Just as she did last year, higher jumper Amelia Othman will be the first Bermuda athlete to compete in the Carifta Games which starts today in Cayman Islands.

Othman will compete in the opening event of the Games, the under-17 high jump, which starts at 9am at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex in Grand Cayman.

The 15-year-old narrowly missed winning a medal in her maiden Games last year when she tied for fourth place with a best jump of 1.60 metres, tying her personal best.

The gold was won by Bahamian M’Kala White with a leap of 1.65.

Also in action in today’s first session will be Za’Kayza Parsons, the team captain, in the under-17 girls’ 100 heats at 9.30am and Chayse Tanner in the under-17 boys’ 100 30 minutes later.

Mikal Dill and Suresh Black will compete at 11am in the under-20 boys’ 100 heats. The 400 semi-finals, which start at 11.30am, will feature Clevonte Bean in the under-20 division and Caitlyn Bobb and Sanaa Rae Morris in the under-17 girls’ category.

The evening session will involve the 100 semi-finals, followed by the 1,500 involving Isabelle Dutranoit in the under-20 girls, Nathan Armstrong and Nirobi Smith-Mills in the under-17 1,500.

Bermuda’s 19-member team has 12 first-time members but will be minus last year’s co-captain Sakari Famous, last year’s lone medal winner in the under-20 high jump.

She opted out because of school commitments at the University of Georgia where she is a freshman.

Famous ended her Carifta Games career with six high jump medals after claiming a bronze in Bahamas.

The Bermuda team is made up mostly of sprinters and middle-distance runners. Kiara Francis, who attends school in England and was the last qualifier, will compete in the under-20 girls’ shot in her first Carifta Games.

Jumpers include captain Parsons, Chayse Tanner, Mikal Dill and Sadiq Nurse, who will compete in the long jump as well as sprint events, and Sancho Smith who is competing in the high jump along with the 800 and 4x400 relay.

Last month, Aecon came to the aid of the Bermuda team with sponsorship worth $40,000 to aid the team’s travel expenses to the Caribbean.

Team:

Under-17 girls: Amelia Othman (high jump, alternative 4x100m); Caitlyn Bobb (200m, 400m, 4x100m, 4x400m); Jezhari Talbot (800m, 4x400m); Ketura Bulford-Trott (200m, 4x100m, 4x400); Sanaa Rae Morris (400m, 4x100m, 4x400m); Za’Kayza Parsons (100m, long jump, 4x100m, alt 4x400m)

Under-20 girls: Isabelle Dutranoit (1500m, 3000m); Kiara Francis (shot)

Under-17 boys: Chayse Tanner (100m, long jump, 4x400m); Kahzi Sealey (3000m, alt 4x400m); Nathan Armstrong (1500m, 3000m 4x400m); Nirobi Smith-Mills (800m, 1500m, 4x400m); Sancho Smith (800m, high jump, 4x400m)

Under-20 boys: Clevonte Lodge (200m, 400m, 4x100m); Johndell Cumberbatch (5000m); Ryan Outerbridge (5,000m); Mikal Dill (100m, long jump, 4x100m); Sadiq Nurse (long jump, 4x100m); Suresh Black (100m 200m, 4x100m).

Manager: Terry-Lynn Paynter. Coaches: Devon Bean (head coach), Jerome Richards.