Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago Relays Eyeing Rio in 2nd OECS Championships

June 30, 2016 by
Antigua & Barbuda's Chavaughn Walsh passes to Daniel "Bagga" Bailey. PHOTO: Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

Antigua & Barbuda’s Chavaughn Walsh passes to Daniel “Bagga” Bailey. PHOTO: Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

By BVI Athletics Assocation

With the addition of Trinidad and Tobago’s Women’s 4 x 400m Relay added to the 2nd OECS Championships line up as they seek to qualify for Rio, BVI Athletics Association officials are now expecting 185 visiting athletes and officials for the 2 day competition on Saturday and Sunday.

With the July 11 window for qualifying for the Olympic Games in Rio closing, the competition has become a last chance qualifier for Rio, with a mouth watering display of talent at the A. O. Shirley Grounds.

In all, all 9 OECS Countries-Anguilla, St. Kitts-Nevis, Montserrat, Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Grenada and hosts BVI-will be joined by non OECS Members, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago, making it the meet the biggest to ever be staged in the BVI.

On a program already filled with hot action, Saturday’s 4x100m Relays are sure to be barn burners when Rio qualifiers Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts-Nevis and Barbados men line up on Big Blue, with all three teams having run under 38.68 seconds.

St. Kitts-Nevis which is among the eight teams automatically qualified for Rio by virtue of a finals berth in the IAAF World Relays last year, will bring their 38.76 average from two races into the completion. Antigua and Barbuda already assured a spot in Rio with their 38.07 average is ranked as the #10 team heading into Rio.

Barbados at #17 with their 38.60 average will need a time of 38.59 seconds to bump Cuba from the #16 sport and book their ticket to Rio.

Saturday’s Women’s 4 x 100m Relay will be no less appealing with Puerto Rico, St. Kitts-Nevis and the BVI as the headliners. Puerto Rico with their 43.53 seconds average is the #16 team in the rankings and will be seeking to hold on to that sport for Rio. The BVI who will bring a 44.05 seconds time into the field will be joined by OECS record holders St. Kitts-Nevis.

With Trinidad and Tobago needing a time of 3 minutes 28.63 seconds to qualify, the Women’s 4 x 400m on Sunday evening will definitely see the 20-year old All Comers Record record of 3:45.12 established by a St. Kitts-Nevis quartet going out the window.

The Trini’s will be looking to move from #20 to #16 for a spot in Rio and comes into the competition with their 3:32.25 average from a year ago. They will certainly get competition from Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and hosts BVI and if Puerto Rico enters, it makes it another track burner.

Opening ceremonies are set for 3 p.m. on Saturday with action kicking off a 4 p.m. and at 4 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children and the limited VIP red seats for $15.

Filed Under: Athletics Tagged With:

Strong Fields Set To Compete In 2nd OECS Championships

June 23, 2016 by
Grenada's Lindon Victor, 2016 NCAA Division I Decathlon champion has qualified for Rio & is ranked #8 on the IAAF list

Grenada’s Lindon Victor, 2016 NCAA Division I Decathlon champion

By BVI Athletics Association

Organizers are expecting 150 visiting athletes and officials for the 2nd OECS Track and Field Championships scheduled for Tortola on July 2-3, at the A. O. Shirley Grounds, with non OECS member Puerto Rico’s Women’s 4x100m Relay team seeking to solidify their #16 ranking for the Rio Olympic Games.

The Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago, have also shown interest, with the Bahamas looking at its Women and Men’s 4x100m and Women’s 4x400m and Trinidad and Tobago’s Women’s 4x400m Relay squad.

The meet, which will be the final opportunity to qualify for the Rio Olympic Games for the region’s athletes will also be a tune up for the July 15-17 NACAC U23 Championships in El Salvador and the IAAF World Jr. Championships in Poland, will also showcase more than a dozen Olympic Games qualifiers.

Teams from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts-Nevis, Montserrat, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and host BVI, will be battling for the overall team title. There will also be a women and men’s title at stake.

