There is much to be done ahead of the 2024 CTFL season, as teams must both cut weak links and draft new talent. Roster changes are bound to have profound impacts on each of the four teams’ performances, but returning athletes will dictate the outcome of the season.

New World Athletics has selected ten athletes that look promising ahead of this season. Some are big names that performed well in the 2023 season, and some flew under the radar but are capable of making waves in their disciplines.

Here is New World Athletics Ones to Watch:

Roxroy Cato

Cato, just two seasons into his CTFL career, is already a staple of the league. The veteran runner has dominated the 400m hurdles the past two seasons and looks likely to continue.

Questions of age

The only Olympian core athlete, Cato came into the league with a pedigree that many athletes did not possess, and he showed why, topping the 400m hurdles in successive seasons.

 Now 36, Cato may not be able to keep up with the times recorded in his prime. Since his personal best of 48.48 in 2014, the Jamaican has seen nearly two seconds added to his mark. Ranked 49th by World Athletics during the 2023 outdoor season, Cato is now 66th.

With many athletes in the CTFL entering their primes, Cato’s dominance may soon be challenged.

Next Season

Despite concerns around Cato slowing down due to age, the veteran still looks poised to finish first in his discipline. Although his times have been on an upward trend, he was able to shave almost two seconds off of his run between the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

Last season, Cato’s best run of 49.04 was three seconds faster than second-placed David Moulongou. The divide between Cato and the rest looks too big to make up in just one year, unless a new runner with a similar mark joins the discipline.

With the sizable gap between Cato and his competition, some might think the veteran would feel comfortable at the top. Four years away from 40, Cato is working hard to lower his times and be the best runner he can be.

The day may come when there is a new CTFL 400m hurdles champion, but for now, it seems the Bears athlete will take the title once again and might even see himself become a back-to-back team MVP.