An 11-member team will be representing Jamaica in Tobago at the second staging of the 11-19 age-group Carifta Triathlon/Aquathlon Mixed Relay Championships today and tomorrow.

One Hundred and Fifty athletes from 11 countries including Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, The Cayman Islands, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Martinique, and host country Trinidad & Tobago will participate.

Leroy Cooke, president of the Jamaica Triathlon Association, is very hopeful of a successful championship for the country.

“In order for Jamaica and the region to have a significant impact on the sport of triathlon we have to start with the development of our youngsters.

“The Carifta Championships play a significant role in that development and offer an opportunity for regional competition which is a platform to start moving into greater international competition.

“We are expecting, based on our preparations for this Carifta Championships, to do very well,” Cooke stated.

The Jamaican team which is comprised of three females and eight males is captained by Llori Sharpe and Johnathan Lyn. The other members of the team are Zara Harris, Jaede Campbell, Nathan Williamson, Kemar, Richards, Ethan Moore, Tariq Wright, Jared Wright, Israel Allen and Noah Azan.

Sharpe, who represented Jamaica at the Commonwealth Games in April, is looking forward to the championships and relishes her role as captain.

“As female captain my job is to inspire and guide the team, especially the girls. The participants from some other countries are experienced and have participated in Camtri and ITU races and have international ranking, so we all have to work hard in the championships,” she said.

As for her personal ambitions, Sharpe, who is still a student at St Andrew High School for Girls, is hoping to better times than last year.

“Last year I finished first in the triathlon and second in the aquathlon and I am looking to better my performances in Tobago.”

Male captain Lyn said it was time for the athletes to show what they are made of.

“The championship is a time to show all the hard work we have put in. We have put in a lot of effort and time into the sport and now we get to measure ourselves with the best in the region in our age group. This is the perfect platform for us to show Jamaica and the world just what we can do.”

Most of the team members will participate in both events, the triathlon — swim, bike and run as well as the aquathlon — swim and run.

Eleven athletes also represented Jamaica in the inaugural staging in 2017 and came away with three podium finishes. A much improved performance is expected this year as the athletes are more experienced than last year.

The team left the island on Thursday and is expected to return on Monday.