74 local athletes chosen for Commonwealth Youth Games

A TEAM of 74 athletes, 27 officials and 13 medical staff will represent TT on home soil at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games from August 4-11.

Athletes between the ages of 14 and 18 have been chosen to represent TT in athletics, para athletics, beach volleyball, cycling, netball, rugby, swimming and triathlon.

Swimmer Nikoli Blackman, who won the First Citizens Sports Foundation youth sportsman award multiple times, is on the team and will be hoping to make a splash at the National Aquatic Centre in Couva before heading to the University of Tennessee to continue his swim career.

Track and field athlete Janae De Gannes will be aiming to continue her prolific form. The long jumper, who also sprints, recently broke the women’s long jump meet record on her way to gold at the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Associations Under-18 Championship held in Costa Rica. Tobagonian De Gannes jumped 6.11 metres.

Sanaa Frederick and Keeran Sriskandarajah are also expected to deliver strong performances. Frederick won gold at the 2023 Carifta Games in the girls Under-20 200m event and last year Sriskandarajah claimed gold in the boys Under-17 1,500-metre event at Carifta. Sriskandarajah is based in England and Frederick resides in the US, but both have TT roots.

Tobagonian Immani Matthew has potential in the boys long jump. He took gold in the Carifta Games earlier this year.

Syndel Samaroo, Makaira Wallace, Danell James and Raul Garcia are among the cyclists on the TT team. The quartet competed for TT at the 2023 Junior Pan American Track Championships in Paraguay in May.

TT SQUADS

Rugby Men:

Xavier Williams, Elijah Williams, Thomas Weiczorek, Jaheim Walton, Jerrell Vincent, Luke Stowe, Shane St Louis, Aaron Stanley, Edmund George, Judah Francis, Christian Felix, Judah Duncan, Achilles Charles, Leon Pantor (manager), Larry Mendez (coach), Jonathan O'Conor-(assistant coach)

Rugby Women:

Moesha Smith, Zoe Mc Knight, Rebecca Dickson, Shenika Paul, Anaya Ammon, Alisha Salandy, Quaneisha Oliver, Nathalia Cadiz, Mikayla Williams, Micaela Plaza, Shania Hamilton, Alyssa Fields, Zaria Joseph, Tenisha Samuel-Duke (manager), Kyle Strachan (coach), Blossom Stewart (assistant coach).

Netball:

Shania Abraham, Eboni Castle, Amara Edghill, Treasure Garcia, Nichola Gill, Jelissa Goodridge, Jada Hamilton, Kayla Julien, Akeira Pompey, Victoria Taylor, Vanessa Forde (manager), Kyla Keith (coach), Sojourner Hyles-Lewis (assistant coach).

Athletics:

Sanaa Frederick, Sole Frederick, Janae De Gannes, Keneisha Shelbourne, Ruth Irvine, Gianna Paul, Trevaughn Stewart, Kadeem Ryan, Brandon Leacock, Symphony Patrick, Jamario Russell, Keeran Sriskandarajah, Cheyne West, Andrew Steele, Immani Matthew, Jaidi James, Kaleb Campbell, Wendell Williams (manager), Michelle Alleyne-Pennie (head coach), Joyce Thomas (throws coach), Hydianne Harper-Simmons (sprints coach), Roger Moore (sprints coach), Arlon Morrison (sprints/hurdles coach), Derrick Simon (middle distance coach).

Para Athletics:

Isaiah Williams, Micky Rueben (coach).

Cycling:

Alexia Wilson, Ashleigh Thomas, Makaira Wallace, Aaron Matas, Danell James, Dave Cooper, Jadian Neaves, Justin Boynes, Raul Garcia, Syndel Samaroo, Titus Bharat, Delia Topin-Lopez (manager), Ashton Williams (coach), Sheldon Ramjit (mechanic), Troy Nelson (mechanic).

Beach Volleyball

Jerome Morrison, Jahreef Miguel, L'Fe Roberts, Meeka Johnson, Mildred Yeguez Francois (manager), Sean Morrison (coach).

Triathlon:

Jenae Allum Price, Liam D'Abadie, James Castagne-Hay, Riana Harrinauth (manager/coach).

Swimming:

Nikoli Blackman, Zarek Wilson, Sharntelle Mc Lean (coach).

Officials:

Jehue Gordon (chef de mission), Joy-Ann Yeates-Prescott (assistant chef de mission).

Medical Team:

Nailah Adams (doctor), Candice Williams (doctor), Aqiyla Gomez (physiotherapist), Jelani Baptiste (physiotherapist), Verne Alleyne (physiotherapist), Shenice Gittens (physiotherapist), Jameel Walcott (massage therapist), Ian Sharpe (massage therapist), Brent Elder (massage therapist), Shurlan Bonas (massage therapist), Dennora George (massage therapist), Derek Ashby-Williams (massage therapist), Odessa Chandler (massage therapist).