Recapping the Thrills and Triumphs of the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago
The VII Commonwealth Youth Games, fondly referred to as Trinbago 2023, brought together young athletes from across the Commonwealth for an electrifying showcase of talent. Held in Trinidad and Tobago, these games marked several significant milestones in the careers of so many athletes. Let's dive into the highlights and achievements that made this event truly special.
Originally slated for August 2021, the games had to weather the storm of the global COVID-19 pandemic and navigate scheduling complexities due to the 2020 Summer Olympics and the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Ultimately, the games found their new home from August 4 to 11, 2023. This adjustment only added to the anticipation, making the event a true celebration.
Team BC's Standout Performances
Among the many impressive athletes at the games, Team Canada shone brightly, which included four talented athletes from British Columbia: Alexa Dow, Ryan Lofstrom, Pishon Haughton and Tyler Browne.
Alexa Dow
Alexa Dow, left her mark on the games with a busy schedule that included both the 800m and 1500m events. In the 1500m semifinal, Dow's impressive run secured her a spot in the finals. She crossed the finish line in fifth place with a commendable time of 4:25.38 amongst a strong field, in which the winning time of 4:12.38, ran by Kenya's Nancy Cherop, was a new Commonwealth Youth Games Record. Dow also secured her spot in the final of the 800m, where she again navigated a competitive field to secure a seventh-place finish with a time of 2:09.58. England's Gill Phoebe was the winner in a Commonwealth Youth Games Record of 2:02.30.
Ryan Lofstrom
Ryan Lofstrom, emerged as a Canadian standout in the sprinting events. His journey through the 100m and 200m events was a testament to his dedication, as he had a hectic schedule, making it to the finals in both events. In the 100m, round by round, Lofstrom kept on getting faster. He ran 10.83 in the qualifying rounds, 10.72 in semifinals and ended his 100m campaign with a new personal best of 10.63 seconds in the finals, placing fifth. Transitioning to the 200m, he secured his place in the finals with a quick 21.62 run in the semifinals. Ultimately he finished sixth in a time of 21.99 seconds.
Pishon Haughton
Pishon Haughton, another BC sprint talent, competed in the 400m. Haughton narrowly missed out on the final; he ran a time of 49.75 seconds in the semifinals, placing 11th overall. He later joined forces with fellow athletes in the Canadian Mixed 4x400m relay team, which was made up of himself, Erika Lealess, Jett Hasiuk and Kiara Webb. They easily secured their place in the final by running a time of 3:32.07. In the finals, the squad ran a time of 3:30.04 for an amazing fifth place finish, but it was Team Guyana that took the crown in a new Commonwealth Games Youth Record of 3:22.07.
Tyler Browne
Tyler Browne ventured into the 3000m final against a highly competitive field. He raced against athletes from Kenya, Uganda, Australia, the United Republic of Tanzania, England, Scotland, Zambia and Dominica. In the end, Brown placed 10th, running a time of 9:23.64. This was a great way to end the season, competing for Canada, on top of an already impressive year where he became the Senior Boys 3000m BC High School Track and Field Champion earlier in June.
More to Come
The 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games will be remembered as an amazing stepping stone into the world of international competition for these young athletes. Alexa Dow, Ryan Lofstrom, Pishon Haughton, and Tyler Browne and the rest of Team Canada showcased their talents leaving an indelible mark on this event. We can't wait to see what these athletes achieve next.