~I prayed, I prayed, I prayed to God~
PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten celebrated its first gold medal of the 2026 CARIFTA Games as 800m U17 runner Nahjah Wyatte delivered a stunning performance, crossing the finish line in 1:53.26.
Wyatte, from the Dynamics Sports Club and part of the country's National Athletics Team, held off fierce competition from Jamaica’s Markland Williams, who finished second in 1:53.60.
In an electrifying race, Wyatte maintained his lead despite Williams’ attempts to overtake him. The official commentators at the game noted, “Wyatte did not buckle, held on, kept space, and picked it up in finishing space. It was very smart running. He has a very good future ahead of him.”
Shouts and cheers erupted from households across St. Maarten as Wyatte sprinted toward the finish line, securing the country’s first gold of the Games. Many cried tears of joy at seeing the country's young sports star bring home an increadible gold for the country.
Reflecting on his achievement during an interview after the race, Wyatte said, “Last year basically I was over myself… I made finals last year CARIFTA 800m but… I didn’t get the time that I wanted or first place, so I was like let me come this year again and push myself and break my limits and try and get the gold medal. Yesterday, [Sunday] I got first in my heat and I was like, you know, ok this is a sign… I prayed, I prayed, I prayed to God that I get the gold today [Monday] and I executed the exact same way that I wanted to and I’m really, really happy about that.”
Wyatte’s victory not only highlights his personal determination and talent but also marks a proud moment for St. Maarten on the CARIFTA stage.
