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A past medallist at two Carifta events, London-based middle-distance runner Keeran Sriskandarajah is hoping to go out with a bang with a gold medal in his final games when he contests the boys' under-20 800-metre event at the 2025 Carifta Games which are being held at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo from April 19-21.
Sriskandarajah's father is Sri Lankan, while he qualifies to represent Trinidad and Tobago through his Trinidadian mum. The 18-year-old Sriskandarajah has had good success in Carifta, as he copped the under-17 1,500m gold in 2022, to go along with a silver medal in the 800m. He then skipped the 2023 games due to his studies, but returned last year in Grenada to capture a bronze in the under-20 800m.
This year, competing on home soil, Sriskandarajah has golden thoughts.
"Over the years, my Carifta experience has been quite strong. It's probably my favourite and most important meet of the year. Last year, I was quite happy with the bronze, especially coming off of high expectations from Jamaica in 2022," Sriskandarajah told Newsday, during the TT team's training session at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on April 16.
"I was looking for the gold (last year). Getting the bronze was good, but you always want better. And obviously, I'm looking to the best in front of the home crowd and do better here. I'm looking for the gold this year."
[caption id="attachment_1149997" align="alignnone" width="1024"] TT's athletes warm up ahead of training at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, on April 16. The athletes are preparing for the Carifta Athletics Championships, which begin at the same venue on April 19. - Photo by Angelo Marcelle[/caption]
It's an intriguing period for Sriskandarajah, who said competing on the track helps him with his allround balance even as he completes his final year of school at Cardinal Vaughan Memorial.
"Train, study and recuperate" is his current motto and he's hoping the hours of hard work can take him to the top of the podium in a few days.
"(It's) my last year in Carifta and I'll be in front of the home crowd with nothing to lose. I've just got to go out there and do my best."
At last year's games, TT captured 27 medals which placed them third in the final standings behind Jamaica (83 medals) and Bahamas (36 medals). Meanwhile, TT bagged 22 medals in 2023 and 23 at the 2022 edition when Sriskandarajah got that golden taste for the first time.
With TT's record haul of 40 medals coming in 2010 with a team which featured stars such as Michelle-Lee Ahye, Machel Cedenio and Jehue Gordon, Sriskandarajah believes the 78-member team for the 2025 games has the ability to go a step further.
"I think we have a really strong team this year. A lot of people are coming back this year...we've done well in the past and we want to one-up ourselves. We want to come back stronger. I think a lot of people here are coming for vengeance," he said.
"I think we could go for the record. Previously, 40 medals was our best. I think we can go for that again. I think it's possible, so I'll say 42 medals.
"The new people who are joining are stronger than ever. It's the biggest team we have had. I'm not saying size necessarily means we have the best team, but just from the training now, you can tell it's going to be a strong team and a strong year."
On a personal note, Sriskandarajah said he hopes the Carifta experience can take both he and his peers to greater heights on the international level as they transition to the senior level.
"It's obviously a big step forward, but having games like these are really important in building up to the next step. It's great to see so many young people here and they're going to be put on the right path towards the future with World Championships, Commonwealth Games and Olympics, hopefully. That's also my aim and I hope to get that."
 
The post Bronze not enough; Keeran Sriskandarajah eyes golden Carifta send-off appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.