Grenada will feature 2016 NCAA Decathlon Champion Lindon Victor along with his brother Kurt Felix-the 2012 NCAA Decathlon champion-competing in individual events. Both have qualified for Rio with Victor ranked at No. 8 with 8446 points and Felix at No. 13 with 8302. Their lineup also included Carifta Games Javelin Throw Record holder Anderson Peters-who broke 2012 Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott’s meet record with a heave of 78.28m on his home soil in March. Female equivalent Candesha Scott who threw the spear 51.13m, will be trying to improve her mark.

The women’s High Jump will feature the St. Lucian pair of Jeanelle Schepper and Levern Spencer-both currently ranked among the top 15 jumpers in the world-with marks of 1.96 and 1.95m respectively. They will be joined by Antigua and Barbuda’s Priscilla Frederick who had a 1.91m best.

The meet’s Most Outstanding Male Athlete will walk off with the Joseph “Reds” Perreira Award, named in honor to the founder of the OECS Championships while the Female Athlete of the Meet will take home the Veda Bruno-Victor award, in honor of the longtime regional administrator.

St. Kitts-Nevis 10.03/20.41 Olympic sprinter Antoine Adams, and his 4x100m Rio bound relay teammates, will lead their squad that also includes OECS Record holder Tameka who has a 23.05 seconds 200m season’s best. Adams will find Antigua and Barbuda’s Daniel Bailey with a 10.09 season best and Montserrat’s Julius Morris, an NCAA 200m semifinalist with a 20.52 best this season will set up the sprinting fire works.

Dominica’s Dillon Simon and the BVI’s Eldred Henry will do tango in the Shot Put, where the strong men have seasons bests of 19.18m and 19.39m respectively.

Tahesia Harrigan-Scott-coming off a season’s best of 23.24 seconds in the 200m victory in Belgium and 11.39 seconds in the 100m and Ashley Kelly who has a 23.17 seconds 200m time this season, will lead the BVI sprint corps. Chantel Malone will lead the female field events charge in the Long Jump, after a 6.48m victory in California last weekend and has a 6.66m seasons best.

Harrigan-Scott, Kelly, Malone and Karene King, will seek to improve on their 44.05 seconds time against the Puerto Rican quartet of Beatrice Cruz, Genoiska Cancel Celiangely Morales and Carol Rodriguez, will seek to match their 43.55 seconds run in Rio last month.

Many of the OECS Championships Meet Records are expected to be destroyed as well as several BVI All Comers Records.

Filed Under: Athletics Tagged With:

Farley Upsets Stoby In Ceres Juices 10k Series Opener

June 14, 2016 by

By BVI Athletics Association

Julius Farley breaks the tape in winning the Ceres Juices 10K Series opener. PHOTO: Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

Julius Farley breaks the tape in winning the Ceres Juices 10K Series opener. Photo: Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

When he entered the A. O. Shirley Grounds after a see saw battle through the streets of Road Town, Julius Farley kept looking back, just incase he had to dig a little deeper. It wasn’t necessary as he had created enough separation between himself and challenger Reuben Stoby, to break the tape in Saturday’s Ceres Juices 10K Series Opener in 39 minutes and 24 seconds-much to his surprise-for his first victory of the season over his rival, who had been dominating the road racing scene.

“I just tried to run my race and ended up squeezing out a victory so I just want to give thanks to the creator for giving me the strength and the endurance that I could have been able to push on through,” said Farley who began challenging Stoby one mile into the 6.2 miles race. “I saw that he made several attempts (to break away) but I just managed to pick it up when I saw him coming, so I was able to make it through.”

Stoby congratulated Farley on running a steady race. “He ran a very good race and was steady in his pace and 39, I think this is the first time anyone has run under 40 on this course-it’s a tough course bearing in mind the heat at well,” said Stoby who finished in 39:38. “I have to give it to him. He came out very strong today. I tried to keep up hoping to hold on to the finish waiting to see what I had in the legs for a kick, but it didn’t happen. I wasn’t feeling so strong so I allowed him to set the pace and he went a little faster than I anticipated, so congratulations to Julius.”

Maria Mays won the women’s division in 45:41. “It’s the first 10K race I’ve done in ages so I’m delighted to be running it again and even more delighted to have won it,” Mays said. “I was really pleased with the Virgin Gorda 10Ks -I won both of those- and the Half Marathon, so I know that I was on reasonable form. But, you just never know.”

