More than 80 top track and field stars from around the globe gathered at the inaugural Cayman Invitational meet at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex on Wednesday 9 May.

Athletes included 100 metres champions Carmelita Jeta and Yohan Blake and other world renowned atheletes such as Chris Brown, Novlene Williams-Mills, Kim Collins and Dylan Armstrong were there too, joining Cayman’s very own track and field superstar, Cydonie Mothersill.

Ms Mothersill won the 200 metres race which took place near the end of the meet, as the crowd roared with cheers and applause. It was her first event of the year, in preparation for the London Olympics.

The event opened with some of Cayman’s youngest athletes. There were two 4 x 100 m primary school relay races, one for girls and one for boys.

The meet was also a chance for some of the best of Cayman’s athletes to gain a place in the spotlight, and the adults’ event began with a National Men’s and National Women’s races. The 100m National women’s race included Amelia Gilespie, Chantelle Morrison, Shala Torres and Hannah Tatum.

The National Mens 100m included Rhymeich Adolphus, David Hamil, Troy Long, Lloyd Barker, Everson Wedderburn, and Demetri Chambers.

During his welcoming address, Hon. Premier McKeeva Bush said: “We, in the Cayman Islands, are proud to welcome you to our first pro-athletic invitational track and field meet.

“I hope this will be the start of a new sporting tradition in these islands, establishing Cayman as an important venue in the world athletics circuit.

“It will, of course, have the added advantage of inspiring our youngsters to get into athletics and then excel in them.”

Minister of Health, Environment, Youth, Sports and Culture the Hon. Mark Scotland said: “Today is indeed an historic day in the athletic history of the Cayman Islands and I would like to first of all offer my congratulations to Cydonie and her team for bringing this meet to fruition.

“We are proud of her career and having long encouraged her to bring such an athletic event here.”

Races featured were the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 1,500m running events and the 100m, 110m and 400m hurdles.

Jamaican runner Yohan Blake won the Men’s 100m dash with a new seasonal best of 9.84 seconds.

Finishing behind Blake were his fellow countryman Michael Frater, with 10.05 seconds and Keston Bledman of Trinidad & Tobago, who crossed the finish line with 10.06.

Former world champion Kim Collins St. Kitts & Nevis was fourth in 10.11, while Kemar Hyman of Grand Cayman ran 10.20 and Kemar Bailey Cole of Jamaica and American Travis Padgett, who both clocked 10.29.

The women’s 100m was won by American world champion and world-leader Carmelita Jeter, at 11.04 seconds, easily beating  Jeneba Tarmoh of USA (11.13) and Muriel Ahoure of Ivory Coast (11.14).

Full results are posted in our Sports section. All photos by Christopher Tobutt except for Dylan Armstrong photo.  Double click on each photo for a larger view.