Barbados Head Coach Stresses Refocus and Rebuild After CARIFTA Games
"Head coach Ramon Armstrong reflects on Barbados' performance at 51st CARIFTA Games, emphasizing need for facilities improvements to elevate athlete success. Positive outlook on rebuilding for future competitions."
Refocus and Rebuild. That’s the message from head coach of Barbados’ 31-member squad, Ramon Armstrong after the team returned home from the 51st CARIFTA Games in Grenada on Tuesday night to a rousing reception from family members, friends and other well wishers.
“I think it was a very interesting experience. We had a lot of new and members, some first timers, a lot of fourth place finishes and ninth places [in the heats] but a lack of facilities really killed off our performances,” Armstrong said.
There were plenty of cheers and chants from the scores of supporters, armed with balloons for the athletes as they came through the gates of the Arrivals’ Hall.
Prior to the CARIFTA Games at the Kirani James Athletics Stadium, Barbadian athletes had to compete on grass at the St George Secondary School at the Louis Lynch and National Junior Championships. They were only able to compete on a synthesis track when the Athletics Association of Barbados sent a group of athletes to St Vincent for their National Championship and subsequently at the Barbados Secondary Schools Athletics Championships (BSSAC).
Armstrong affirmed that there is no shortage of talented athletes in Barbados.
“I think the talent is there based on their performances. From there, we just got to come back, rebuild and next year, we get better and improved performances.
