’s relay quartets were equally brilliant, securing three of four sprint relay titles and both Girls’ 4x400m relays in commanding style.
A regional showcase: Rising stars across the Caribbean
While Jamaica towered above the medal standings, other nations had moments of brilliance:
- Bahamas’ Eagan Neely joined Douglas as a quadruple gold medalist.
- Michelle Smith of the U.S. Virgin Islands closed her Carifta career with flair, defending her 800m title and earning her eighth gold and ninth overall medal at the Games.
- Jayden Green of Barbados edged Jamaica in the Boys’ Under-20 200m, winning in 20.93 seconds.
- Antigua & Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and the Cayman Islands each delivered multiple gold medal performances, highlighting the rich, emerging talent across the region.
Final Medal Table (with Gold Medal Winners)
| Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total | Highlighted Gold Medalists |
| Jamaica | 30 | 27 | 21 | 78 | Kamari Kennedy, Shanoya Douglas, Shaquane Gordon, Amani Phillips, Despiro Wray |
| Bahamas | 16 | 13 | 8 | 37 | Eagan Neely, Jahcario Wilson, Jasmine Thompson |
| Trinidad & Tobago | 9 | 6 | 10 | 25 | Solé Frederick, Michael Paul |
| Grenada | 2 | 6 | 5 | 13 | Dylan Logan |
| Antigua & Barbuda | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | |
| Saint Lucia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |
| Cayman Islands | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Michelle Smith |
| Barbados | 1 | 5 | 8 | 14 | Jayden Green |
| Aruba | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |
| Guyana | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | Rodel Avant Greene |
| Dominica | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Conclusion
The 52nd Carifta Games were a resounding success, with Jamaica cementing its position as a regional powerhouse in athletics. The emergence of new talent, combined with the dominance of established stars, bodes well for the future of Caribbean athletics. As the region continues to produce exceptional athletes, the Carifta Games will remain a premier platform for them to showcase their skills
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