Sporting siblings in local team for Pan Am games

(CNS): The Cayman Islands Olympic Committee is sending a team of twelve athletes to Guadalajara this month for the XVI Pan American Games which start on 14 October. The Cayman team will feature local swimming, sibling sensations the Frasers along with the long jumping Morgan brothers and will compete in Equestrian, shooting, athletics and swimming.  ThePan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympic Games.  The competition is held between athletes from nations of the Americas, held every four years in the year before the Summer Olympic Games. 

Cayman will be represented on the track anf field by Michael Letterlough in the hammer throw Carl and Carlos Morgan in the long jump, Junior Hines in the 400m hurdles and Jon Rankin – in the 1500m. Meanwhile, in the pool Shane Fraser will compete in the 100m, 200m & 400m Freestyle, 100m & 200m Butterfly and Brett Fraser in the  50m, 100m & 200m Freestyle, 200m Backstroke & 100m Butterfly. Lara Butler will swim the 100m & 200m Butterfly, 200m & 400m Individual Medley and Tori Flowers the 800m Freestyle

Edison McLean and Christopher Jackson will compete in the Trap on the shooting range, while Jessica McTaggart will be in the equestrian ring for the Dressage Individual

Accompanying the athletes will be their technical staff with Bruce Blake heading the team as the Chef de Mission.  The Team Manager for Athletics is Michael Nalty and Athletics Coach is Kenrick Williams.  Bethany Cook will be traveling as Swimming’s Team Manager and Physiotherapist along with Coach Dominic Ross. 

The Team Manager for Equestrian is Mary McTaggart, the Groom is Cristhopher De Lara and Jessica’s horse “Ray of Light” will compete with her in her event.  Shooting will be sending Team Manager Kevin Schirn and the General Team Physiotherapist is Al Bartice.  The CIOC President Donald McLean and Secretary General Carson Ebanks will also be in attendance, along with family and friends of those participating.

The Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) and the Cayman Islands Olympic Fundraising Committee (CIOFC) aided the CIOC in funding the participation in these games, assisting in the cost of accommodation, airfare, outfitting the team and Games pins.

The pins for the XVI Pan American Games were designed by local artist Jamie Doak and have been given to the delegation to distribute while in Guadalajara.  The CIOC has held on to a few extra, please contact the CIOC if you are interested in purchasing any for yourself.

For more information about the games visit www.guadalajara2011.org

To see more about Cayman’s athletes visit the Cayman-Islands-Olympic-Committee- Facebook Page where there will be updates with results and pictures throughout the participation in these Games: