Lakeisha “Mimi” Warner Taking Her Talents To The Clemson Tigers

June 7, 2016 by
Photo by Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

Photo by Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

By BVI Athletics Association

Merely a year after taking up the 400m Hurdles and winning Carifta Games silver in Grenada earlier this year, multiple National Record holder Lakeisha “Mimi” Warner on Thursday afternoon, signed a letter of intent with the Clemson Tigers.  She will compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Warner, who finished high school running for Cary in North Carolina in 2015, took up the hurdles last spring and less than three months later, finished second in the 300m Hurdles at the State 4A Championships, with a time of 42.51 seconds.

Warner, who also runs the 800m in which she has earned two Carifta Games bronze medals and is coming off anchoring the the Sprint Tech Track Club’s 4×100 and 4x400m Relays to BVI. Jr. National Records last weekend, made her commitment to Clemson after recruiting trips to UNLV, Miami, Illinois and Florida State.

“I rounded it down to UNLV, FSU and Clemson and my final decision is Clemson,” Warner who was flanked by her parents Ashley and Ann Warner said. “I based it off my visits.  When I visited UNLV, I really, really liked the coaches and the coaching staff.  When I visited FSU, it was the same thing – they were on the same level.  I wanted to go to Clemson for a about a year and a half now, but, when I visited, I knew two hours into the visit, I was like ‘this is my school. I really like this.’  The coaching staff is good.  They have good sprints, hurdles and distance so all around they are really good.”

After she returned from Clemson on Tuesday, Warner said she started receiving all kinds of nice messages and got a little confused again. “But then I knew deep down after speaking to my coach, my parents and my sister, that I already knew where I wanted to go and I shouldn’t let everybody confuse me with these nice words, because I just knew,” she said.

Besides sharing relay records, Warner holds BVI National Records in several individual events.  Her 2 minutes 10.92 seconds in the 800m is a youth record; her 10.50.0 in the 3000m has her name etched in the Youth, Junior and Senior records.  She became the territory’s first 400m hurdler to break 60 seconds and landed Carifta Games silver in Grenada with a run of 58.14 seconds.

“Coach Mark Elliot made sure to let me know that I will be doing the 800m, just to get it in my head that I won’t be doing just the 400m hurdles,” she explained.  “I’ll step up to the challenge as I really like the hurdles as my specialty.”

Warner helped the 2013 Medley Relay team to an IAAF World Youth Championships silver medal and has competed in the Youth Olympic Games where she teamed up with several other athletes from around the globe and won gold in the 8x100m relay.

Before taking up her scholarship offer at Clemson where she’s leaning towards forensic science, but is also eyeing physical therapy or psychology, Warner will end her U20 career at the IAAF World Jr. Championships in Poland, during the competition slated for July 19-24.

She joins Chantel Malone, Ashley Kelly and Britney Wattley who attended Texas, Illinois and Morgan State as the fourth BVI athlete to go directly from the territory straight to a Division I institution.

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Sprint Tech Rewrites Jr. Relay Records In Flo Golden South Classic

May 31, 2016 by
Photo by Lindell "Eraser" DeFreitas

Photo by Lindell “Eraser” DeFreitas

By BVI Athletics Association

Led by their Jr. Girls 4 x 400m Relay quartet, Sprint Tech Track Club athletes demolished two Jr. relay records during Saturday’s 41st Flo Golden South Classic in Claremont, Fla., as several athletes also recorded personal bests marks.

The foursome of Judine Lacey, Beyonce DeFreitas, Tarika “Tinker Bell” Moses and Lakeisha “Mimi” Warner, shattered the year-old Classic Division Girls 4 x 400m Relay meet record of 3 minutes 45.92 seconds, with a break away time of 3:41.36. The mark also smashed the eight year-old BVI National Jr. Girls Record of 3:42.73, established by Samantha John, Ashley Kelly, Britney Wattley and Chantel Malone. It’s the second best time on the territory’s All Time List.

