Although Grenada had produced a 400 m world indoor champion in Alleyne Francique, Bartholomew stated that it was his family that provided him with inspiration to focus on running.

At the CARIFTA Games that year he won the under-20's 400 m title in a personal best time of 46.86 seconds, reached the 200 metres semi-finals and also ran in both the Grenadian relay teams.

[2] He was a 400 m semi-finalist at the 2008 World Junior Championships in Athletics that July,[3] then came sixth over the distance at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games (a race which was won by his younger compatriot Kirani James).

[8] He improved his 400 m best to 45.28 seconds with a win at the Michael Johnson Classic in Waco, Texas and claimed both the individual and relay Junior NCAA titles for South Plains.

[12] He made the event final and finished in sixth place with a time of 45.45 seconds, while Kirani James went on to win Grenada's first ever gold medal at the competition.