Nature Isle Athletes Head to Mexico for NACAC U18 & U23 Championships

Three of Dominica's emerging track and field athletes will represent the Nature Isle at the NACAC U18 & U23 Championships in Tlaxcala, Mexico, from July 10–12, 2026.

The Dominica Athletics Association has selected Keyoni Esprit to compete in the U18 Boys' 100 metres, Kerelle Etienne in the U23 Women's 100 metres, and Addison James in the U23 Men's Javelin Throw.

The championships will bring together leading young athletes from North America, Central America and the Caribbean, providing the Dominican competitors with an important opportunity to gain international experience, test themselves against high-level opposition and build greater visibility.

For young athletes from small island nations, participation at this level can play a significant role in their development. International competition allows athletes to experience the demands of championship environments, measure their performances against regional standards and build competitive profiles that can support future opportunities in university athletics, scholarships, specialised training programmes and higher levels of competition.

Dominica has already demonstrated its ability to reach the podium at the U23 level. At the 2023 NACAC U23 Championships in San José, Costa Rica, middle-distance athlete Dennick Luke earned a bronze medal in the men's 800 metres.

Luke's achievement was an important milestone for Dominica and provides a strong example of the wider pathway available to Caribbean student-athletes. He has continued to combine sport and education and is now studying International Relations at The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, while pursuing his development as an athlete.

His journey demonstrates why access to regional and international competition matters. A championship appearance is not only about the result on the day; it can help an athlete gain experience, strengthen confidence, build a recognised performance record and create connections to future educational and sporting opportunities.

Dominica's participation also provides international exposure for the country itself. Every time an athlete competes under the Dominican flag, the Nature Isle is presented to new audiences. Athletes can become powerful national ambassadors, using their performances and personal journeys to showcase Dominica as a country of talent, resilience and ambition.

The Dominican delegation will be supported by Dominica Athletics Association President and Organizational Delegate Brendan Williams, Coach Joel Hamilton, and DAA Secretary and Team Manager Phillip White.

The Dominica Olympic Committee has provided financial support for the team's participation, highlighting the importance of continued investment in opportunities that allow young athletes to compete and develop internationally.

As Esprit, Etienne and James prepare to compete in Mexico, they will be looking to perform at their best while gaining experience that can contribute to the next stage of their development.

They also have the opportunity to build on the example set by athletes such as Dennick Luke, whose NACAC bronze medal showed that athletes from the Nature Isle can compete successfully on the continental stage.

For Student Athlete Focus, their participation reinforces an important message: international competition develops athletes, creates exposure, strengthens pathways and can open doors to opportunities beyond sport.

When Dominican athletes step onto the international stage, they are not only competing for themselves. They are carrying the flag, representing the Nature Isle and showing the next generation what is possible.