2009 CARIFTA Games

The 38th CARIFTA Games was held in the George Odlum National Stadium in Vieux Fort, Saint Lucia, on April 10–13, 2009. Detailed reports on the results were given.

Participation (unofficial)
Detailed result lists can be found on the CFPI Timing website, and on the "World Junior Athletics History" website. An unofficial count yields the number of about 545 athletes (junior (under-20) and youth (under-17)) from about 25 countries: Anguilla (5), Antigua and Barbuda (7), Aruba (14), Bahamas (58), Barbados (45), Bermuda (23), British Virgin Islands (6), Cayman Islands (12), Dominica (7), French Guiana (7), Grenada (21), Guadeloupe (19), Guyana (10), Haiti (9), Jamaica (68), Martinique (37), Montserrat (4), Netherlands Antilles (22), Saint Kitts and Nevis (30), Saint Lucia (42), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (6), Suriname (2), Turks and Caicos (14), Trinidad and Tobago (64), US Virgin Islands (13).

Records
A total of 15 new games records were set.

In the boys' U-20 category, there were 6 new records set, the most significant by Kirani James of Grenada finishing the 400 metres in 45.45 seconds, thereby gathering this years' Austin Sealy Award. The new mark for 1500 metres was set by Gavyn Nero from Trinidad and Tobago in 3:47.56, and for 5000 metres by Jamaican Kemoy Campbell in 14:40.67. Jehue Gordon from Trinidad and Tobago won the 400 m hurdles in the new record time of 50.01 seconds. On the field, Raymond Higgs from the Bahamas cleared 2.21m in high jump, whereas Quincy Wilson from Trinidad and Tobago threw the discus 55.67 metres.

The new games record in the girls' U-20 category was set by Natoya Goule of Jamaica running the 1500 metres in 4:27.48.

In the boys' U-17 category, Jahazeel Murphy of Jamaica set two new games records, one in the 200 metres in 20.97s (1.4 m/s), and the other by leading the Jamaican 4 × 100 m relay team to 40.76s.

The U-17 girls set also 6 new records: Jamaica's Shericka Jackson set the new record mark for 400 metres to 53.48s, and helped both relay teams to establish new records, 45.05s for 4 × 100 m, and 3:38:09 for 4 × 400 m. Her compatriot Janieve Russell was also member of both record relay teams, and moreover set the record for 300 metres hurdles to 41.30s. In high jump, both Peta-Gaye Reid of Jamaica and Akela Jones of Barbados cleared 1.80m equaling the games record set in 1999. Finally, the new triple jump record was set to 12.61m by Jamaica's Rochelle Farquharson.

Austin Sealy Award
The Austin Sealy Trophy for the most outstanding athlete of the games was awarded to Kirani James of Grenada. He won the gold medal in the 400 metres competition in the junior (U-20) category setting the new games record to 45.45s, improving Usain Bolt's record from the year 2003, and a bronze medal with the 4 × 400 m relay team from Grenada.

Medal summary
Complete results can be found on the CFPI Timing website and on the World Junior Athletics History website.

Boys under 20 (Junior)
: Open event for both junior and youth athletes.

Girls under 20 (Junior)
: Open event for both junior and youth athletes.