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The OECS Track and Field Invitational held in St. Kitts Nevis over the last weekend was declared by those in attendance to be of a high standard with more athletes attending this year. Antigua and Barbuda fielded a team of eleven (11) athletes who all performed creditably.

Jess St. John walked away with a gold medal in the Shot Put field event and exceeded her previous throw in the 2013 CARIFTA Games by 2 metres. On the track, Bliss Solyn took silver in the 100 metres, Juniors. While her time was her personal best, the high wind speed prevented her from being listed as a record holder or making the qualifying time. The Relay Team from Antigua and Barbuda also grabbed second place in the 4 x 100 metre event. Samantha Edwards, a national athlete who is based in the USA, increased the number of silver medals for the team in the 400 metres Female.

The male competitors in the track events also celebrated a number of top places with silver medals being captured by Matthew Michelle and Shavaughn Walsh in the 400 metre Junior Boys and the 100 Metres Open respectively. Unfortunately, Tahir Walsh who ran in the 100 metres open placed 4th after stumbling on the final leg of the sprint. Micaiah Washington and Miguelle Francis took bronze medals in the 100 metre Junior Boys and the Open 200 metre invitational respectively. Miguelle Francis also demonstrated his talent on the field in the Long Jump event by reaching a personal best of 6.98 metres Regrettably Miguelle did not qualify for the World Championships since the wind speed was too high.

The OECS Invitational was an important one for athletes who are now seeking qualifications for the World Youth Athletics Championships scheduled to take place in July in the Ukraine and the World Athletics Championships in Moscow in August. Benjamin and Matthew have already qualified for the World Youth Championships.

President of the Antigua and Barbuda Athletics Association, Dr. Rodney Williams praised the athletes for their performance and shared that the Association will be providing opportunities for capturing more medals in the upcoming CAC Games in Mexico as well as the World Games in the Ukraine and Moscow due to take place over the next few months.