That mark came after the quartet of Zacharia Frett, DeFreitas, L’T’Sha Fahie and Warner, finished third in the Classic Girls 4 x 100m Relay in 45.78 seconds, to break the two-year old National Jr. Record of 46.30 seconds, becoming the territory’s ninth squad overall and the first Jr. team to run under 46.00.

The Sprint Tech boys-Rackeel Jack, K’Cei Moses, Valique Graham and Josh Hill-were second in their heat of the Classic Boys 4 x 400m Relay in 3:26.39-the sixth best time of the meet.

In individual events, Warner was the class of the 400m Hurdles field running 59.59 in the prelims and 59.79 to win the Classic Girls final as the only runner under 60 seconds.

After a third place finish in the Classic Girls Long Jump with a 5.76m leap, Fast Lane’s Kala Penn topped the pile in the Triple Jump with a mark of 12.11m on her second attempt, as she put together her most consistent series and had a back up 12.04m mark on her final effort. Sprint Tech’s Arianna Hayde finished 18th with a 4.96m Long Jump effort. She didn’t have a clearance in the High Jump.

L’T’Sha Fahie ran 11.86 seconds to advance to the Classic Girls 100m final where she finished fifth in 12.07.  DeFreitas had a non advancing 12.17 in her heat. In the Boys equivalent, Rikkoi Bratwaithe ran 10.88 seconds to make the final and was sixth in 10.97.

Moses was third in the Girls 200m final with time of 24.27 seconds after running 24.37 for second in the prelims. Frett had a non advancing time of 24.96. K’Cei Moses finished in 22.37 seconds but did not advance to the Boys final.

Lacey ran 56.99 seconds in second to grab and automatic spot in the Classic Girls 400m final where she was fourth in 56.63. Virgin Gorda’s Raw Skillz Track Club’s Shaniyah Caul was also a finalist after running 58.10 and placed eight in the final with 1:00.05.

Fast Lane’s Ronique Todman used a 400m personal best of 48.30 seconds to qualify for the Classic Boys final, where he was fifth in 48.69.

In the Prep Division, Sprint Tech’s Naya Penn won her 100m heat in 13.33 seconds. Fast Lane’s Johnt’a Charles used an 11.25 seconds lifetime best to win the Prep Boys 100m.

Sprint Tech’s Sh’Kaida Lavacia had a career best of effort of 59.37 seconds in the 400m to place third in her heat ahead of teammate Akrisa Eristee’s best effort of 59.49, as they finished fourth and fifth overall respectively.

Hill broke 50.00 seconds for the first time in his history by running 49.55 for second in his heat, the division’s fifth fastest time. Graham recorded a 52.49 time for seventh in his section while Jevon Smith ran 54.10 and Vadley Sylvester finished in 59.87.

Sprint Tech’s Alisha Hayde used her fastest ever run of 2 minutes, 30.76 seconds to finish sixth in the 800m, while Raw Skill’s Mariah Christian was 11th after recording a career best of 2:32.02.

Raw Skill’s Deron Leslie was second in his 800m section with a personal best run of 2:09.76.

Charles ran 22.48 seconds to win his 200m heat. Penn’s 27.15 seconds was good for second in her section of the 200m while teammate Shenique Erickson, was timed in 29.37 seconds in the 200m, placing fifth in her heat.

Filed Under: Athletics

Gumbs Sisters End Jr. College Career With All America Honors

May 26, 2016 by
Photo by Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

Photo by Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

By BVI Athletics Association

Twin sisters and Central Arizona College sophomores Tynelle and Trevia Gumbs, ended their Jr. College career by grabbing All America honors during the National Jr. Colleges Athletics Association Championships in Levelland, Texas.

After Tynelle fouled out in the Hammer Throw where she was ranked No.2 in the event, Trevia used a personal best of 49.51m to place fourth and collected the first of her three All America honors, including the Discus Throw and Shot put.

Tynelle bounced back from her hammer throw foul troubles and placed second in the Discus after a 46.98m effort as Trevia placed sixth with 43.47m and both secured All America.

“I was extremely happy even though I did not go over 50m as I wanted too,” said Tynelle, who has a 47.76 best, adding that she couldn’t find her rhythm in the Hammer Throw. “I’m happy I was able to pull out second place.”

