Anyone with a smattering of
interest in the local sports scene is aware that Grand Cayman is hosting the
CARIFTA Games this weekend.
The annual track and field event is
for youngsters aged between 15 and 19 and is a springboard for some – such as
Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, Ronald Forbes and Cydonie Mothersill – to a career in
athletics.
Around 5,000 people will be
watching each day of the championships at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex from
Saturday until Monday.
Mothersill was a competitor the
first and last time Cayman hosted the Games 15 years ago. She will be a proud
spectator from 3 April.
She got a bronze in the 100 metres
here in 1995 and took gold in the 100m and 200m in Jamaica the following year
to get the Austin Sealy award for best athlete. And the following year was
Barbados and she won 100m gold again.
“I think it is great and a
privilege for Cayman to be hosting such a prestigious event, so I’m excited
that it’s finally here,” she said.
Mothersill will hold a clinic for
all 27 members of the Cayman team over the next two days to help inspire them.
“I think it’s important for them to
realise the significance of us hosting these Games. We have an opportunity to
display our talent on a world class level.
“And I also think that they should
have fun. In 1995 I just wanted to do well and did not place a position on
myself. And things did fall into place. It was hard competing against the likes
of Debbie Ferguson and Peta Gaye Dowdie who were ahead of me when I got the
bronze.
“I remember having an awesome time
so one advice I will give them is to embrace this experience. Have fun and
don’t be too serious. When these Games are over you shouldn’t feel that you’ve
missed out in such a wonderful opportunity.
“I was watching my tapes on CITN
and other than the fact from oh my gosh, is that how I looked back then, I was
quite happy with myself running in front of my home crowd.”http://www.carifta2010.ky/tickets.html