Tyndall looking for redemption in CARIFTA long jump event

By Jemima Holmes

Three years ago, Wesley Tyndall qualified to represent Guyana in two events at the CARIFTA Games, hosted then in the Cayman Islands. Little did he know that injury would plague his participation in his pet event, the 100M sprint,
a little over a year later, after his big CARIFTA achievement.
However, all has not been lost for the teenager, since he still had another event to fall back on. With the CARIFTA Games being cancelled in 2020 and 2021, the teenager took the time to focus on another event, the long jump.

“It was hard because, in the 100M, which I used to participate in, basically the reason I switched is because of injury, and because I was fast and being explosive, it would hamper my hamstring. And the jumps, it could aid in my hamstring getting better,” the teenager told Guyana Times Sport as he spoke about his journey.
Asked about his emotions during that time, the 18-year-old answered, “Yes, it was really disappointing, but I had to push, put in the work, get help to massage and make the foot feel better.”
Continuing his story of injury, disappointment, a switch and then success, Tyndall discussed what led him to solely focus on the long jump event, that he dabbled in prior.
He explained, “I saw persons participating in the long jump, and I thought it looked fun and easy, so that’s how I got the motivation and everything to participate in the long jump.”
It was in the Long Jump pit at the Leonora Track and Field Facility, West Coast Demerara (WCD), that the 18-year-old qualified for his second outing at the regional event. During the second trials hosted by the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG), the 18-year-old leaped to a whopping 7.30m to cement his place in the 49th edition of the CARIFTA Games this year.
To give an idea of just how impressive he has been this season, the CARIFTA qualifying standard was set at 7.10m.
Tyndall spoke of his expectations during the qualification period, as he hopes to make his supporters proud.
“Well, I was excited, and that was my expectation to make the mark and maybe even surpass the mark, which I did,” he related. “In all, it was very hard, I had to put in all the work. As I said, I put in the work, and now that I’m qualified, I’ll do my best.”
As Wesley Tyndall will suits up for Guyana next week in Jamaica, he will have a point to prove. Once there, he will be putting his past disappoints aside in order to focus on bringing home gold for Guyana.
Tyndall revealed to this publication, “Well, my expectation is basically to achieve gold, but in everything, you have to put in the work, which I’m in the process of doing, and I will achieve my goal,” the athlete promised.
The CARIFTA Games are scheduled for April 16-18 in Jamaica.