By Carlena Knight
A nine-member squad stretching across five sporting disciplines is expected to represent Antigua and Barbuda at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.
Leading the charge for the team is sprinter and CAC Games bronze medalist Cejhae Greene and Pan Am Games’ silver medalist Priscilla Frederick in High Jump.
Professional tennis star Jody Maginley will also compete in lawn tennis while boxing sensation Alston Ryan will appear at his first Pan-Am Games in the 64kg Light Welterweight division.
Other members of the team include swimmers Lleyton Martin and Bianca Mitchell and kiteboarder-Tiger Tyson, Laser Radial sailor Jalese Gordon and Laser Standard sailor Jules Mitchell.
Martin will compete in the 50 and 100meters freestyle and the 100m butterfly while Mitchell will swim in the 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle.
The NOC appointed 3rd Vice President Thomas Greenaway as the Chef de Mission who will manage the affairs of the team’s participation at the Games. Mr. Greenaway comes with a wealth of Games experience after participating in several Games as manager of the Rifle team.
Lima 2019 introduces and covers the cost for a Young Journalist Programme where Sharife Sargeant and Terry Andrew were successful.
The concept of this programme is to have constant communication to home countries on information of the athletes performance, training and social updates.
Lima 2019 is the first Games under the rebranding and new Pan Am Sport (formerly referred to as PASO) president Nevin Illic, and is shaping up to be an exciting and best Pan Am Games.
Secretary General of the Antigua and Barbuda Olympic Association Cliff Williams commended the athletes and the national federations who qualified for these Games.
The Caribbean islands, especially the OECS countries, struggle to field more than 3 to 5 athletes and two sports ever since a strict qualification rule was implemented four years ago. Antigua and Barbuda boasts of having nine athletes across five disciplines, all of whom have met the qualifying and participation standards.