Photo: Hon. Gilroy Usher, Minister of State with Belizean athletes from the CADICA Championships in Guatemala City
by Charles Gladden
BELIZE CITY, Wed. June 7, 2023
A group of over 20 Belizean athletes returned after competing in the 2023 CADICA Championships in Guatemala City where they participated in various sporting disciplines, and brought back seven gold, eight silver, and two bronze medals to the Jewel.
The athletes returned on Monday night, June 5, where they received a warm welcome and were praised for an excellent job over the weekend. They were met by family and friends along with members of the local media at the Ned Pitts Olympic House.
The CADICA Championships is an annual event in which the Belize Athletic Association (BAA) sends its athletes to participate. This past weekend saw our athletes participating in the U18 and U20 Track & Field events held at the Cementos Progreso Stadium and the Erick Barrondo Park in Guatemala City.
“We usually do very well at this event because, usually around this age we are very competitive with the other countries. It is usually when we hit the seniors, then they kind of outshine us a little bit. But usually in the junior, our raw talent, we stand up well with them,” said President of the BAA, Jaheed Smith.
“… It was very successful. [For] a lot of these athletes, this is their first time going out, and for a lot of them it is just their experience, and they know for another time, like next year or [the] future, if they continue with the sport, they need to train harder. A lot of them on the first try, they get medals, so of course that motivates them to do better,” Smith added.
Also greeting the athletes on their arrival was the Minister of State for Sports, Hon. Gilroy Usher, who also highlighted previous Belizean athletes who competed and won in their respective disciplines with the government’s commitment.
“[Before] this victory here, we had the victory of Demetrie Meyers who won the 3000 meters in the CARIFTA Games in the Bahamas. Afterward, we had Mister Quiroz who won the Cross Country after the garland was taken by foreigners for quite some time. We continue to do everything possible to promote sports with the limited resources that we have in the country,” he said.
When some of the athletes spoke to local reporters, they highlighted that they were nervous, but got the hang of it as they competed.
“It was my first time, so it was a bit rough; but when we got to the hotel and I started talking to my teammates, it got smoother and I became less nervous. Before the race, I was nervous; I was shaking. But when I was doing the race, I became less nervous and I became more confident,” said Nyasha Harris, Gold Medalist for the Women’s U18 4X100 relay.
“It was very challenging. First, when I reached the track, I was judging some of the other guys because of how they looked; but when I raced, it wasn’t as easy as how it looked. And with the second and this third, [it] gave me a reason that I need to train harder and push more so when I go again, it is to come back with the gold one around my neck,” said Silver Medalist, U18 400 Meter, Keemar Wagner.
Belize placed fifth in the competition overall; third in the Women’s U18, fifth in the Men’s U18, and fourth in the Women’s U20.
The highlight of the competition was Belizean/American Brooklyn Lyttle who set a new Central America record in the long jump event. Her new record was measured at 5.82 meters, beating out the previous record of 5.72 meters in 2011 by Nathalee Joane of Panama. In the process of doing so, she also grabbed four of seven gold medals for Belize in the Women’s U18 100m, long jump, triple jump, and 4x100m relay.