Tynelle placed fourth in the Javelin Throw with a 40.05m effort and Trevia had a season’s best of 14.50m in the Shot Put, good for sixth place.

“I was excited for her because she did better than a lot of girls who were ranked higher than her,” Tynelle said of Trevia. “I was so proud.”

Although they could end up at different schools in the fall, Tynelle said she enjoyed having her twin in Arizona. “It’s always great having my sister there,” she stated. “She’s my biggest motivation and she’s a great competitor too.”

Trevia, who has a 14.83m best, struggled mightily in the Shot Put this season, before throwing over 14.00m for the first time all year in the championships. “I had a season’s best in the Shot and a personal best in the Hammer, but I know there’s way more room for further throws,” she said. “This year has been very rough in the Shot for me. I started getting back in the swing of things two weeks ago and I’m getting back up there with my marks and I know I have a lot left this season.”

Trevia was satisfied with her Hammer Throw personal best. “I know I had a lot more there,” she said. “But, I was content in getting the points for my team and making the finals.”

With their Jr. College career over and not sure they will be at the same school come September, which “would be nice but if we have to go different places that’s fine,” says Tynelle, they’re now turning their attention to regional competitions.

The soon to be 20-year olds, will compete at the July 2-3 OECS Championships on home soil before heading to El Salvador for the July 15-17, NACAC U23 Championships.

“We’re definitely excited for both competitions,” Tynelle said. “We’re not only looking to make the finals, but medaling, especially at NACAC.”

At the same competition held at her school, Taylor Hill helped South Plains College to a 4x100m Relay victory in 45.61 seconds, to earn All America honors, after recording non-advancing times of 12.03 and 25.10 seconds respectively, in the sprints.

Elsewhere, Eldred Henry recorded season’s best of 19.33m in the Shot Put and 55.80m in the Discus Throw, at the Tucson Elite Invitational in Tucson, Arizona.

Filed Under: Athletics

Brunner, Stoby Win Blenheim Trust 5K Series Finale

May 24, 2016 by
Photo by Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

Photo by Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

By BVI Athletics Association

Melissa Brunner and Reuben Stoby closed the Blenheim Trust 5K Series with victories on Saturday. The race started and ended at the A. O. Shirley Grounds.

“It felt amazing and it was a personal record,” Brunner said of her 22 minutes and 10 seconds run. “The training was pretty hard all season and I think the big race in Virgin Gorda last weekend just sort of primed me up for this one. But I was quite shocked when I passed Rose (Johnson) I thought for sure she was going to be on my tail right at the end. Took a few looks back coming down the home stretch and she wasn’t there so I sprinted the last bit just to get my personal best, so I worked out. So, I’m quite pleased.”

Stoby led the field of 41 participants in 18:42 and said he wanted to run sub 17:00. “There was a strong headwind, but definitely after the first mile, I realized Virgin Gorda (Half Marathon) was still in my legs, so I just decided not to push it any harder. And then I was missing Vincent (Fournier). Maye if he was here, he would have been able to pull me through.”

Stoby said he was happy to come out on top to end a tough season where he had his wins and losses.

“It’s always good to end on a winning note and I look forward to what’s to come in the 10K Series,” he said. “It was a good race. The conditions were a bit hot and the sun was out, but I was able to push it through and win fairly easily in the end.”

Final Results: Men. 1. Reuben Stoby, 18 minutes and 42.1 seconds.  2. Julius Farley, 19:11.3.  3. Guy Williamson, 19:43.5. 4. Derek Pettigrew, 20:27.2.  5. Zebalon Mclean, 21:41.5.  6. Adrian Dale, 21:47.1. 7. Guyp Dubois, 21:58.7.  8. Ishwar Persad, 22:09.1. 9. Richard Morgan, 23:11.9.  10. Charles Kerins, 23:33.0.  11. David Pettigrew, 23:48.2. 12. Reu Rhymer, 24:02.3. 13. Viv Paverd, 24:11.7.  14. Claudius Rhymer, 24:38.6. 15. Dennis Versoza, 25:39.0. 16. Dennis Delacruz, 25:53.3. 17. Ruairi Bourke, 27:26.9. 18. Shane Donovan & family, 27:34.7. 19. Laurent Keeble-Buckle, 28:14.1. 20. Chris Conway, 30:35.9. 21. Howard Moore, 30:45.9. 22. Ravenol Santos, 34:54.4.  23. Barry Leon, 36:34.8. 24. Gabriel Obregon, 47:47.9.

