Jamaica team collects their trophy at the CUT GamesTeam Jamaica, retained the Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT) championship trophy, at the Silver Jubilee Stadium in Bird Rock, St Kitts, on Sunday after amassing 44 medals to Barbados' 36 and Trinidad and Tobago's 20.

Team Jamaica's medal tally included 22 gold, 13 silver and nine bronze medals.
Barbados for their part, amassed 14 gold, 10 silver and 12 bronze medals and Trinidad and Tobago six gold, eight silver and six bronze medals. St Kitts and The Bahamas were fourth and fifth respectively.

In the overall points standing, team Jamaica was also on top with 318. Barbados was next with 285 and Trinidad and Tobago 214. A record participation of close to 700 athletes from 19 countries participated in this year's meet with Dominica, St. Thomas and St. Croix for the first time.

CUT President Rouston Job, said Cayman Islands did not send a full team as there are no teachers Union in that territory and that for the first time, Montserrat sent a nearly full team of 30 athletes. Job, who is also the president of the Trinidad and Tobago Teachers Union (TTUTA) highlighted the boys under 15 100m in which Kevaughn Rattray of Jamaica won ahead of Nicholas Douglas as both broke the record.

Job said Caribbean sprinting is in good hands. He pledged that the CUT will continue to host the games in the future and praised the St. Kitts Amateur Athletic Association for its role in the games. A host for 2012 was not named but Barbados is being considered.

There were record-breaking performances from a number of athletes. Kevaughn Rattray running in the Under-15 100 metres scorched the track in a blistering 10.83 seconds, erasing the old record, 11.09, set by fellow Jamaican Jazeel Murphy in the British Virgin Island in 2008. He also erased the old 200m mark of 22.62 seconds, also set by Murphy in 2008, by setting a new mark of 21.95 seconds.

There were other record-breaking performances from Christoff Bryan in the Under-15 high jump. Bryan shattered the old record which stood at 1.90m set by fellow Jamaican Carey Gordon in St Lucia in 2006 by clearing 1.99m.
Gwayne Porter set a new record in the 400m Under-13 boys clocking 56.41 seconds to erase the old mark of 57.46 seconds set by Joel Romain of Trinidad and Tobago in 2002.

In the girls Under-15 100m, Saqukine Cameron erased the old mark of 12.20 seconds set by Gillian Joseph of Barbados, by clocking 11.97. She also erased the old mark of 25.30 set by Jannie Scott of Bermuda with a new time of 24.01. 2010 Carifta Boys under 17 Discus bronze medallist Kenejah Williams of Trinidad and Tobago set a new mark in the boys under 15 shot put throwing 14.77 m to break the old mark of 12.39m.

By Clayton Clarke, trackalerts.com