Guyanese athletes at CARIFTA Games: Austin intent on bettering CARIFTA bronze performance
Adriel Austin was part of Guyana’s historic 21-member contingent for the CARIFTA Games in 2019. Of the four gold, two silver and three bronze medals that the Guyanese team had returned home with after that outing, Adriel had contributed a bronze, which she had copped in the Under-17 800m event.
Adriel Austin is looking to replicate or better her last CARIFTA performance
Now 18 years old, this year’s CARIFTA Games hold especial importance for Austin, given her intention to not only bring home another medal, but to also guide the younger athletes in Guyana’s contingent.
Earlier in 2022, Austin had ensured that she would again head to the Games to compete in her pet event after clocking 2.13.46 to qualify on her first attempt. CARIFTA’s qualification standard was set at 2.14.50 for the 800m event.
Amid all the excitement of qualifying, Austin is all too familiar with the work that needs to be done, and the importance of the event.
“I’m always excited to go to represent Guyana. CARIFTA is a very big game for us, and it just helps to show us what to expect when we reach to the next level,” the Running Brave Athletics Club (RBAC) member has related to Guyana Times Sport.
Adriel has further stated, “Well, all I’m doing is training and focusing, because making timings aren’t easy, but once you train hard and you put in the work, you just go out and execute. Our motto is ‘train hard and win easy’, this is just the easy part.”
Being one of Guyana’s more experienced campaigners at the Games this year, Austin discussed her intention to keep the ‘fresh blood’ in Guyana’s contingent on the right track. She explained, “Some of them have never been to CARIFTA, and they might think it’s easy, but it’s really not. So, they have to go out and do their best and be serious, but also have fun.”
Given her bronze medal finish in 2019, Austin says, there is some pressure on her to repeat her performance, but she is pretty confident she can obtain the Gold.
“Yes, because going to CARIFTA, it’s a really big deal, it’s not a joke, and you really have to go out there and do your best. All the work that you put in, you just have to go and execute it now,” the teenage athlete has commented.
“Hopefully, bringing home the Gold,” she said with a smile about her intentions for this weekend’s event.
Guyana’s 14-member team is expected to jet off to Jamaica tomorrow for the April 16-18 Games.