Women: 1. Melissa Brunner, 22:10.0.  2. Rosmond Johnson, 22:55.1. 3. Juliane Potgieter, 23:15.2. 4. Saungie Liburd, 24:03.2. 5. Lauren Julien, 24:09.3. 6. Gillian Plaxton, 24:48.5.  7. Philomena ‘Robertson, 25:59.2.  8. Anna Kinkead, 25:59.8. 9. Kay Reddy, 26:08.1. 10. Rhiannon Jones, 26:52.3. 11. Cayley Smit, 27:44.5. 12. Natasha Ruscheinski, 29:14.3. 13. Clair Burke, 30:26.8. 14. Nedy Ador Dionicio, 31:07.1. 15. Roslyn Gilbert, 31:56.4.

Power Walkers: 1.= Shirley Liburd & Corrinne Hearne, 49:50.7

Youth 1 MILE: Boys.  1. Sammy Potgieter, 6:43.44. 2. Charlie Potgieter, 8:29. 3. Sebbie Morgan, 10.02. Girls:  1. Z’Hara McLean 10:04.

800M: 1. James Tucker, 4:11. 2. Xavier Morgan 4:14.

BVI NATIONAL 5K CHAMPIONSHIP

ALLCOMERS  MALE:  REUBEN STOBY   FEMALE: MELISSA BRUNNER

BVI NATIONAL:  MALE FIRST: ZEBALON MCLEAN, SECOND CLAUDIUS RHYMER

FEMALE FIRST: SAUNGIE LIBURD, SECOND ANNA KINKEAD

UNDER 20:      DEREK PETTIGREW

BLENHEIM TRUST 5K SERIES OVERALL

MALE CHAMPION:  REUBEN STOBY, SECOND JULIUS FARLEY, THIRD GUY WILLIAMSON

FEMALE CHAMPION: ROSMOND JOHNSON, SECOND MELISSA BRUNNER, THIRD JULIANNE POTGIETER

YOUTH 1 MILE: Sammy Potgieter, Sebbie Morgan, Charlie Potgieter, Xavier Morgan, James Tucker

MALE AGE GROUPS

Under 15:  Luka Chalwell

Under 20:  Reu Rhymer

M3039:  Guyp Dubois,  Claudius Rhymer, Gabriel Obregon, Richard Morgan, Dennis Versoza, Ravenol Santos, Shane Donovan, Teejay Torres

M4049:  Zebalon McLean, Dennis Delacruz, Martin Trott

M5059:  Adrian Dale, Howard Moore, Barry Leon

M6069:  Jim Cullimore

FEMALE AGE GROUPS

F2029:  Lauren Julien, Saungie Liburd

F3039: Julianne Potgieter, Nedy Ador Dionicio, Claire Santillan, Simpa Ganadillo

F4049: Melisande Rowe, Anna Kinkead, Philomena Robertson, Cayley Smit, Clair Burke

F5059:  Kay Reddy

Filed Under: Athletics Tagged With: ,

Ariyah Smith Paces Youth Championships With Quadruple Victories

May 19, 2016 by
Photo courtesy of Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

Photo courtesy of Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

By BVI Athletics Association

In between a pre-meet shower on Friday and a threat of rain and Saturday’s end the BVI Athletics Association National Youth Championships, which also celebrated the 21st IAAF World Athletics Day, Ariyah Smith led the territory’s top U15 athletes and visiting athletes from St. Croix, with four victories.

Khybah Dawson and A’Sia McMaster pulled off trebles and nine athletes were double winners in the competition that had most of the athletes opting to represent their clubs, with St. Georges and Joyce Samuel the two schools fielding teams.

