The 8th CARIFTA Games was held in Kingston, Jamaica on April 20–22, 1979.

Detailed result lists can be found on the "World Junior Athletics History" website.

[1] An unofficial count yields the number of about 183 athletes (131 junior (under-20) and 52 youth (under-17)) from about 14 countries: Antigua and Barbuda (1), Bahamas (36), Bermuda (23), British Virgin Islands (2), Cayman Islands (3), Grenada (3), Guadeloupe (4), Guyana (10), Jamaica (44), Lesser Antilles (1), Martinique (10), Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla (2), Trinidad and Tobago (20).

The Austin Sealy Trophy was awarded to Jon Jones from Jamaica.

[7] Complete results can be found on the "World Junior Athletics History" website.