The CARIFTA Games that took place from April 20 to April 23 in the Cayman Islands rewarded fans with spectacular track and field action. Jamaica finished first for the 35th consecutive year with a total of 76 medals – 30 gold, 31 silver and 15 bronze. Among the standouts were Brianna Williams, who completed her sprint double in fine style and copped the coveted Austin Sealy Award, which is awarded to the most outstanding performer. The 17 year old sprint prodigy won that award for the second year in a row. Wolmerian Xavier Naire dazzled the Truman Bodden Sports Complex with his run in the boys’ under-20 200m race to cop the gold medal. Rasheed Broadbell was the living example of not letting obstacles (or in his case, hurdles) get him down. Broadbell won the boys’ under-20 110m hurdles despite hitting the first hurdle. Oblique Seville, after winning the 100m at Champs, took home the gold for the boys’ under-20 100m. This was his first CARIFTA games. Ackera Nugent broke the under-20 100m hurdles record in order to carry home the gold. Jamaica also swept away all their competition in the various relay events. As if the track events weren’t enough, team Jamaica turned heads on the field, too, with Cobe Graham winning the gold medal in the under-20 shot put. Kai Chang, another Jamaican, joined Graham on the medal podium for placing third. Chang won his gold medal in his discus campaign at the games. Jamaica completed a field ‘quinella’ with Cedricka Williams and Damali Williams placing first and second in the girls’ under-17 shot put. Wayne Pinnock, the Kingston College starlet, did not disappoint, winning gold for his long jump event in fine style.  It is always interesting to see how well the Jamaican athletes do at CARIFTA, especially since it is right after Champs. How do most of them pull off amazing performances at Champs and at CARIFTA year after year? The athletes and their coaches deserve several pats on the back for a consistent job well done.