Petra Williams
The opening day of the 2026 ABAA National Championships belonged not only to individual champions but to the clubs whose programmes, coaching structures and athlete development systems were on full display at YASCO Stadium.
Under the championship theme, “Revival: Inspiring the Next Generation,” participating athletes transformed the opening day into a showcase of emerging talent, established excellence, and the enduring strength of athletics at the grassroots and club levels.
From sprint dominance to distance excellence and field-event success, Day One offered a revealing snapshot of the current state of athletics in Antigua and Barbuda and provided clues about which clubs are building the strongest foundations for future success.
Even periodic showers that swept across YASCO Stadium throughout the afternoon failed to dampen the enthusiasm of athletes, coaches and spectators. The weather created occasional interruptions to the programme, but competitors returned to the track and field with determination each time, adding another layer of resilience to a day already rich with stories.
PSE Sets the Sprint Standard
If there was one club that owned the senior sprint conversation on Day One, it was PSE Sports Club.
The club captured both Open 100m titles, with Dwayne Flemming storming to victory in the men’s final in 10.33 seconds and Geolyna Dowdye securing the women’s crown in 11.38.
The victories confirmed PSE’s position as one of the country’s premier sprint programmes and demonstrated the club’s ability to consistently produce athletes capable of delivering on the biggest stage.
The men’s sprint squad also showcased impressive depth. Amori Jules finished third in the final, while Nathnael Jones successfully advanced through the preliminary rounds to earn a place among the nation’s fastest men.
Dowdye’s victory was equally significant. Her commanding run delivered one of the day’s most decisive performances and underscored the consistency that has made her one of the country’s leading female sprinters.
Roots Athletics Shows Championship Depth
While PSE dominated the senior sprint titles, Roots Athletics demonstrated perhaps the greatest balance across multiple disciplines.
The club’s headline performance came from CARIFTA medallist Tyra Fenton, who captured the Women’s 400m Open title in 53.78 seconds. At just 16 years old, Fenton once again showed why she remains one of Antigua and Barbuda’s most exciting young athletes.
Roots also secured a podium finish in the Women’s Open 100m through Seraiah Shaw, who claimed bronze in 12.68 seconds.
Jaeda Pigott further strengthened the club’s showing by winning the Women’s 1500m title, while Aj’marie Davis continued her development with a bronze-medal performance and personal best in the Girls Under-15 400m.
The combination of sprinting, long sprinting, middle-distance success and youth development made Roots one of the most complete clubs on display.
Panthers International Flexes Its Development Pipeline
Few clubs demonstrated as much strength across age groups as Panthers International.
The club produced champions in both Under-15 400m divisions, with Lennox Benjamin winning the Boys’ title and Gimel Samuel capturing the Girls’ crown.
At the senior level, Soniya Jones delivered silver in the Women’s Open 100m while Kettia Ambrose added silver in the Women’s Open 400m.
Panthers also qualified multiple athletes through the preliminary rounds of the men’s and women’s sprint events, highlighting the depth of talent being nurtured within the programme.
The performances suggest the Panthers possess one of the strongest developmental pathways in the country, with athletes emerging at multiple stages of progression.
Hurricane Power Owns the Distance Events
While the sprint clubs battled for supremacy over the shorter distances, Hurricane Power made the distance races its territory.
Kamar Thomas delivered a commanding victory in the Men’s 1500m, leading a Hurricane Power one-two finish as Devon James secured silver behind his teammate.
Abbe Davis added bronze in the Women’s 1500m to complete a highly successful outing for the club.
Three medals from five athletes represented one of the most efficient returns of any club on Day One and established Hurricane Power as the championship’s leading distance programme.
Phoenix Continues to Knock on the Door
Phoenix Track Club left Day One without a gold medal but firmly established itself among the championship contenders.
Kadeem Campbell advanced confidently through the men’s sprint rounds before securing silver in the Men’s Open 100m final.
The club also received strong performances from Cleon Joseph, who claimed silver in the Men’s Open 400m, and Anika James, who secured silver in the Women’s 1500m.
The results reflect a club that continues to produce athletes capable of reaching the podium across multiple disciplines.
Edusports Finds Success in the Field
Not all success came on the track.
Edusports produced one of the strongest field-event performances of the day through Zonique Charles and Keitonya Skepple. Charles captured gold in the Women’s Javelin while Skepple secured silver in the Women’s Long Jump, giving the club two podium finishes despite a relatively small team.
Their success served as a reminder that championships are often decided not only by sprint stars but by athletes excelling across the full spectrum of track and field events.
Smaller Clubs Make Their Presence Felt
Tiger’s Track Club made one of the clearest statements among the smaller programmes, with Deon Shaw claiming victory in the Men’s Open 400m in one of the standout performances of the day.
Wings Sports Club also made its mark, as Khloe Foster captured gold in the Girls Under-9 80m and delivered one of the brightest youth highlights of the championship.
Supernova continued to impress in youth and middle-distance competition, while Peak Performers, Paramount Performance, and Royalty Track & Field Club of Montserrat added to the championship’s depth by giving their athletesvaluable experience on a national stage.
Together, their efforts reinforced an important truth about athletics in Antigua and Barbuda: progress is not confined to the biggest clubs. It is taking shape across a wider range of programmes, age groups and disciplines.
More Than Medals
At the end of Day One at YASCO Stadium, no single club had completely separated itself from the field: PSE established itself as the sprint powerhouse, Roots Athletics showcased exceptional versatility, Panthers International highlighted the strength of its development programme, Hurricane Power dominated the distance races, and Phoenix continued to prove itself a consistent championship contender.
There was healthy competition, certainly. There was pride in club colours and celebrations at the finish line. Across the afternoon, established performers reinforced their reputations while emerging athletes introduced themselves to the wider sporting community. Coaches saw the rewards of months of preparation. Parents watched sacrifices turn into performances. Clubs measured the progress of programmes designed not simply to win medals, but to develop athletes.
As the first day’s medals were presented, the championship picture remained intriguingly balanced and full of possibility.
Yet the story is far from finished.
Day Two returns to YASCO Stadium with the speed of the 200 metres, the endurance of the 800m, 3000m and 5000m, technical battles in the jumps and javelin, and the always-exciting 4x400m relays to bring the curtain down on the championships.
For the clubs chasing bragging rights and the athletes pursuing personal bests, medals and memories, another afternoon of opportunity awaits.
If Saturday showcased the depth of athletics in Antigua and Barbuda, Sunday offers the chance to discover just how high this generation can climb.
For those who have not yet made the trip to YASCO Stadium, now is the perfect time. Come and enjoy the competition. Support your club. Encourage a young athlete. Celebrate the effort as much as the result.
Because beyond the medals, the times, and the podium places, the ABAA National Championships remain one of the clearest windows into the future of sport in Antigua and Barbuda.
And that future will once again be on display at YASCO Stadium.