Nahjah Wyatte and Carlos Brison Cainez in action.
PHILIPSBURG-- St. Maarten’s first CARIFTA 800-meter gold medalist Nahjah Wyatte and rising middle-distance athlete Carlos Brison Cainez have qualified to represent St Maarten at the ASICS NK Dutch Championships, scheduled to take place in the Netherlands from June 26 to 28, 2026.
Leading the delegation will be Dynamics Sporting Club Head Coach Abdule Wattley, who described the qualification as an important moment not only for the athletes, but also for the development of athletics in St Maarten.
Wyatte earned his historic achievement at the CARIFTA Games 2026 and will compete in both the 400-meter and 800-meter events during the championships. Joining him will be Carlos Brison Cainez, who also made history as St Maarten’s first representative at the GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Championships, commonly known as CHAMPS, in Kingston, Jamaica. Carlos will compete in the 800-meter and 1500-meter events.
According to organisers, the championships represent more than international competition and could create further development opportunities for the athletes. Strong performances at the championships could potentially help position the athletes for advancement and qualification opportunities toward the World Under-20 Championships through the Dutch athletics pathway.
Coach Wattley highlighted the significance of the upcoming competition and the ongoing relationship between Sint Maarten and the Netherlands in athletics development.
“For us, this is more than just another competition,” said Wattley. “It is a continuation of the athletic relationship between Sint Maarten and the Netherlands—one that began in 2024 when I traveled to the Netherlands to establish and sign a cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening athletic development, opportunity, and collaboration between our nations.”
Organisers said fundraising drives, sponsorship initiatives, donation campaigns, and official donation letters will be launched in the coming weeks to help cover travel expenses, accommodation, uniforms, registration fees, competition preparation, and other related costs.
“This is not only an investment in two exceptional athletes,” Wattley added, “but an investment in the future of athletics in St Maarten and the continued development of opportunities for our young people. When our athletes succeed internationally, St Maarten succeeds.”
The participation of Wyatte and Brison Cainez was described as another sign of St Maarten’s growing presence in international athletics and the continued effort to create opportunities for local athletes to compete internationally.
As preparations continue for the championships, the people of Sint Maarten are being encouraged to support the athletes and help make the international journey possible.
