Guyana’s Golden CARIFTA Record; Men’s Table Tennis Qualifies for CAC Games
By: Delwin Neblett | HGP Nightly News|
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — Guyana’s young athletes have returned from Grenada with heads held high after a record-breaking performance at the 53rd CARIFTA Games. While the track stars dominated the Caribbean, our table tennis contingent is making moves in the Dominican Republic. Here is your sports update for Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
Athletics: Team Guyana Shatters Record; Ends CARIFTA with 6 Medals
Guyana’s campaign at the 53rd CARIFTA Games at the Kirani James Athletic Stadium concluded on Monday with a total of 6 medals (4 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze).
- New Games Record: The Mixed U-20 4x400m relay team—comprising Tishawn Easton, Akeela Dover, Malachi Austin, and Tianna Springer—delivered an unprecedented performance. They clocked a blistering 3:20.79, shattering the previous CARIFTA record and comfortably beating regional powerhouses Jamaica and the Bahamas.
- Solomon’s Golden Finish: Olivia Solomon secured Guyana’s final gold medal on Monday in the U-17 Girls 800m. Solomon’s superior speed saw her stop the clock at 2:10.76, capping off a stellar weekend for the Golden Arrowhead.
- Springer’s Legacy: Tianna Springer exits her final CARIFTA Games with a historic fourth consecutive 400m title and as part of a record-setting relay team, solidifying her status as a generational talent.
Table Tennis: Men’s Team Qualifies for 2026 CAC Games
In Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the Guyana senior male table tennis team has successfully completed its mission.
- CAC Qualification: The team, led by Shemar Britton and featuring Jonathan Van Lange, Elishaba Johnson, and Niran Bissu, secured their spot for the 2026 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games after finishing second in their group with 3-0 wins over Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago.
- Women’s Team Update: The women’s team, led by Olympian Chelsea Edghill, narrowly missed out on qualification after a tough 3-1 loss to Trinidad and Tobago. They will not participate in the Caribbean Championships as the association focuses on a “transition process.”
- Youth Movement: Jazmine Billingy and Samara Sukhai are now set to travel to Panama for the South American Youth Games alongside Malachi Moore and Kayden Meusa.
Cricket: Captain Seecharan Leads Guyana U-16s to Series Victory
The CWI Rising Stars U-16 50-Overs Bilateral Series against Barbados concluded on Monday at the Albion Sports Complex after a weather-affected schedule.
- The Final Match: In a match reduced to 20 overs due to wet conditions, Guyana posted 117-6 (credited as 115-7 in some scorecards), with Asgarally Nabbie top-scoring with 26.
- Captain’s Spell: Captain Lomar Seecharan delivered a legendary bowling performance, taking 4 wickets for just 5 runs. Barbados was limited to 79-9 in their 20 overs, giving Guyana a 37-run victory (officially 36 runs).
- Series Outcome: Guyana secured a 2-0 series win overall, with three of the five matches abandoned due to rain.
Athletics: Regional Development Talks in Grenada
Behind the scenes in St. George’s, AAG Vice President Mark Scott and General Secretary James Cole represented Guyana at the NACAC (North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association) meeting.
- Future of CARIFTA: Discussions focused on regional talent development and logistical improvements for the 2027 edition of the games.
- National Support: The officials were part of a 24-member delegation that benefited from the AAG’s multi-year equipment and funding partnership with Adidas.
