By Samuel Peters
Antigua and Barbuda’s young athletes continue to make their mark on the local athletics scene, with four athletes officially qualifying for the 2026 CARIFTA Games in Grenada following outstanding performances at the Antigua and Barbuda Athletics Association Track and Field Development Meet Series 2.
Heading the list of qualifiers is Kettia Ambrose, who secured her place in the Under-20 Girls’ 400 metres. Her qualification reflects months of hard work, speed, and resilience, and represents another proud milestone for the nation’s growing track and field programme.
Celebrations continued later in the evening as three more athletes confirmed their spots on the CARIFTA team. Zonique Charles, the reigning CARIFTA Under-17 Javelin champion, booked her return to the Games and will aim to defend her title in Grenada. She was joined by Javon Simon, who qualified in the Under-20 Boys’ 400 metres, and Naeem Simon, who earned his place in the Under-17 Boys’ High Jump.
These latest qualifications further underscore the steady progress of Antigua and Barbuda’s youth athletics pipeline and the positive impact of structured junior development. The momentum follows the performances at Series 1, where Tyra Fenton qualified in the 100m, 200m, and 400m, bringing the number of Antigua and Barbuda junior qualifiers to six.
As preparations intensify for CARIFTA 2026, expectations are high that these athletes will represent the nation with pride and compete strongly against the region’s best in Grenada.