Smith’s quadruple came in the U13 Girls events with victories in the 200m in 27.64 seconds; a 27.50m Baseball Throw, a 1.25m High Jump clearance and a 4.10m flight in the Long Jump.

Khybah Dawson, after a second place finish in the U13 Boys 100m behind Kyron Walwyn’s 13.17 seconds with 13.34, went on to post his treble with a Long Jump personal best of 4.98m, then tied Sha’el Lavacia’s 1.45m clearance in the High Jump, before wrapping up his winnings with a 27.37 seconds 200m triumph.

A’Sia McMaster secured her U11 Girls triple with narrow sprint victories over Kayla Bratwaithe, 11.86-11.92 seconds in the 100m and 22.73-22.78 in the 150m. She completed her work after cutting the sand at 3.57m in the Long Jump.

Zara Brown, a 2018 Youth Olympic Games prospect, secured an U15 Girls 12.64/26.03 seconds sprint double, while her counterpart Xiomara Malone was second in both sprints in 12.85 and 26.67, before notching her own double of 1.60m in the High Jump and 4.97m in the Long Jump.

Malik Smith sprinted to 11.65 and 23.83 seconds for his U15 Boys double, while Kyle Leader cleared 5.20m in the Long Jump after a 51.30m effort in the Baseball Throw.

Jahtivyah Williams’ U13 Girls double came with triumphs in the 300m in 45.26 seconds and one minute 55.23 seconds in the 600m.

Tiondre Frett topped the U9 Boys sprints, taking the 60m in 9.38 seconds and the 150m in 23.34. Jayla Winter won the same events in the Girls division, with marks of 10.00 and 25.67 seconds respectively.

St. Croix siblings Tyrone and T’Yanna Lake, won two events respectively and grabbed top three finishes in their other events.

Tyrone won the U11 Boys Baseball Throw with a 48.60m effort along with a 1.25m leap to secure the High Jump. He was third behind Kaleem Lettsome in the 80m, which Lettsome won in 11.46 seconds to his 11.51. Lettsome completed his double with a 21.41 seconds run in the 150m, with Tyrone placing second in 21.64. Lettsome, who has never lost a sprint final over the last four years, was second in the Long Jump after cutting the sand at 3.42m. Tyrone had a 3.33m jump in fourth.

T’Yanna who also plays baseball along with her brother, won the U15 Girls Baseball Throw with a 44.44m effort and took the Shot Put with a 5.46m heave. She was third in the Long Jump after a 4.36m leap.

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Fournier Wins Virgin Gorda Half Marathon Battle After Reeling In Stoby

May 17, 2016 by
VGHalfMarathon

Photo courtesy of Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

By BVI Athletics Association

For a moment during Saturday’s 5th Virgin Gorda Half Marathon, Vincent Fournier thought he’d given home turf advantage to Tortola resident Ruben Stoby, who opened a sizeable gap.

“The way this started out, I didn’t think I was going to win it,” said Fournier who covered the 13.1 mile hilly course in 1 hour 35 minutes and 24 seconds, with Stoby another 35 seconds back. “We were head to head then in those hills (going to Nail Bay) he took a big head start and I told myself, ‘alright Vincent, if you follow that pace, you’re going to die in the middle of the race’ so I decided to try and do my own race and, try to catch up when it was flat again. But, he was so far ahead that I didn’t think I’d catch up.”

Fournier said that eventually near the Coppermine Road on the southern end of the island he noticed he was making an inroad into Stoby’s lead, which gave him a big boost.

“Eventually I caught up to him, we ran together until Top of the Baths and I was like alright, I live on this island its time for me to give all I got for the rest and defend home turf and I’m proud,” he said. “Even if I’ve only been here for six months.”

Stoby said it was a good cat and mouse race and after seizing the lead, he thought Fournier had fallen off the pace for good.

