By BVIAA
With a winning throw of 19.08m, BVI’s Eldred Herny silenced the doubters of his 20.00m effort before the National Jr. College Athletics Association Indoor Championships
British Virgin Islands’ native and Central Arizona College sophomore, Eldred Henry, won the 2015 National Jr. College Athletics Association Indoor Championships Shot Put crown on Friday night, then finished second in the 35-pounds Weight Throw on Saturday, earning All America honors in both events.
Twin sister teammates Trevia and Tynelle Gumbs were second and eight respectively in their Shot Put competition, with Trevia earning All America honors, marking the second time two BVI athletes have earned the feat in any level of Collegiate competition.
On his third throw of the Shot, Henry—who went into the championships as the top seed with a 20.00m mark—hit a 19m measurement for the first time with his 19.08m winner.
“A lot of people hadn’t seen him compete. A lot of people had only seen his 20.00m mark and a lot of people doubted his 20.00m mark,” coach Tony Dougherty noted. “And when he threw 19 as easily as he did it, everybody had to forget about it.”
Henry rose to the occasion again in the Weight Throw—his first season trying the event. Ranked in the top 10 coming in, he unearthed a twirl of 17.97m (58’11½”) to finish second, destroying his previous best of 16.84m (55’3”) in the process.
Dougherty said the Weight Throw isn’t an event Henry practices much but was doing it to get team points to help win the championship. Henry was a little upset Dougherty noted because he had heard too many people didn’t think he had thrown the shot that far and said he’s going to come back and wing the Weight Throw.
“The guy ranked first had over a 20.20m throw but Eldred didn’t care, then had a 17.97m throw—a meter more than his personal best,” Dougherty explained. “On his last throw, he really went after it and he foot fouled. The official didn’t see it, but Eldred being who he is, walked out the front (of the ring) because he knew he had fouled. That throw was almost 19m. So, he almost did what he said he was going to do (win it). I’ve learnt never to doubt him ever because when he puts his mind to it, it can happen.”
Henry has earned three All America honors in his two Jr. College Championships after winning the Discus Throw outdoors last year.
Trevia, who entered the meet ranked No. 2 in the Shot Put, met one of her goals—beating Jamaica’s Glenvieve Grange of New Mexico Jr. College with whom she has battled at the Carifta Games—but had to settle for second with a 14.59m mark behind Iowa Central’s Janeah Stewart’s 14.71 fourth round winner. Grange—who had the top mark entering the meet—placed fourth. Tynelle was eight to score a point with her opening 12.74 effort.
“Trevia had a personal best, but, even that throw came off her hand wrong,” Dougherty noted. “She was having difficulty with the grip of the ball. But, she threw well and competed well.”
In the 20-pounds Weight Throw, Tynelle—who entered the competition in pole position with an 18.14m throw (59’6½”)—was plagued by foul trouble and settled for sixth place with an opening heave of 15.91m (52’2½”)—her lowest mark of the season.
“She couldn’t get a grip on it and hyperventilated twice during the competition,” Dougherty said. “Being ranked first may have put some extra pressure on her—I don’t know—but, it was completely emotional, stress and she didn’t throw well.”
Central Arizona women finished fifth in the championships with 57 points while the men were second with 116.
