Amya Clarke was first of the two Track and Field Athletes of TEAM SKN to taste action at the Pan-American Junior Games, Cali, Columbia.

She participated in the third of three Heats from which the top two athletes from each Heat and the next best two times will qualify for tomorrow’s final showdown in the Female 100 meters.

Amya led her Heat from start to finish in a fairly confident demonstration of execution which suggested that she may have, indeed, benefited from the exposure she received by virtue of her participation in the Tokyo Olympics earlier this year.

I am sure that Amya will be the first to admit that she will not be raking anything for granted as she strive for even closer perfection by tomorrow.

She will certainly need her A Game to un-nerve Cuban and Brazilian athletes who also prove that they could be a force to reckon with.

Whilst Amya seemed not to be unduly pushed to top her Heat and put down a 11:56 sec.- some  04 sec off her best time going into the event, it appeared that she is capable of stepping up another gear.

See attached below, the results of each Heat and the Table indicating the entire list/ranking of all the athletes.

You should note that only the top eight (8) will quality for tomorrow’s finals.

Congratulations to Amya thus far. She has laid down a marker to inspire  her team-mate Tah’j Liburd who runs in the second  of two semifinals at about 5:15 pm SKN Time) tomorrow in the 400 Meters.

Panam Sports will pay for the airfare for those who decide to get vaccinated in Miami, United States. This offer is also open to athletes who have qualified for the Cali 2021 Junior Pan American Games.

SANTIAGO, CHILE (May 18, 2021) — Panam Sports has reached an important agreement with the University of Miami and the Mexican Consulate in Miami to receive 4,000 vaccines that will be used to help ensure the health of the athletes and officials who will participate in the Tokyo Olympic Games this July, as well as the entirety of the Pan American Family.

“We know that in many of our countries throughout the continent it is very difficult to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. Therefore, we have made a significant effort to reach this outstanding agreement that will help all of the athletes who have not had the chance to become inoculated. Now these athletes have the opportunity to receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the United States, and thus travel with better protection to compete at the Tokyo Olympics,” said Panam Sports President, Neven Ilic.

“I want to offer my greatest appreciation to the University of Miami, the Mexican Consulate in Miami, and our Executive Committee member, Jimena Saldaña. They all helped us achieve our goal of vaccinating the athletes and officials who will participate in Tokyo, as well as those who will be in Cali this November,” Ilic added.

Panam Sports has already sent an official document to all the National Olympic Committees to inform them of this great opportunity. The organization will cover the cost of the air tickets for those who travel to Miami to receive their vaccines.

The NOCs must send their request listing the athletes and officials they wish to be vaccinated as soon as possible so they can be inoculated at least 30 days before entering Japan.

Mr. Alphonso Bridgewater, C.S.M., was also unanimously re-elected to the Executive Board of the Continental Arm of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), on December 15th, 2020 when the 41 nation NOCs held its historic Virtual General Assembly and Elections to elect its executive to serve the organization for the quadrennial 2021-2024.

Panamsports is the Continental Organization responsible for hosting the Panam Games- every 4 years, in the year preceding the Olympic Games; and the NOCs which comprise this family is sometimes refered to as the Americas ( USA, Canada, South and Central America, The Caribbean-41 countries in total).

President Bridgewater is also the current Vice President of the 27–nation Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) and President of the Association of the National Olympic Committees of The Irganization of Eastern Caribbean States (ANOCES).

Also worthy of note, and reflective of the high esteem and respect accorded Members of President Bridgewater’s SKNOC-CGA Executive is the fact that Secretary-General Glenville Jeffers has been appointed to serve as Treasurer of North America, Central America and the Caribbean (NACAC) Athletic Association. Additionally, Mr. Glenn Quinlan serves as the President of Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association and a Member of the Executive of the International Volleyball Federation.

All athletes are from the sport of Athletics/Track and Field and will be engaged in competition from Sunday 4th to Saturday 10th August 2019.

The athletes are:

1. The 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games, silver medallist in the 100m, Mr Jason Rogers.
2. Mr Jermaine Francis, bronze medallist in the High Jump event at the 2018 Central America and Caribbean Games.
3. Finalist in the Women’s 100m event at the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games, Ms Shenel Crooke, and;
4. Ms Reanda Richards, the NCAA 4th ranked female in the 400m Hurdle event at the close of the 2019 collegiate season.

