SXMElections.com

St. Maarten – Shakeba Pink wrote her name boldly in the sporting books of Country St. Maarten when she won a Silver medal at the 44th Annual Carifta Games which took place in St. Kitts over the Easter weekend.

Pink, the leading middle distance runner on the island, follows the footsteps of Claude Paul, a former member of the Lab Sports Academy who was also the first male runner to medal at the same event several years ago under the Netherlands Antilles. Ironically, this is Pink’s second time at the Carifta Games, she was unable to secure a place on the podium in her first outing, but this time, she did it and that is a plus for St Maarten. Now at age 15, she still has two more chances to compete at that level and with the right training, she can get Gold.

Pink, a member of the Dynamics Track Club was the only female member on the St. Maarten delegation which was spearheaded by the President of the St.Maarten Amateur Athletic Association, Les Brown to the games.

She recorded a time of 10.32.72 and placed second in the 3000meters event behind Mary Fraser from Barbados who had a time of 10.2791 and in the third spot was Elizabeth Williams also from Barbados with a time of 10.33.45. She also placed 4th in the 1500m race.

Minister of Tourism and Economic Affairs Claret Connor along with several members of the Dynamics Track Club, members of her extended family, her proud sponsor from the Guardian group and close friends were on hand to greet the delegation shortly after the entered the arrival hall at the Princess Juliana International Airport last night. “What she did for this country in the field of athletics puts us on the MAP and I would like to congratulate not only her but the entire team for being able to participate. I also want to thank every one that takes care of these youngsters for their commitment and dedication to developing them to be world class athletes. On behalf of the Council of Ministers, I wish them all the best,” Minister Connor stated in his brief remarks to the gathering.

“Pink could have come home with two medals because she ran very good in the 1500, but if she was more competition ready she would have known how to put her strategy together and at least come out with a Bronze,” Brown said. According to Brown, he was hoping that Raymond Rombley would come back with a Gold but that did not happen in the javelin event.

But apart from her parents, sister and brothers, her coach Fontain Fagan was also elated at her accomplishment. “Personally, I think that she did what she wanted to do for a long time, but there is still a lot more in her. We just have to work on her weaknesses and we will get where we have to go, I don’t think that we have arrived yet.” Fagan said.

With the Carifta Games under their belt, the next step is her ability to qualify for the Panam Junior and the World Youth. “She is not too far back because the qualifying time for the World Youth is 9.50 and we have to try to keep her humble but hungry for more success, she has the talent, but she has to know that she can reach further than the Carifta Games.”

This new development comes approximately 100 days after Pink was named the female athlete of 2014 by this newspaper. A clear indication that she merited the accolade that was bestowed upon her after a successful year.