Final results
Men:
1. Julius Farley, 39 minutes and 24 seconds.  2. Reuben Stoby, 39:38. 3. Guy Williamson, 43:33.  4. Adrian Dale, 46:46.  5. Zebalon Mclean, 47:18.  6. Dan Mitchell, 47:35.  7. Guyp Dubois, 48:39.  8. Shane Donovan, 49:41.  9. Owen Walker, 51:41. 10. Charles Kerins, 52:33. 11. Aaron Gardner, 52:52.  12. Dennis Versoza, 53:55. 13. Simen Malmin, 54:29. 14. James Drury, 54:32.  15. William Hare, 55:48.  16. Claudius Rhymer, 56:12.  17. Gary Salter,57:28. 18. Sergio Dantas, 58:06. 19. Ruairi Bourke, 59:44. 20. Gabriel Obregon, 1:00:58.  21. Dennis Delacruz, 1:01:20.  22. Laurent Keeble-Buckle, 1:03:05. 23. Luke Plummer, 1:04:22.  24. Howard Moore, 1:07:26. 25. Nik Fox, 1:11:39.  26. Jim Cullimore, 1:16:45.

Women:
1. Maria Mays, 45:41.2.  Melissa Brunner, 47:47.  3. Claudia Ferrari, 52:24.  4. Rosmond  Johnson 52.47.  5.  Melisande Rowe, 53:15. 6. Lauren Julien, 55:34. 7. Saungie Liburd, 56:35.  8. Cayley Smit, 58:27. 9. Philomena Robertson, 59:18. 10. Debbie Bell, 59:57. 11. Karrina Stead, 1:03:17. 12. Vanessa King, 1:03:45. 13. Nedy Ador Dionicio, 1:10:52. 14. Claire Santillan, 1:14:30. 15. Simpa Ganadillo, 1:16:00. 16. Roslyn Gilbert.

Power Walkers: 1.= Sophie Bennett, Peter Reichenstein. 1:43:00. 3.= Linda Li, Sylvie Hune, Guy Hune, 1:43:40. 2-Mile Assault Course, 1. Clair Burke, 20.00.

4-Mile Course: 1. Olwyn Barry, 40:06. 2. Brandon Menton, 40.10.  2. Barry Leon, 1:00:01.

Youth One Mile: Girls: 1. Z’Hara McLean, 12:19.  2.  Ava Ghiorse, 12:50.

Boys: 1. Eli Ghiorse, 7.00. (400m)

Filed Under: Athletics Tagged With: , , ,

CERES 10K Series to kick off June 11

June 8, 2016 by

By VINO

CERES 10K Series kicks off this Saturday June 11, 2016. Photo: Dean 'The Sportsman' Greenaway

CERES 10K Series kicks off this Saturday June 11, 2016. Photo: Dean ‘The Sportsman’ Greenaway

After more than two weeks of rest, road runners will lace up their shoes this Saturday June 11, 2016 when the CERES 10K Series kicks off.

The first race of the 5-race series will take runners on the City Circuit, a tour of Road Town.

The race will start and finish on the Mondo track of the AO Shirley Recreation Grounds.

According to race coordinator Kay Reddy, there will be a 4 mile option for those wishing to “build from their 5k success but not ready to ramp up to 10k, and a 1 mile youth option.”

Short distance runners can make a series but are not eligible for overall awards.

The races start at 6.30am prompt and Reddy is encouraging athletes to arrive early to register from 6.00am and warm up.

The defending champions of the Ceres 10K Series are Reuben J. A. Stoby and Rosmond Johnson.

The CERES 10K Series is sponsored by CERES Juices and NIAGARA WATER

The series race dates are:
June 11, 2016                 City Circuit 10k
July 2, 2016                    Beef Island Beach Bash and Summer sizzle
September 10, 2016      Carrot Bay X10k
October 8, 2016             TBD  (Trellis Bay Criterium)
November 19, 2016       Watering Hole grand finale, Half Marathon warm up

Best 3 races comprise a series and awards will be given for the top 3 male and female overall and for all series finishers.

Filed Under: Athletics Tagged With:

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.

Filed Under: Athletics Tagged With:

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.

Filed Under: Athletics Tagged With:

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.

Filed Under: Athletics Tagged With: , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »