Antigua and Barbuda will again host an elite group of international track and field athletes, as Olympic and world champions arrive for an off-season high-performance training camp later this month.
Leading the delegation is Rai Benjamin, the Olympic gold medalist and world champion hurdler affectionately known locally as “King Ben.” Benjamin, who won Olympic gold as a member of the United States men’s 4×400-metre relay team and holds multiple global titles in the 400-metre hurdles, will be in Antigua from December 26, 2025, to January 3, 2026, accompanied by teammates from the Hayestack training group.
The visiting contingent comprises 11 elite athletes, including Antiguans Cejhae Green and Joella Lloyd, alongside Olympic and world-level competitors such as Vernon Norwood, an Olympic gold medalist and World Championship medalist with the U.S. men’s 4×400-metre relay team. Also included is Jasmine Jones, who recently captured silver in the 400-metre hurdles in Tokyo.
Additional members of the group include Raevyn Rogers, Shae Anderson, Sammy Watson, Kendall Ellis, and Allie Jones. The team is led by Olympic gold medalist and renowned coach Joanna Hayes, who continues to play a major role in developing world-class athletes.
A key feature of the visit will be a meet-and-greet and training clinic for local athletes on December 29 at the YASCO Sports Complex. The clinic is expected to give young Antiguan track and field prospects a rare opportunity to train alongside Olympic champions and gain first-hand insight into elite-level preparation.
Newly elected President of the Antigua and Barbuda Athletics Association, Shawnor Joseph, said the initiative represents a major boost for local athlete and coach development.
