A renewed sense of purpose takes hold of Cayman’s sports community, with athletes turning the page to a fresh chapter of competition.
With two weeks of 2026 already behind us, we continue our final look at some of the 2026 resolutions our athletes have set for the year ahead.
Jairon McCoy, football
Jairon McCoy has been playing football for the past 12 years on his home island of Cayman Brac. He started playing in a grassroots programme and later with the Cayman Brac Football Club. McCoy, who primarily plays the position of left wing, was recently given the opportunity to play with Elite Sports Club and train with the national team.
“My goals are to continue training with the national team, work toward earning a place on the squad that represents the Cayman Islands, and, in the future, to play football at the college level while pursuing my studies and achieving excellent grades. My passion for football grows stronger each day, and I am deeply grateful to all my coaches on Cayman Brac – especially Mr. Mitchum Sanford – as well as the coaches at Elite Sports Club and the National Team,” McCoy said.
Vanjae Ramgeet, personal watercraft racing
For Vanjae Ramgeet, the 2025 IJSBA Pro Runabout Stock World Champion, growth is the direction he is focused on for the new year.
“My plan is to expand my team in a few different ways. I’m adding a couple more riders under my team, competing in a few other national series, and getting my riders and I as many championships as possible.
“Everything comes with determination and drive to always be the best at anything you do and that’s what I will be doing with my team, riders and myself this season. Growth and development are the way you take it to the next level and that’s my big focus this year,” he said.
DaQuana Howell, athletics
Sprinter DaQuana Howell first attended Spire Academy in 2024 and will be starting her new journey at Montverde Academy this month.
Howell said, “My track and field events are the 200m and 400m. This 2026 season, my goal is to develop discipline and consistency in both training and competition. One of my top priorities is improving my drive phase, which I struggled with in 2025. I’m hopeful to represent my country at three major events this year to the best of my ability. I commit to approaching each race with confidence, finishing with humility and consistently demonstrating sportsmanship towards my teammates and dedication to the sport.”
Justin Hastings, golf
Justin Hastings, Cayman’s professional golfer, said his resolution is “to earn a PGA tour card by the end of the year.” On a personal note, he aims to value the limited time he gets on island, as well as the time he gets with friends and family.
Abi Anderson, tennis
Island Game’s tennis medalist Abi Anderson, 17, has numerous resolutions for the new year.
On the court, her primary objective is to sharpen her mental focus during matches and approach the season one match at a time, with the ultimate goal of climbing the US rankings. Because this is her final semester at IMG Academy in Florida, she said she wants to stay present for every training, every class, and every experience she goes through even when it’s hard.
“Having been recently committed, I am very excited and proud of myself to be able to play at Division 1 university tennis in Oregon as my next step in my tennis career next year. I have to make sure to keep this high level playing and not slow down. One thing to help me keep this competitive high-level playing is to qualify and play in the Battle of Boca competition,” Anderson said.
Christopher Hurlston, boxer
Caymanian heavyweight professional boxer, Christopher Hurlston, said his main focus this year is to continue training hard and putting “consistent graft in the gym every day.”
“I’m fully committed to improving with each camp, continuing to win my fights, and pushing myself into title contention as I progress in my career.
“Alongside that, as I prepare to move back home to Cayman from England, one of my goals is to help others begin learning the sport of boxing. I’d love to contribute to the local boxing scene by sharing my experience, supporting young fighters, and helping grow the sport back home while continuing my own professional journey,” he concluded.
Jaden Francis, athletics
Jaden Francis, a 400m and 800m runner, has been attending Florida State University since Fall 2022.
Reflecting on the year ahead, Francis said her focus is growth on a personal, academic and professional level.
“Being a student-athlete, I’ve been taught discipline and balance and I want to continue pushing myself on and off the track. I also want to be intentional with my time making sure that I am allocating time and aligning it with where I want to go,” she added.
Additional reporting from Seaford Russell Jr.
