Farley & Ferrari win Ceres Juices 10k on Beef Island

October 20, 2015 by
Photo courtesy of Dean Greenaway

Photo courtesy of Dean Greenaway

BY VINO

Julius Farley and Claudia Ferrari were victorious in the return of the Ceres Juices 10K Series tour stop on Beef Island on Saturday October 17, 2015.

Farley, who had been finishing behind Reuben Stoby in the better part of the series, avenged an earlier loss to Guy Williamson in Carrot Bay, by pulling away from his rival on the second of three loops to finish one minute ahead. He cut the tape at 40 minutes and 33 seconds. Williamson was timed in 41:32.

“We did the first lap and a half together and Guy was trailing close behind and then I managed to ease him off a bit and continued,” Farley noted. “I was looking to do about 40 minutes and I’m quite satisfied with 40:33.”

Williamson said he didn’t have the fitness and Farley kept a nice steady pace all the way around. “I tried to stick with it, but I’m happy with my time,” he said. “I did what I could but he pushed a nice pace.”

Ferrari, who is preparing for the November 1 New York Marathon along with four others in the race, was the women’s winner in 53:21 and said she was quite surprised. “I’ve never come first before,” she explained. “I’ve been doing a lot of training. I’m doing the New York Marathon in two weeks. This is good preparation and I’ve done a lot of training so it shows that the preparation pays off.”

The series season finale is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Nov 7 in Road Town. The race will head down to Sea Cows Bay, with a turnaround by the Ellis Thomas Downs. Awards will be doled out following the event.

Meanwhile, Ceres Juices 10K Series winners Reuben Stoby and Rosmond Johnson competed in the NACAC Petit Bourg 10K in Guadeloupe on Saturday October 17, 2015.

Stoby completed the tough looping course in 40:31for a 17th place finish in the race that was won by defending champion Juan Carlos Romero of Mexico in 30: 55. Second was Kenneth Rotich of Kenya and third Keenan Viney of Canada.

Johnson finished in 52:37 for 13th in the women’s category. That race was won by Laura Batterink of Canada who set a new course record of 35:38 Second was Tonya Nero of Trinidad and Tobago and third Linda McDowell of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The race attracted 223 athletes.

Final results for Ceres Juices 10K race on October 17, 2015 at Beef Island:

Men: 1. Julius Farley, 40 minutes and 33 seconds. 2. Guy Williamson, 41:32. 3. Adam D’Monte, 43:31. 4. Steven Asson, 45:21. 5. Zebalon McLean, 46:32 6. Simon Cook, 46:33. 7. Adrian Dale, 48:40. 8. Dan Mitchell, 51:17. 9. Guyp Dubois, 51:25. 10. Claudius Rhymer, 56:02. 11. Ruairi Bourke, 56:50. 12. Javier Smith, 1:02.22. 13. Howard Moore, 1:06.03. 14. Stephen Beard, 1:10.06.

Women: 1. Claudia Ferrari, 53:21. 2. Kay Reddy, 53:59. 3. Lauren Julien, 54:00. 4. Philomena Robertson, 57:07. 5. Rhiannon Jones, 58:36. 6. Kerry Dos Santos, 1:03.17. 7. Natasha Ruscheinski, 1:04.14. 8. Barbara O’Neal, 1:05.30. 9. Sarah Carroll, 1:05.59. 10. Clair Burke, 1:07.27. 11. Cayley Smit, 1:07.39.

4 miles: 1. Zoe Bickerton, 40:31. 2. Jenni Dobbie, 42:24. 3. Ambeeka Glasgow, 48.30. 2 miles: 1. Simone Dabreo.

Power Walkers: 1. Shirley Liburd, 1:30.00. 2. Bill Kinkead, 1:33.03. 3. Sophie Bennett, 1:35. 35.

Filed Under: Athletics Tagged With: , , ,

Sprinter Ashley Kelly Volunteers At Chicago Marathon, NY Next

October 15, 2015 by
Photo courtesy of BVI Athletics Association

Photo courtesy of BVI Athletics Association

BY BVI ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION

When Kenyans Dickson Chumba and Florence Kiplagat were sweeping to Chicago Marathon victories on Sunday, British Virgin Islands sprinter Ashley Kelly was right there watching them zipping by just before the halfway point in the 26.2 miles race.

