If you were walking the streets of Belize City this evening you may have seen the motorcade for 14-year-old CARIFTA Gold Medalist Demetrie Meyers.
Meyers is back in Belize for the weekend after victories in the U-17 3,000 meters, and the boys 1,500 meters in the Bahamas.
The Belizean citizen who's a resident of New Jersey seemed like he was still running the victory laps when we caught up with him at the airport today, beaming with pride over the three gold medals on his chest but speaking with humility about wanting more Belizeans to medal at CARIFTA next year.
Here's more:
Demetrie Meyers, Gold Medalist, CARIFTA GAMES
"I feel amazing, It's really an honour to be representing, not only Belize but representing the people of Belize and it's, I feel really proud of myself and I feel like I honour Belize really well but I have more to come next year."
"I don't want to say it's too heavy for me to handle because it's not just for me, it's for the country of Belize and I'm really happy to have this opportunity to wear not just two but their medals, I think it's an honour."
"I accomplished a lot but I know that I have more in me and next year is going to be not only me medalling hopefully but a bunch of people medalling and that Belize will be here to stay for the CARIFTA games."
"I didn't expect the Minister to come and see me, my dad was talking about a lot of the people are gonna come see me, half of the country but I didn't expect this many."
"I've been training since I was in the fourth grade but for this, I haven't been training that long because I did cross country then I did endurance in my first outdoor meet so it's just been a little bit of speed work and then come here and medal."
"I'm only one of his children, he has many more and I think he really appreciates it that I got two gold medals but I think he knows that my other siblings can do the same thing."
"My Dad has said before that out of all his cousins he was the least talented so I think that there is much more talent in Belize just sitting here not being used and if we use it properly there is a lot more greatness to come."
"Hopefully I can break two CARIFTA records in the 15 and 3000 meters and not only my siblings but more people from Belize can medal at the CARIFTA games."
Cherisse Halsall:
"Any hopes for the Olympics and what would you say to young kids hoping to win a gold medal one day?"
Demetrie Meyers, Gold Medalist, CARIFTA GAMES
"You just have to keep on going, I don't plan on just the Olympics yet, I plan at CARIFTA then U-20 at CARIFTA, and then hopefully the Olympics, hopefully, that is a dream to come."
Meyers will run 1500 meters at the Belize nationals this weekend.
