By Carlena Knight
Antigua and Barbuda’s first ever female heptathlon Carifta athlete, Mia McIntosh, said that she is hoping to have a successful showing in the April 16-18 competition.
McIntosh is a part of a seven-member team that will represent Antigua and Barbuda at this year’s Carifta Games.
She will compete in the female Under-20 category in Jamaica.
“I am just hoping to go and do my best. I have been training really in preparation for Carifta, so I am hoping to place and come back with something,” McIntosh said.
The heptathlon is a track and field combined events contest made up of seven disciplines – the 100m hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200m sprint, long jump, javelin throw and 800m run.
For some, this may seem like a burden, but McIntosh, who was speaking recently on the Good Morning JoJo Sports Show, says this a regular routine for her as she has done several of these events during past sports days as a student at the Princess Margaret School (PMS).
She did however admit that training is quite a task as she has to balance events.
“It’s very hard training for all the events. When I am training, I have to move back and forward between the track and field events,” she added.
Her favourites are however the 200m and 800m.
The lone qualifier, Alyssa Dyett, will compete in the Under-20 girl’s triple jump while sprinter and World Junior qualifier, Ajani Daley, will compete in the boy’s under-20 100 and 200m.
Daley, who was also featured on the Good Morning JoJo Sports Show, says that despite dealing with several injuries in the past, his preparation is going along well.
“Right now, preparation is going good. For the past few months I was injured, but I was able to get back on pace and run the time I did for the Carifta trials,” Daley mentioned.
He added that despite having such a successful sprint mother, Heather Samuel-Daley, he does not put any pressure on himself, instead he is focusing on putting his best foot forward.
The other members of the team include: Geolyna Dowdy (U-17 Girls 100M/200M), Dwayne Flemming (U-17 Boys 100/200M), Osei Gardener (U-20 Boys 200/400M) and Craig Pendergrast (U-20 Boys 400M Hurdles).