Kelly, a 400m All American sprinter for Illinois, was glad to return home for a brief stint after moving to New York, where she’s doing a community and marketing internship with Radagen Sports Marketing company.

Kelly said she got the connection via a combination of being in class, volunteering with different guest lecturers for different things, networking and applying for an internship. While she wasn’t able to fulfill that aspect of the internship, she was speaking with someone affiliated with the New York Marathon and said they were sending a small group to Chicago and that’s how she got in.

“I was volunteering for the upcoming New York Marathon and then I got picked to shadow in the Chicago Marathon, to kind of piggy back on what they were doing and bring it back to the New York Marathon,” she explained. “I was glad I got to go. I haven’t been in Chicago in the two years since I moved. The people were really nice and it was hectic the first day, as I worked the help expo on Friday and Saturday and the planning stages getting everything organized. There were lots of people who thought they were head of things, too many leaders, but shortly after, everything began flowing. But it was a cool experience.”

Kelly said she learnt how to handle different personalities, crowds and the behind the scenes aspects of events. She said she’s glad she didn’t have to work the main event because that meant getting up at 4:30 a.m., working the whole day and cleaning up after the event.

“At the help expo, I was at the athletes packet pick up and helped with the T-shirts and also worked with all the signage that was being set up,” she said. “I will be in the same capacity in the New York Marathon, helping plan in the beginning stages, not working the event, so I keep getting out of the grit work. I’m just in the planning and helping people market different things and coordinating with the different sponsors.”

During the race she was at the 12 mile mark and saw the runners zipping by. “That’s the point where people were getting over the hump and you look at their faces and it looked just dreadful and I was like ‘what got you into this,'” she said. “I saw the Kenyans go by with was intense because they were running miles faster that I’ve ever run one mile, they are going through miles in 4:40, I don’t know how they do it.”

Her internship with Radagen Sports Marketing, where they handle off the field events and branding, not contract negotiating, includes such clients as Boston Red Sox’s David Ortiz, New York Rangers’ Ryan McDonaugh, New York Jets’ Muhammed Wilkerson and several hockey players. “The experience is good so far as I’ve been working with the committee events related to the foundation the athletes we represent are connected with, as well as sponsorship and soliciting business planners,” she explained. “I have been working on sponsorship for David Ortiz’s celebrity Golf event in December in the Dominican Republic.”

As an athlete, being exposed to this side of things Kelly said its lot of grit work. She aid as competitors, they only see the end result but don’t know how things get in place. “There’s a lot of work involved in getting through those stages,” she noted. “I’m learning a lot about the athlete side, marketing and branding, I’m learning athletes can be very difficult to work with. I guess because it’s a sense of entitlement, but it can be irritating at some points. So I’m trying to see what I don’t like in the field, this is helping me see that part and what I’m good at. I’m good at coordinating sponsors and community outreach events.”

Filed Under: Athletics Tagged With:

HLSCC/Highland Spring College Classic Pink Race honours College Alumni

October 6, 2015 by
Photo courtesy of HLSCC

Photo courtesy of HLSCC

On the morning before the first cancer race of the HLSCC/Highland Spring College Classic race series on Saturday 3rdOctober 2015, a very youthful alumni of the College lost her battle to cancer.  Among the usual participants of the series, various friends and families of the fallen alumni walked and ran in her honor with her name written on their pink eye black stickers. Other supporters of cancer victims and survivors came out in large numbers for the cause, and also wrote the names of fighters on their pink eye black stickers and sported their pink rubber wristbands marked with hope, faith, strength, and survivor.

 
College President, Dr. Karl Dawson, opened the event with a moment of silence for those who fought hard but lost the fight to cancer before the sea of pink balloons was released in their memory.   Race director, Stephanie Russ-Penn called the runners/walkers to the starting line and they were off setting their own pace.  A cancer supporter to the fallen alumni said “She came out just for her, and at one point I wanted to stop along the way, but I thought on her and on how hard she fought so she didn’t stop until the end.”
 
