Coach, sports minister hail Carifta team

Head coach Reynaldo Walcott of St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) had high praises for the Carifta Games team after they returned home from Grenada yesterday with 86 medals.

The team won 42 gold, 28 silver and 16 bronze medals.

At a reception for the team in the VIP Lounge at the Norman Manley International Airport, Walcott said Jamaica's domination at the meet was 'easy'.

"The record is 88 medals, we did 86 so we just fell short by two, and we fell short in the gold medal count also by two," he pointed out.

Among the outstanding performers for Jamaica at the meet were Shannon Kalawan who smashed a 13-year-old record in winning the Under-20 girls 400m hurdles in 56.21 seconds and Shian Salmon who captured the Under-18 girls 400m hurdles in a new mark of 59.50. Salmon also won the Under-18 girls high jump.

Meanwhile, Minister of Sports Olivia 'Babsy' Grange said it was not surprising to her that Jamaica dominated the Games.

"Carifta Games has been our stamping ground over the last 45 years, so it is not surprising that we dominated the competition, equalling last year's medal haul in the process," she said.