SPIRE Academy’s Track and Field program made history at the 53rd annual CARIFTA Games, held April 4-6, 2026 at the Kirani James Athletic Stadium in St. George’s, Grenada, sending its largest-ever roster of student athletes to represent their home countries on Caribbean athletics’ largest junior stage.

Founded in 1972, the CARIFTA Games is the premier annual track and field championship for junior athletes across the Caribbean, drawing competitors from more than 25 countries across U17 and U20 divisions. Widely regarded as one of the top youth athletics development meets in the world, the CARIFTA Games have served as a launch pad for some of the world’s biggest names, including Usain Bolt, and remain a critical proving ground for the next generation of Caribbean talent. Competing at the Games is not only an athletic achievement, but a distinction that requires athletes to qualify and be selected to represent their home country on the international stage.

Competing for Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and the US Virgin Islands, five SPIRE standouts delivered a breakout performance, earning multiple medals and top 10 finishes across three days of elite competition.

The weekend’s biggest individual story belonged to SPIRE senior, Kadia Rock. Representing Barbados, Rock made her fifth appearance at the CARIFTA Games competing in the U20 Girls 400 Meters, running 53.21 seconds and ultimately claiming the silver medal. In doing so, she became one of the most decorated CARIFTA athletes of any current junior athlete in the region.

SPIRE post-grad, Trevaughn Stewart of Trinidad and Tobago was equally impressive, earning a bronze medal in the U20 Boys 200 Meters with a time of 10.31 seconds, then returning to anchor Trinidad and Tobago’s U20 Boys 4x100m relay squad, capturing gold. The spring double made Stewart one of the weekend’s most complete performers.

Jenna-Marie Thomas, a SPIRE senior, also representing Trinidad and Tobago in her third CARIFTA Games appearance, competed in two hurdle events, earning medals in both. She took silver in the U20 Girls 100 Meter Hurdles with a time of 13.93, and bronze in the U20 Girls 400 Meter Hurdles with a time of 59.20 seconds. 

Rounding out SPIRE’s roster were twins Aminah and Safiya Prasad, juniors, both competing for the U.S. Virgin Islands in the U17 division. Aminah competed in the U17 Girls 100 Meters and the U17 Girls 200 Meter Dash, while Safiya turned in a strong showing in the U17 Girls 800 Meter Run, finishing 6th in her preliminary heat with a time of 2:19.69. The two athletes are still in the early stages of their careers, with their experience at the CARIFTA Games together marking a significant moment for both them personally and for SPIRE’s growing Track and Field program. 

“Our athletes didn’t just compete at the CARIFTA Games they rose to the moment, delivering great performances that reflected their hard work, championship mindset, and pride of their country,” said Kerron Stewart, retired Olympian and SPIRE’s own Head Coach of Sprints. “The results weren’t just victories on the track, but proof of the standard we carry as a team. I am extremely proud of our student athletes.”

In all, SPIRE athletes collected two silver medals, two bronze medals, and a relay gold across four countries and multiple events in the program’s most decorated showing at the CARIFTA Games to date. Jamaica captured the overall team title for the 40th consecutive year, with Trinidad and Tobago finishing second with a total of 35 medals, a performance fueled in part by SPIRE’s own Trevaughn Stewart and Jenna-Marie Thomas.