NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, APR 5 – APR 11, 2018 | VOL. 15 NO. 14
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GOLDEN TEEN By Daniel Strom
A Jamaican American, South Florida teen has turned the CARIFTA Games upside down and put the eyes of racing on her, after winning triple gold for Jamaica over the Easter Weekend and claiming the standout honor.
Clinton Initiative For The Caribbean Launched In Miami Former US President Bill Clinton formally launched his Clinton Global Initiative Post-Disaster Recovery Action Network for the Caribbean Tuesday at the University of Miami.
Oakland Park Northeast Florida High sophomore, Briana Nichole Williams, running for her parents' homeland of Jamaica at the just concluded 2018 CARIFTA Games in Nassau in the Bahamas, walked away with the three gold medals for her adopted country.
“Words can't express the joy I feel right now. All the work all the doubts all the pain, the pressure, Totally worth it!!!,” – Williams
“I'm thrilled for her,” said Boldon shortly after Williams received her award Monday evening from Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Alexander Minnis. “Last year, she left Carifta with one bronze but we knew we'd be back. She's a different athlete this year - a year older in age, but she's grown as an athlete by leaps and bounds. She's close to world class.” – Bolden
Clinton
Williams won the Girls 100-meter Under-17 Dash in the fastest time for a 16-year-old and also won the 200-m Under-17 dash on Monday, in a time of 23.11. She then helped Jamaica to a gold in the Girl's 4x100 Meter Under-17 Relay on Monday, in a time of 44.95. For her stellar performance, Williams was presented with the Austin Sealy Award, the top honor for any athlete at the Games. The teen is the first Jamaican to win the award since Yohan Blake in 2007. Williams is coached by Ato Boldon, who, was full of praise for the
The initiative, coming just over six months after hurricanes battered many islands in the Caribbean, is aimed at bringing together leaders from across sectors to develop new, specific and measurable plans that will advance the recovery and promote long-term resiliency across the region, according to a statement. Following the devastating hurricanes that tore through the Caribbean region in September 2017, local leaders of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Dominica, and Antigua and Barbuda approached Clinton to help them build back better. The Action Network formally launched with a day-long invitation only event on April 3rd and saw participation from more than 350 leaders, including high-level representatives from government such as Prime Minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit.
continues on A8 – Golden Teen
continues on A7 – Initiative
“Congrats Briana Nichole Williams, triple gold medalist at the Carifta Games in the Bahamas. Team Jamaica Bickle salutes you” – Clare
Briana Williams
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