#By TENAJH SWEETING
#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net
#TEAM Aruba and Team Trinidad joined Team Bahamas yesterday at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium after their arrivals to the island nation.
#With the 50th Oaktree CARIFTA Games set to start tomorrow (April 7), teams have made their way to The Bahamas to get settled in the Games Village at Breezes Bahamas.
#The island nation’s record ninth hosting of the games is special as it coincides with the 50th year of The Bahamas’ Independence. CARIFTA teams are looking to get in some last minute practices ahead of Easter weekend as all 28 Caribbean countries prepare to go to war on the track and field at the TAR stadium.
#Richard Luydens, head coach of Team Aruba, talked about the practice sessions with his athletes.
#Luydens said the team began their commute to The Bahamas on April 4 and arrived in the country yesterday morning after staying one night in Miami.
#He said it’s the team’s first time practicing this week because the stadium in Aruba is under renovation so athletes have not been on the track in a while.
#The 12-member team of Aruba made a few laps around the track yesterday to test the fastness of the track, according to their head coach.
#He added that most of the team consists of sprinters, long distance runners, along with two jumpers.
#On the day, they practiced some jumps and their long distance running. Upon their arrival, Team Trinidad and Tobago immediately got their training underway on the track. The country named a 63-member squad in early March ahead of this year’s CARIFTA games. Their team will look to make some noise on Easter weekend with 20 more athletes than last year’s total.
#The team worked on their relay techniques, practicing their jumps, and making their rounds around the track.
#Kelvin Nancoo, head coach of Team Trinidad, talked about his expectations for Easter weekend’s 50th CARIFTA Games. “I expect us to do very well. They have trained well so now this is the opportunity to go out and do it,” Nancoo said.
#He added that Trinidad’s jumpers, and multi-event athletes will perform well on the track and field. Also, he expects that Team Trinidad will win all of the relays and that Tafari Waldron will definitely take home a win in the 5,000m long-distance race.
#T and T’s head coach said its a great opportunity to compete in The Bahamas for the 50th CARIFTA games and he wishes the country well as it celebrates the 50th year of independence.
#The highly-anticipated Team Jamaica is expected to arrive late Wednesday night.
#This year’s games will feature 600 athletes from 28 Caribbean countries.
#The first event of Easter’s CARIFTA is the opening ceremony which is set to take place April 7 at the Eastern Grandstand of the TAR stadium. The ceremony will start at 4pm and end at 7pm.
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