Increased contingent expected at CARIFTA as Guyana hosts in 2027

Guyana is expected to field a much larger contingent at the 2027 Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) Track and Field Championships, when the land of many waters opens its doors to youth athletes from around the Caribbean for the 54th edition of the regional track and field showpiece.

This was confirmed by Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) President Sheryl Hermonstine following the launch of the 2027 event in Guyana.
As is customary with hosts at such games, the home contingent will have the advantage of fielding much larger teams; the AAG intends on capitalising on next year.
“Guyana intends to have a full scope of about 60 athletes representing us,” Hermonstine announced, responding to enquiries from sport media.
In 2025, Guyana fielded a 42-member team at the Games which were hosted at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Trinidad and Tobago. In 2026, that number moved to 24 as the Games shifted to the Kirani James Stadium in Grenada. With 60 athletes projected for 2027, that already signals a major increase from previous years.
In addition to Guyana having a much larger representation, plans are already in place to give the Guyanese athletes ample preparation.
“Yes, there is a plan,” Hermonstine confirmed.
The AAG President went on to divulge, “Actually, we met with our coaches last Sunday, and our plan will commence on the first week in September. We’ve already started with CARIFTA, through a programme, through the Ministry, and so, we will build on that programme where we used to have weekly camps for our athletes, at least twice per month.”
Further, major competition dates have been taken into consideration as stakeholders work to ensure the Guyanese athletes peak at the right point in their season, according to the Education Ministry. As such, the Inter-Schools Championships have been scheduled for October, while the Nationals Secondary Schools’ Championships are set for March 3-5, 2027, at the Bayrock National Stadium in Linden.
Meanwhile, the CARIFTA Games are set for March 27–29, 2027, at the National Track and Field Centre (NTFC), Leonora, West Coast Demerara.
Team Guyana will be looking to improve on their medal haul at the upcoming edition after grabbing four gold, one silver and one bronze in Grenada.