The CARIFTA Games are almost here and Cayman’s best teenage athletes will get a chance to showcase their talents.

One of them is specialist jumper Travis Webb, 17, whose slight frame belies his ability to leap far and high.

He is a medal favourite at the CARIFTA Games at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex from 3-5 April.  

From his primary school days, Webb has shown a tremendous gift as a natural athlete. Tall and rangy, he is blessed with immense athletic potential and ability.

He opened his international account with a third place finish in the Under-13 high jump at the Caribbean Union of Teachers Championships in Jamaica.

This was followed by another bronze medal placing in the U-14 high jump at the Central American Caribbean Age Group Championships in 2005.

In 2006 he returned to the CUT Championships in St. Lucia where he won silver the U-15 long jump and a bronze medal in the high jump.

Webb made his CARIFTA debut at the 2007 Games in Turks & Caicos. He competed in both the U-17 jumps but was outclassed by his older rivals.

He put that behind him in 2008 where in one of the most closely fought duels between the top four competitors he emerged with the bronze in the U-17 high jump and narrowly missed a medal in the long jump.

His medal at the 2008 Games was Cayman’s only one at that year’s Championships. He went on to represent Cayman at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games where he was a finalist in both jumps.

Last year was disappointing for Webb as he failed to impress at the CARIFTA Games in St. Lucia as well as at the World Youth Championships.

If the results were disappointing his change of attitude was enthralling. The World Youth Championships revealed to him that his natural ability was insufficient to guarantee him success on the international scene.

It dawned on him that his training regime had to undergo a fundamental revamping.

A newer, harder working, less complacent Webb has emerged and for the 2010 Games over the Easter weekend he has shown qualities of leadership, drive and commitment that have far surpassed the expectations of most who have watched his development from his primary school years.

At the CARIFTAs his maturity should put him in the thick of the medal hunt in the U-20 long and high jumps should injury not be a problem.