The St. Maarten Amateur Athletic Association held its third & last qualifier on March 18th 2017. a team of six athletes has been selected to compete for St. Maarten at the Carifta Games to be held in Curacao.
Ø the carifta Games world greatest youth event.
These event were held for the first time ever in a Dutch country: Curacao the first to host this prestigious event from April 13th 2017 to April 18th 2017. The 46th Annual.
The St. Maarten Amateur Athletic Association is happy and thankful to be able to participate.
In the last two Carifta games St. Maarten have brought home two medals. We are getting better each year. This year we were close , but have not succeeded in bringing home a medal. The competition was strong. 28 countries participated. Of which Jamaica, Bahamas, Barbados and Trinidad were the strongest, thus harvested the most medals.
St. Maarten selection consisted of three boys from the Milton Peters college and one from St. Maarten Academy. two girls, also from the Milton Peters College which last minute all the girls could not take part.
The Boys selection: Avish Weijsiriwardana,Sprinter 11:28 Seconds) Jearemy Drijvers, ( Sprinter 11:23 seconds) Christon Holiday (11:Meters) and Leshawn Brown. Lesahwn Brown who competed in the Octathlon (8 Events) gathering a total 4000 points. The winner had a total of 5000 points nr 2 -3 – 4 all 4000 –plus points. Leshawn also participated in the Javelin Throw, ( 58meters) Winner broke the record throwing 76 Meters. Second place 65 & 63 meters.
Our Sprinters were ; Jaeremy Drijvers and Avish Weijsiriwardana. Both athletes competing in the 100 & 200 meters sprint. Last but not least was Christon Holiday competing in the Shot put event.
The question which comes to mind why the other countries are outperforming us? Answer to this is: 1. Their Island is bigger and have a greater inhabitance and thus more athletes to choose from. 2. That majority of our athletes leave to Island to study and we do not have the funds to monitor and bring them back when we have these mayor events. 3. We need our program to start from within the schools. This is the phenomenon which takes place in all those other countries on the top, such as Jamaica, Bahamas and Trinidad. Curacao made such an attempt. One of its athletes studying in Holland was retrieved, took part in pole vault and won Gold.
One of our main future objective is to also monitor all athletes abroad and bring home the best to compete. The Down side of this venture is that it is very costly.
Challenges: The St. Maarten Amateur Athletic Association has many challenges. Our biggest challenges are accumulating the funds to take part in these prestigious events.
Also as a challenge can be seen is the lack of a structured / consistent program deriving from out of schools, supported by Government. And also having enough certified & experience coaches & trainers.
Structured changes within future Carifta games. Carifta games has voted to change the grouping: Under 18 to become ages 14 – 15 – 16 . Under 20 to become 17 – 18 – 19. Purpose of this change is to strengthen the female participation and get better numbers participating at the games.
Next year games will be hosted by Bahamas. Bahamas will also be hosting a series of sporting events this year in preparation for next year Carifta games. These series of games will host 9 different sports. Track & field , Judo, Swimming, Boxing, Soccer, Table tennis, Sailing, Volley Ball and Basketball. This an initiative to boost the country’s economy, and take care of the countries youth through sports and education.
The St. Maarten Amateur Athletic Association will again start from now to prepare a team for next year’s Carifta Games. There will be three qualifiers starting October at the National Championships. This will continue with every three months with another qualifier. Athletes will need to make the standards.
These trials / competitions will be held for the elementary schools as well as for the Secondary schools.
In closing we the board of the St. Maarten Amateur Athletic Association would like to thank all businesses which assisted us making it possible to travel and compete in this prestigious event.
Win air Air line providing ticket Vouchers for a raffle. Oyster Bay Vouchers for Raffle of week end stay. Bellair Hotel Voucher Week end stay. Telem, Windward Island Bank, Orco Bank, Seven Seas Water distillation company: All donations.
Upcoming events:
May 27th 3rd Annual Subway Interscholastic, selecting eight athletes to travel to Trinidad for the Age Group Championships.
Events are: A Pentathlon and a Heptathlon boys & Girls, age 11 – 12 & 13-14 .