CAY HILL--Two St. Maarten athletes qualified to compete in the Carifta Games Sunday. A total of 20 Under 20 athletes competed in the St. Maarten Amateur Athletic Association/Federation Second Carifta Games Qualifying Meet at Raoul Illidge Sports Complex Sunday.
The athletes divided into two groups of U17 and U 20, competed in short and middle-distance runs, throwing events and jumping.
Making the cut were Avish Wejsirwardna in the boys 100 metre and Leshawn Brown in the heptathlon.
Two other athletes were close to qualifying and will have one more opportunity as St. Maarten Amateur Athletic Association/Federation will host the national Championships Sunday, March 18 at the Sports Complex from 3:00 to 5:00pm.
The championships will include events for the younger athletes including beginners, 9 to 10, 11-12, 13-14. However only the U-17 and U-20 groups can qualify for Carifta.
The National Championships are open to all schools and track clubs on St. Maarten, said Les Brown. Athletes must register to participate by March 14. The Championships will include, sprinting middle and long-distance runs. Three throwing events and the Long jump and high jump.
Sunday Vitasha Carty took first place in the girls 100 with a time of 13.5. Second was Roshanja Benjamin at 14.01. Carty was also the fastest in the 200 with a time of 28.08.
Wejsirwardna topped the boys 200 with a time of 22.7. Denel Washington was second in the 11m with 12.2 and Isaiah Wilson was second in the 200m at 26.6
The Carifta Games, often called the junior Olympics of the Caribbean, will be held in the Bahamas March 30 to April 2.