“I think the mistake I made was not to try to push it from there and I just continued and allowed him to catch me,” Stoby explained, noting he was surprised to see Fournier in Copper Mine. “When I turned around, I saw him right there and for a runner, that can be psychologically challenging. We ran together for a little while, then he made a move just before the turnaround at the Baths and I failed to cover that. But, I’m not too disappointed because he’s a good athlete. I wanted to win, but nevertheless, it’s my second, second. I remember El Garrough (Hachim). He tried for the Olympic gold three times and he was expected to win and he didn’t.  Just like that, I’m going to come back and hopefully win in on the third try.”

Maria Mays, sixth overall was the first woman crossing the line in 1:52.16 and said she was surprised to win after having a bug earlier in the week and she expected to feel awful. “But after the first mile, I didn’t,” she said. “I really wasn’t on form and I thought I wasn’t going to do it then I decided to go out, have fun and and enjoy it. I felt much stronger than I thought I’d be.”

Frequent visitor Ryan Blanchard of Richmond Va., who’s getting married on Virgin Gorda this week, ran the race with his fiancé Andrea Sorlie.

“It was a little hotter than last year I really liked the over cast last year,” he said. “It’s a great race. You can’t beat the views. Whenever your legs start hurting, you just look out-doesn’t take the pain away-but it takes your mind off it.”

He’d hope to finish in under two hours and did 2:13.10 and his fiancé, 2:35.46. “I ran it all last year but I walked up the big hills this time because I knew where they were,” he said.

Native Virgin Gordian Kilen Smith said she had been running two mile races and decided to tackle the 6 Mile Challenge as she’d never run that far before. “It was good,” she said.  After finishing in 1:18.03, before going to play with the Virgin Gorda Eagles in the BVI Volleyball Association championship game.  “I thought it would have been a bit tougher, but for the first time, I think I did good.”

Top Half Marathon Finishers. Men: 1. Vincent Fournier, 1 hour 35 minutes and 24 seconds. 2 Rebuen Stoby, 1:35.59. 3. Guy Williamson, 1:44.49. 4. Jacques Roux, 1:48.08. 5. Rodrigo dos Santos, 1:51.56.Women: Maria Mays, 1:52.16. 2. Melissa Brunner, 2:00.17. 3. Rebecca Paul, 2:01.32. 3. Kim Tackeuchi, 2:10.24. 4. Claudia Ferrari, 2:10.35.5. Mellisende Rowe, 2:12.20.

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Territory’s Best Clashing in National Youth Championships

May 12, 2016 by
Photo courtesy of Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

Photo courtesy of Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

By BVI Athletics Association

The top U15 athletes across the territory have been invited to participate in Friday and Saturday’s BVI Athletics Association National Youth Championships, which will also mark the 21st IAAF World Athletics Day.

The 2-day competition will bring together the best 16 athletes in each event who competed in the 2016 Inter Primary Championships A and B Divisions based on times, as well as U15s from the Elmore Stoutt High School Inter-house Sports Day, Bregado Flax Educational Center and St. Georges among others, all of whom will meet for the first time at the A. O. Shirley Recreation Grounds.

Session I starts at 5 p.m. on Friday and includes the Shot Put, Baseball Throw and the Long Jump among field events. Track events will include prelims of the U9 Boys and Girls 60m dash; U11 Boys and Girls 80m dash and U13 and U15 Boys and Girls 100m as well as the U13 and U15 Boys and Girls 600m and 800m timed finals. Day I concludes with finals in the short sprints.

Saturday’s competition will begin at 3:30 p.m. with the U13 and U15 Boys and Girls Baseball Throw and the U9 and U11 Boys and Girls Long Jump. The U15 Boys and Girls High Jump will start at 5 p.m. Prelims of the U9 and U11 Boys and Girls 150m and the U13 and U15 Boys and Girls 200m will kick off at 4:10 p.m.

Finals of the U13 Girls and Boys 300m and U15 Girls and Boys 400m as well as the short sprints will follow.

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Tynelle Gumbs Dominates Region I Championships

May 12, 2016 by
Photo courtesy of Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

Photo courtesy of Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

By BVI Athletics Association

Central Arizona College sophomore Tynelle Gumbs, systematically dominated the Region I Championships, winning three of the four throws, ahead of the upcoming National Jr. Colleges Athletics Association Championships on May 17-19, at South Plains College, in Levelland, Texas.