The team is led by Mr Lester Hanley, Chef de Mission. Mr Lonzo Wilkinson travelled as the Athletics Head Coach and Dr. Dwain Archibald will serve as the Team’s Medical doctor.

The Games Opening Ceremony will be held on Friday 26th July and the Closing Ceremony on Sunday August 11th, 2019.

The St Kitts and Nevis Olympic Committee extends best wishes, safe travels and much success to team St Kitts and Nevis.

Topics that will be covered during the 2-day congress include:

1. Injuries in multi-sports events
2. Hydration and electrolyte management – heat stroke
3. Nutritional supplements; use an abuse
4. Doping – World Anti-Doping Code, International Standards
5. Prevention of sudden death in sports
6. Sports concussions
7. Success in sports injury prevention, etc.

Dr. Archibald has been an active Doping Control Officer (DCO) of the NADO for several years and have conducted numerous anti-doping tests on athletes in St Kitts and Nevis.

Also, in related news, the St Kitts and Nevis Olympic Committee has fully committed itself to financially assist athletes and teams in their preparation and qualification efforts that will enable them to participate in the 2019 Pan Am Games by funding their participation in various regional, continental and international competitions.

For the sport of Table Tennis, players will participate in a LATTU Pan Am Games qualifier in Guatemala City, Guatemala over the period May 24th to 25th, 2019. Ms Angelisa Freeman and Ms Shaniqua Esdaille are the two players who will compete in this qualifying event. They will be accompanied by coach Urban Freeman.

Similarly, ten (10) Track and Field athletes are poised to benefit from the SKNOC’s competition assistance over the qualification period that ends on Sunday, June 23rd, 2019.

The SKNOC Executive rallies behind the athletes and wish them great success in their attempts to try and qualify for the 2019 Lima Pan Am Games.

At a recent meeting held in Lima, Peru host city for the 2019 edition, updates related to planning, financing and hosting were provided to the Executive Committee of the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) of which Mr Bridgewater is a part. The Executive Committee also went on inspection visits to various training and competitions venues. President Bridgewater was specially invited by the President of PASO, Dr. Julio Maglione, to be included in an Executive Delegation that had audience with the President of the Peruvian Congress, Luz Salgado. The group also called on the country’s Minister of Education, head of the team managing the Pan American Games’ preparations.

Started in 1951 for men and 1955 for women, the Pan-American Games are held every four years (2019, 2023, etc.) in the year preceding the Olympics and organized by the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO). Countries from North, South and Central America as well as the Caribbean usually take part in this multi-sport competition.

The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis has participated in five (5) editions of the Pan American Games since its debut at Mar del Plata 1995. To date three medals have been secured. Kim Collins won silver in the 100m at Guadalajara 2011. In the same edition, the men’s 4x100m Relay Team of Jason Rogers, Antoine Adams, Delwayne Delaney and Brijesh Lawrence was awarded the silver medal. At the Toronto 2015 Games, Antoine Adams captured the bronze medal in the 100m.

The 2019 Pan American Games, officially the XVIII Pan American Games or the 18th Pan American Games will be held from July 26 to August 11, 2019, in Lima, Peru.

The team is comprised of the following athletes and officials and will participate in the sport of Athletics/Track and Field only:

Team Officials:
Mr Leroy Greene – Chef de Mission
Mr Lester Hanley – General Team Manager and Press Attaché
Mr Francil Morris – Athletics Team Manager
Mr Stewart Joseph – Coach
Mr Alister James – Masseuse
Joanne Hayes – Masseuse

Athletes:
Mr Antoine Adams – 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay
Mr Brijesh Lawrence – 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay
Mr Jason Rogers – 4x100m relay
Mr Delwayne Delaney – 4x100m relay
Mr Allistar Clarke – 4x100m relay
Mr Lestrod Roland – 4x100m relay
Ms Shenel Crooke – 100m
Ms Marecia Pemberton – 100m

While at the Games the team has also been slated to participate in a number of ambassadorial events in conjunction with the St. Kitts and Nevis Consulate in Toronto. The Track and Field segment of the Pan Am Games will be held over the period Saturday 18th July to Sunday 26th July, 2015.

The St Kitts and Nevis Olympic Committee extends best wishes, safe travels and much success to team St Kitts and Nevis.