Makayla Cupid of Zenith Athletics Club and Concorde’s Michael Paul are among eight athletes who will be representing T&T at the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Age-Group Championships in Santiago, Dominican Republic on July 15-16.

Cupid and her Zenith clubmate La’Shiya Biggart will be competing in the girls’ Under-15 pentathlon. Cupid won the event with 3,418 points at the NACAC Trials at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, Tobago from June 2-4, ahead of Biggart (3,387).

The Spring Garden resident earned her second national selection for the year after she was a member of the T&T contingent to the Carifta Games in the Bahamas in April.

Paul and Aaron Radgman of Zenith are the local competitors in the boys’ U-15 heptathlon. At the Trials, Paul prevailed with 4,695 with Radgman in second (4,679). Paul had qualified to compete at the 2021 edition of the meet but the National Association of Athletics Administrations of T&T (NAAATT) opted not to send a team citing travel and logistical challenges.

Daija Reid (Zenith) and Ryanna Regis (Mercury) secured their spots in the girls’ U-13 pentathlon after Reid won the Trials (2,411) with Regis in the runner-up spot (2,126).

Kevin Henry (Rss Phoenix) and Jafari Edwards (Mercury) will wear the national colours in the boys’ U-13 pentathlon. Henry was first at the trials (2,551) ahead of Edwards (2,544).

Seven of the eight athletes are from Tobago. Paul is from Trinidad.

Coach of Zenith Kelsey Toussaint-Reid, Mercury head coach Soren Bishops, along with Shaun Stuart (coach of Burnley) are the team coaches. NAAATT assistant general secretary Michelle Stoute-Lopez is the team manager. No medical personnel has been named to accompany the young athletes. The team held its lone training session at the Dwight Yorke Stadium on Monday.

The national contingent is set to depart for the Dominican Republic on July 11 for a training camp on July 12-13.