Tynelle used a personal best and National Record throw of 47.76m to win the Discus Throw, upping her best from 47.36m. Twin sister Trevia finished second with a mark of 42.08m.

In her final season representing Central Arizona College, Tynelle was coming off winning the Hammer Throw with a 52.21m effort. Trevia missed second place by a centimeter, with her 46,24m toss. Tynelle won her third event of the competition in helping Central to win the title with 309 points, after a season’s best of 40.57m in the Javelin Throw. Trevia produced a season’s best 13.36m mark in the Shot Put to finish third, with Tynelle placing fourth with 12.74m.

“I’m extremely happy about winning three of the four throws, that’s a big accomplishment,” Tynelle said. “I think the biggest thing for the Discus was staying relaxed and listening to my coach, especially when he said ‘push all the way through the Discus.'”

She said she’s feeling good heading into Jr. College Nationals along with her sister. “I’m excited to see what everyone brings to the table, but more excited to see how well I throw,” she stated. “The ultimate aim is to break the Hammer Throw record which is over 60m, so hopefully, that happens.”

St. Augustine Jr. Khari Herbert, tuned up for the upcoming NCAA Division II Championships in Bradenton, Florida, May 26-28, with a season’s best and second place finish in the 400m at the Liberty Invitational. He had a time of 46.63 seconds.

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Penn Relays, Personal Best for BVI Track Athletes

May 3, 2016 by

By BVI Athletics Association

Ashley Kelly, Karene King, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott and Chantel Malone at the Penn Relays. Photo: Provided

Ashley Kelly, Karene King, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott and Chantel Malone at the Penn Relays. Photo: Provided

The British Virgin Islands quartet of Ashley Kelly, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott, Chantel Malone and Karene King, competed at the prestigious Penn Relays in the USA vs the World 4x100m relay on Saturday, April 30. They finished sixth in 44.97 seconds.

At the NTC/Pure Athletics Spring invitational in Clermont, FL, Lakeisha ‘Mimi” Warner was second after chopping her 400m personal best from 55.88 seconds earlier this year to 54.96, becoming the seventh BVI female athlete under 55.00 seconds in the process. Judine Lacey was fourth in the same heat in 57.46.

Tarika ‘Tinker Bell’ Moses won section 4 of her 200m heat in a personal best of 24.14 seconds, while Jonel Lacey lowered her three-year old best from 24.68 to 24.20, to finish fourth in section three. Warner and Moses qualified for the July 19-24, IAAF World Jr. Championships in a second event, with their respective marks. Warner’s 58.14 seconds at the Carifta Games qualified her in the 400m Hurdles, while Moses’ 53.72 in the 400m, also came at Carifta. Both of their Carifta marks were personal bests.

At the Sunshine Invitational Sprint meet in Miami’s Tropical Park on May 2, Moses followed up her 200m personal record by shaving .06 off her 400m best in winning the event in 53.66 seconds. Jonel Lacey became the eighth BVI female under 55.00, when she obliterated her 55.78 personal best from earlier this season with 54.76.

Harrigan-Scott used a windy 11.28 to win the 100m final, after advancing with 11.55. King who did not contest the 100m final after a seasons best 11.64, won the 200m in 23.61.

Warner ran 2 minutes 13.27 seconds to win the 800m.

Adaejah Hodge qualified for the Georgia State Championships after excellent showing in the Smyrna District Championships. After stumbling out the blocks, she won the 100m in 14.03 seconds, then placed second in the 200m in 28.32 seconds and leapt 12’11” a mark good for second in the Long Jump. The state championships will be held on May 14.

Twins and Central Arizona sophomores Trevia and Tynelle Gumbs, are competing in the Region One Championships, May 3 – 5.

