ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
Antigua and Barbuda’s seven member contingent, will feature three national record holders: Daniel Bailey (men’s 100m), Miguel Francis (men’s 200m) and Priscilla Frederick (women’s high jump). Bailey is the most experienced and accomplished, as he is competing in his fourth Olympic Games.
He reached the semifinals in 2012. He is the 2010 World Indoor 60m bronze medallist and was fourth and fifth, respectively, in the 100m finals at the 2009 and 2011 World Outdoor Championships. Bailey will no doubt be focusing his effort on the sprint relay.
Francis has a chance to win his country’s first Olympic medal after his national record run of 19.88 in the men’s 200m, earlier in the year. Francis and the veteran Bailey will be the backbone of the country’s 4x100m team which is a contender for a medal. The squad clocked a national record of 38.01 in the heats of the 2015 World Champs, before finishing fifth in the finals.
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Open in new tab BAHAMAS
Bahamas will field its largest ever team to the Olympics and will have, in Rio, six national record holders: Shaunae Miller (women’s 200m), Jeffrey Gibson (men’s 400m hurdles), Steven Gardiner (men’s 400m), Leevan Sands (men’s triple jump), Pedyra Seymour (women’s 100m hurdles) and Bianca Stuart (women’s long jump.) Miller and Gibson are the leading contenders for medals, as Miller won silver in the women’s 400m at last year’s World Outdoor Champs and has clocked the fastest time for the year (49.55). Gibson raced to bronze in his event at last year’s World Champs.
The men’s 4x400m team members will be giving their all, to retain the Olympic title. Youngsters Gardiner and Stephen Newbold will combine with veterans, Chris Brown and Michael Matthieu, in their quest for gold. High jumper Donald Thomas seems to be reproducing the form that led him to the 2007 World title, with a personal best of 2.37 in July. He is joined by 2011 World Champs bronze medallist, Trevor Barry and Jamal Wilson, as the three could feature in the finals in Rio.
Beijing Olympic bronze medallist, Leevan Sands and former World Youth champion, Latario Collie-Minns, will be hoping to continue the Bahamian pride in the men’s triple jump and get among the medals.
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BARBADOS
Barbados’ six member team will be led by former World junior champion, Akela Jones, who will compete in the women’s heptathlon and high jump. She could have easily contested the 100m hurdles and the long jump, as she has surpassed the qualifying standards in those events. With strong performances in her preferred events and decent shot put and 800m efforts, she could get among the top eight in Rio.
World Youth silver medallist, Tia-Adana Belle, will be looking for a place in the women’s 400m hurdles finals and World Indoor bronze medallist, Ramon Gittens, will have his sights set on becoming the first Bajan 100m finalist since Obadele Thompson in 2004. His aim may be higher, as he may be eyeing a medal as Thompson did in 2000.
Kierre Beckles may have to produce another national record in the women’s 100m hurdles, as she did at the 2015 World Championships, if she is to have a shot of competing in the finals.
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BERMUDA
Long jumper, Tyrone Smith, will fly the flag for Bermuda in Rio. He was 12th four years ago in London and may have to muster an effort greater than his national record of 8.22 to improve his placing and get among the medals. Harold Houston will be looking to surpass Troy Douglas’ record as the only Bermudan to reach the men’s 200m semis.
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BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
Veteran Tahesia Harrigan-Scott is among a trio of British Virgin Islanders in Rio. Harrigan-Scott will surely have to better her national 100m record of 11.13, if she is to stand any chance of advancing to the finals with the present high standard of women’s sprinting.
Similarly, a sub-23 clocking in the 200m may be required of Kelly if she is to become BVI’s first Olympic semi-finalist. Eldred Henry is the territory’s first ever shot putter to compete at the Olympics and will be looking to gain valuable experience, which will no doubt serve him well in the future.
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CAYMAN ISLANDS
The Cayman Islands will see national record holder, Kemar Hyman (men’s 100m) and Ronald Forbes (men’s 100mh) in action.
Hyman will be looking to emulate his feat of advancing to the semi-finals, as he did in London in 2012. Forbes is competing in his third Olympics. He reached the quarterfinals in 2008 and will be looking to move on to the semi-finals and the finals this time.
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DOMINICA
Dominica’s triple jump duo of Thea Lafond and Yordanys Duranona is continuing the tradition of Jerome Romain, who qualified for the finals in 1996 and won bronze at the 1995 World Champs.
The Cuban-born, Duranona, will have to come close to his best of 17.20m set in 2014 to get among the finalists. Lafond will be aiming to better her national record (13.41) and get closer to the 14m barrier.
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