Carifta changes age limit and team numbers

NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC):

Carifta games stakeholders yesterday announced changes to the annual meet, set to come into effect by the next edition scheduled for the French island of Martinique.

The number of athletes per country has been increased from 70 to 80, while the age limit of participants has been raised from under 17 to under 18, similar to the Central America and Caribbean (CAC) Championships.

"Jamaica moved the motion for the number of athletes per team to be increased from 70 to 80 and it was supported in a vote 11-8," said Garth Gayle, secretary of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA).

President of British Virgin Islands Athletics Association, Dean Greenaway, said the changes bring the Carifta Games, one of the world's premier events, in line with the IAAF and measures CAC introduced in 2012.

Changes have also been made to the shot put, discus, javelin and the sprint hurdles.

In the boys' Under-20 at Carifta Games, 16-year-old athletes (17-year-old in the same year of competition) are asked to throw 1.75k discus, 6k shot put, 800g javelin and 0.99m/110m hurdles.

At CAC, World Youth the following are used: 1.50k discus, 5k shot put, 700g javelin, 0.91 110m hurdles.

The 300m hurdles have been changed to 400m hurdles, the girls' pentathlon changed to heptathlon while the boys' heptathlon has been altered to octathlon.