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Stoby, Mays tune up for Virgin Gorda Half Marathon with victories

May 2, 2016 by

By BVI Athletics Association

Runners take off on the second half of the Virgin Gorda Half Marathon course during Saturday's Dive BVI 10K series finale, which was a tune up for the event. Photo: Todd VanSickle

Runners take off on the second half of the Virgin Gorda Half Marathon course during Saturday’s Dive BVI 10K series finale, which was a tune up for the event. Photo: Todd VanSickle

Reuben Stoby and Maria Mays were the top male and female finishers in the Dive BVI 10k Series finale of May 1- the final tune up for the 5th annual Virgin Gorda Half Marathon and Six Miles Challenge which will take place on May 14.

Stoby led the field that included 18 participants from Tortola out of the 38 on the second segment of the course in the Valley. Running along the route with vistas of the historic Copper Mine and the world renowned Baths and scenic views of the outer islands, St. John and Tortola, Stoby finished in 41 minutes and 53 seconds. Mays, the top woman covered the course in 47:41.

“I think my time is pretty decent,” said Stoby who had Guy Williamson breathing down his neck last year when he ran 40:19 and Williamson, 40:59. “But, I’m happy with the time ahead of the Half Marathon.”

Stoby who ran 46:14 over the first half of the course – including the first six miles up to Nail Bay two weeks ago – said both races were important in his preparations for the May 14 race.

“Definitely, to re-familiarize yourself with the course as I did last year as well, but, thanks to the 5k series as well, that has been helping me to get in shape as well,” he noted. “But, it hasn’t been anything too special leading up to the Half Marathon.”

Mays said that in the first tune up on April 11, she was looking at it as preparation for the Tortola Torture and not the Virgin Gorda Half Marathon and six Miles Challenge. “That was the big scary thing in the way that I couldn’t see past, but this race today, like Reuben said, it was great to see the course again,” she said. “It’s just fantastic coming to Virgin Gorda. It’s three or so weeks between them (Tortola Torture and Virgin Gorda Half Marathon) so this race was really important to keep on the game.”

With so many races on Tortola and Virgin Gorda to choose from, staying healthy is everyone’s goal. Stoby, however, runs in all of them. “I know when to push and when not to, but, it’s wonderful just to be running and keeping fit all the time,” he pointed out.

Mays on the other hand, described herself as ‘pathetic’ and not really competitive. “I wish I was, but, I always just think ‘I’ll do it and see how I do’ and then 3/4s  of the way, ‘maybe I can do this’, so I’m trying to find that little element. I think Reuben’s got it.”

Final results:

Male: Reuben Stoby, 41 minutes and 53 seconds. 2.  Julius Farley, 43:28. 3.  Curwin Andrews, 48:47. 4. Brian Davis, 50:21. 5. Adrian Dale, 51:32. 6.  Zebalon McClean, 52:35. 7.  Ishwar Persaud, 52:59. 8. Gabriel Obregon, 55 :05. 9. Marlon Felix, 55:29. 10.  Gus Faller, 56:41. 11. Patrick Ormond, 56:47. 12. Mahinda Ratnayake, 58:24. 13. Dennis Versoza, 59:53. 14.   Aaron Gardner, 1:00.11. 15. Damien Parry, 1:02.31. 16. Teejay Torres, 1:05.37.  17. Andy Miller,  1:13.55. 18. Dan Starling, 1:17.59.

Female: 1. Maria Mays, 47:41. 2. Melissa Brunner, 51:40. 3. Kim Takeuchi, 54:11. 4. Katleen Brownsdon, 55:02. 5. Rosmond Johnson, 55:05. 6. Katie Goodwin, 56:41. 7.  Josie Ratnayake, 58:24. 8. Becca Knight, 58:45. 9. Kay Reddy, 1:00.10. 10. Lucy Smith, 1:01.18. 11. Lindsay Fogarty, 1:05:01. 12. Sara Mc 1:06.34. 13. Gretel Honis, 1:13:55. 14. Tara Murphy, 1:14.34. 15.  Nedy Ador, 1:14.42. 16. Clair Burke, 1:14.44. 17. Angie Bester, 1:17.59. 19. Chris Yates, 1:29.44.

DNF: Emily Drinkwater & Brendan O’Reilly.

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