Young athletes competing in the CUT trials at the A.O. Shirley Grounds this weekend. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

These two athletes battle it out to the finish line at the CUT Games trials at the weekend. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Malaki A. Smith (yellow top) wins one of the races during the CUT trials 2016. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Whilst the successful athletes will have to wait until Monday June 6, 2016 for the Official announcement, the winners of each event across the age groups should sleep easy as the VI will be able to field a full contingent of 38 competitors as this year and for the second time, the 16th Biennial Caribbean Teachers Union Students’ Track and Field Championship will be held in Road Town, Tortola in the Virgin Islands on the A.O. Shirley Recreation Grounds from July 15 - 16, 2016.

The Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT) Games are a series of events, expected to bring together approximately seven hundred (700) of the best athletes between the ages of 8-15, along with coaches, from twenty three (23) countries in the region, in the spirit of Caribbean unity and friendly competition.

Participation is open to the following CUT member/affiliate countries: Anguilla (AIA) Antigua & Barbuda (ANT) Haiti (HAI) Bahamas (BAH) Jamaica (JAM) Barbados (BAR) Martinique (MRT) Belize (BIZ) Montserrat (MNT) Bermuda (BER) Nevis (NEV) [British] Virgin Islands (IVB) Host St Croix (STX) Cayman Islands (CAY) St Kitts (SKN Dominica (DMA) St Lucia (LCA) Grenada (GRN) St Maarten (SXM) Guadeloupe (GDL) St Vincent and the Grenadines (VIN) Guyana (GUY) Trinidad & Tobago (TRI).

The Opening Ceremony of the 16th Biennial Caribbean Teachers Union Students Track and Field Championship is planned for Friday July 15, 2016 at 10:00 am on the A.O. Shirley Recreation Grounds. The Closing Ceremony will take place after the last event on Day 2.

There will be a Closing Party for all athletes and delegates at the Games Village on Saturday, July 16, 2016. And the BVITU will host a Cultural Evening at the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park on Thursday July 14, 2016 at 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm for all delegation.

The CUT Track and Field Championships was a result of the CUT's recognition of the need to provide the young athletes aged 8-15 years with some regional competition. The Caribbean Union of Teachers Biennial Track and Field Championships were first organised in Barbados in 1986. The participating countries at the inaugural Meet were Anguilla, Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Grenada, Guyana, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and host, Barbados.

They competed for the Jean Perisco Trophy. Barbados made capital of the fact that they were at home and won the Championships.