This afternoon, under what is anticipated to be glorious sunshine, 31 superbly fit athletes who take to the asphaltic tarmac at the National Park are each expected to unleash their ‘inner beast’ in hope of being adjudged the fittest male or female in the pool of competitors in the 6th Kares Caribbean CrossFit Challenge.
Scenes from the 2019 edition of the Kares Caribbean Fitness Challenge
This competition has attracted participation of 10 athletes hailing from Barbados, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, who are each anticipated to present a robust challenge to the 21 local athletes in contention.
Event Organizer Jamie Mc Donald, sharing a bit on what fans can expect to witness today, said: “This year’s event is going to (be) run very similarly to last year’s, in that we’re going to have 5 workouts during the day, with the first workout beginning at 6 o’clock in the morning. This is less of a fan-favourite event; it’s more of an athlete-centred event, (and it’s) more for them to enjoy.
“Then we’re going to have four events, starting from 1pm. This is going to be a mix of gymnastics, weightlifting…athletics’ sort of events,” Mc Donald shared.
This year’s competition is expected to feature defending champion Dillon Mahadeo, Paul Meusa, Timothy Mc Andrew, Randolph Leitch and Kellon Reid in the male division; while last year’s runner-up in the female division, Semonica Duke, is expected to square off with the ever consistent Delice Adonis and others.
Last year’s female champion, Ava Zalman of Suriname, will not be returning to compete in 2020.
Increased cash prizes this year give athletes greater incentive to record enviable performances. The athlete placing first in either division would receive $500,000, while the runners-up would pocket $400,000, $300,000, $200,000 and $100,000 respectively in order of placement. A participation prize of $15,000 also applies.
In the Over-30 category, first place winner in either division would receive $100,000, while the person placing second would receive $75,000 and the one placing third would receive $50,000.
A ticket for entry to the event costs $1000, but children under 10 years old would be admitted free of cost.
Aside from chief sponsors Kares Engineering and Lotus Hardware, the competition has received support from Ansa McAl through their Lucozade brand, MVP Sports, Pollo Tropical, Star Party Rentals, Birkenstock and St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Fitness Express and Genesis Fitness Gym.
