Athletes step up Carifta Games preparations as track season nears return
With the shortened cross country series set to reach its conclusion over the next two weekends, local athletics interests are preparing to shift their focus to the start of the track and field season in the coming year, as athletes set their sights on qualifying for the Carifta Games.
The regional age group championships will take place in Jamaica in April.
Despite interruptions due to Covid-19 restrictions, the cross country series has managed to successfully stage two races from the series, with the third scheduled for this Saturday at the Arboretum.
The National Championships will follow at the Botanical Gardens on December 4, hosted by Mid-Atlantic Athletic Club.
“Because of the abbreviated cross country season we will not have a series champion and the cross country champions will be the age group winners of the day,” Freddie Evans, the Bermuda National Athletics Association president confirmed to athletes and parents.
After that the focus will switch to the track season, starting with a night of mile races in early December.
“On December 10 at the Flora Duffy National Stadium, BNAA is opening the track season with a mile race event that we are calling the Mile Reloaded,” Evans said.
“This race will feature male and female mile races in the following categories; primary, middle, high school, open and seniors. BNAA is inviting all road runners, weekend joggers, tri-heads and other athletes to participate in this stellar event under the lights at the stadium,” said Evans.
The track season will continue in the new year with the first scheduled meet being held on January 8.
Next year’s Carifta Games marks the 50th anniversary since the Games began in 1972 in Barbados.
Officials are hoping the Games will go ahead at the third attempt after Bermuda twice failed to host the Games for a fifth time in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic.
Jamaica, the most successful country at the Carifta Games with 770 gold medals since 1990, will host the championship for an eighth time from April 16-19.
Guyana, who were due to stage the Games in 2022, will now hold the event in 2023.
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