A fatigued but happy group of young athletes returned from the Cayman Islands yesterday where they helped Jamaica top the medal table at the 39th Carifta Games, for the 26th year in a row.

The Jamaicans finished ahead with 72 medals, almost twice the overall number of their nearest rivals Trinidad and Tobago, who finished with 40, and three times the gold medal count with 37 to Trinidad’s 12. The Jamaican tally also included 22 silver and 13 bronze.

The Bahamas with 29, including six gold, 10 silver and 13 bronze; Barbados with 18 medals, including three gold, seven silver, and eight bronze, and Grenada with four, including two gold and two bronze, completed the top five teams.

The Jamaicans were brilliant on the final day, winning all but one of the four relay medals on offer after finishing fourth in the Under-17 Boys 4x400m in a time of 3:20.99.

Kemoy Campbell set a new championships record in the Under-20 Boys 5000 metres, clocking 14 minutes 34.34 seconds to lower the 14:40.67 he set last year. Campbell had earlier claimed gold in the 1500 metres.

“I came after Champs with the intention of doing well at Carifta and it paid off for me,” Campbell told the Observer.

“Although I missed the 1500 record I went with the intention of breaking the 5000m record so I’m really happy.”

Odean Skeen, who claimed the Under-17 sprint double — a feat he also completed at the Boys and Girls Championships two weeks ago — said it was a hectic period but that he felt revived after a brief rest.

“I was very tired but I was able to rest and that’s all I needed. I had a slight injury going into the Games, but I did what I could do,” he told the Observer.

Head coach David Riley was characteristically reserved in his manner as he said the outstanding show was not surprising.

“I’m not sure why people would be surprised by the Jamaicans. I knew the team would do well based on the results that I scanned from the other countries and I knew where the competition would be,” he said.

“I think the team did well and I’m very proud of what they were able to accomplish. Many of them did personal best and that’s very good,” he added.

Minister of Sport Olivia Grange, who was on hand with several other sporting officials to greet the group, reminded them that they could take advantage of 100 scholarships the government will make available for them to continue their education upon leaving high school.

“You are the future. We are depending on you to make sure Jamaica continues to do us proud,” she said.