Jamaica continued its dominance of the CARIFTA Games, topping the table for the 39^the consecutive year as Kamarli Kennedy walked away with the Austin Sealy Award for the most outstanding athlete. 

This was the 52^nd staging of the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) Games, which was held in Trinidad and Tobago over the Easter weekend.

The Jamaican athletes, who are expected back on the island today, amassed 78 medals, which include 30 gold, 27 silver and 21 bronze. This year’s tally is six medals less and 15 gold medals short of the 2024 figure of 84 medals and  45 gold medals. 

Despite not sending its strongest team, Jamaica won 41 medals more than second-placed Bahamas with 16 gold, 13 silver and 8 bronze for 37 medals. 

Host Trinidad and Tobago finished third with 25 medals inclusive of nine gold, six silver and 10 bronze medals.

Jamaican thrower Kennedy was awarded the Austin Sealy Award after breaking the Under-17 discus and shot put records with massive throws of 60.87m and 18.90m. His 18.90m puts him 10^th in the world at the Under-18 level. His 60.87m is the sixth best in the world.

Kennedy got the choice ahead of Eagan Neely of The Bahamas and Jamaica’s Shanoya Douglas both capturing four gold medals each in a remarkable achievement.

Douglas won the girls under-20 100m, 200m 4x100m and 4x400m gold medals while Neely won the boys’ Under-17 200m, 400m, 4×100 and 4×400 relay.

On the finals day, Amani Phillips secured his second gold in the boys’ Under-17 long jump, leaping to an impressive 7.49m on his last jump, after he was overtaken by countryman Michael Graham on his last jump with a personal best of 7.33m, moving from fourth to silver.

Jamaica’s Shaquane Gordon was also in record mood, capturing the Under-20 110 hurdles in 13.19. His teammate Daniel Clarke was second, stopping the clock at 13.21.

Male team captain Despiro Wray won the Under-20 shot put with a throw of 19.66m while his teammate Devonte Edwards took silver with 18.73m.