Reuben Stoby and Rosmond Johnson were repeat winners of the second race.  Stoby gained his second win as the top male in a time of 11:50.32, and Johnson also with her second win of the series as top female in a time of 14:38.51.  Full race results will soon be available on the College’s website.
Filed Under: Athletics

Impressive Turn Out for Start of 20th College Classic Series

September 24, 2015 by
a

Photo courtesy of Dean Greenaway

Just over 200 participants kicked off the 20th season of the Highland Spring College Classic Series Saturday on Tortola.

“It was an excellent beginning,” race director Stephanie Russ Penn said. “There was a wonderful buzz early in the morning, everybody was really excited and it just got off to a great start and I’m just really excited for what else is to come in the season.”

Reuben Stoby and Rosmond Johnson who have been dominating the road racing season so far, were the respective male and female overall winners. Stoby covered the course in 11 minutes and 23 seconds while Johnson was timed in 14:15.

“I came this morning not sure what to expect and noticed some runners went in front early and decided to see what they were pushing,” Stoby said. “It was a little bit out of my comfort pace so I decided to put a little bit more pace and that did it for me. Shortly after, I noticed I was ahead and nobody chased.

Stoby improved his previous best from 11:40 and added he can see why Lindell Roberts’ course record of 10:45.1 has been standing since 1997. “It’s very difficult to chase down that record seeing that there’s almost a mile of steady incline,” he noted. “Maybe if I try a little harder, do a little more speed training, I may be able to give it a go.”

Johnson said she was surprised to be the first woman. “I was expecting the youngsters to beat me,” she said. “Even Tallulah (Kinkead), she was behind me the whole time and at one point I got tired, but said to myself, I’ve been training, I need to do better than that, so I started to run a little bit faster. I put my all in it and I did it. I’m glad.”

Russ Penn said she was excited about the launch of the One Mile U11 Division–which previously catered solely to U9–which gave the youngsters an opportunity to run a distance better suited to them, based on body size and age. “I hope they are just as excited as I am, that they don’t have to jump to the 2 Mile when they hit 10.”

The Rotary Club of Tortola–who have dominated the Service Clubs Cross Country Division for the last 10 years–started off with another victory over their rivals. Russ Penn said what she finds tremendous about the team is that who are the top runners and helping to hold the strain. “The Rotary Club of Road Town was right there, but, it’s going to take a stronger game from everybody else to come and bring down the dominant Rotary Club of Tortola.”

Final Results. One Mile Boys: 1. Sam Potgieter, 7 minutes 36.28 seconds. 2. Latriel Williams, 7: 43.57. 3. Jahnare Farrington, 7:55.31. 4. Charlie Potgieter, 7:56.67. 5. Kael Chalwell, 8:16.21. 6. Noah Cottreau, 8:34.14. 7. A. Maduro, 8:44.81. 8. Jahnear Frett, 9:03.46. 9. Kajahni Farrington, 9:39.14. 10. Jamal Harry, 9:42.64. 11. St. Claire Haywood, 9:43.59. 12. Sebbie Morgan, 9:44. 20. 13. Jahheal Frett, 9:45.96. 14. Owen Graham, 9:50.57. 15. Tom Bridson, 10:01.34. 16. Josiah Means, 10:34.53. 17. Seth Dobbie, 10:42.56. 18. Xav Morgan, 10:45.42. 19. Seun Frett, 11:09.14. 20. Joshua Tobin, 11:55.31. 21. Frank Carroll, 13:09.42. 22. Stan Carroll, 13:24.84. 23. Oliver Tobin, 14:31.96. 24. Benjamin Cook, 15:32.92.

Girls: 1. Akeela McMaster, 8:23.46. 2. Ashonte Brewley, 8:45.81. 3. Kenniqua Grate, 9:02.31. 4. Asia McMaster, 9:22.57. 5. Tenisha Herbert, 9:30.53. 6. #16, 9:42. 88. 7. Zakaya Stoutt, 9:45. 04. 8. Cheyanne Castello, 9:47:89. 9. Taryn Augustine, 10:06.28. 10. Kivohnya Merry, 10:25.21. 11. Lilly Smit, 10:48.06. 12. Emily Tobin, 10:49.24. 13. Kate Looney, 11:04.99. 14. Angelique Bruce, 11:05.34. 15. Mckenzie Crabbe, 11:08.89. 16. Amia Wheatley, 11:14.71. 17. Amarise McLeran, 11:28.67. 18. Jasmine Santos, 11:56.19. 19. Tiffany Herbert, 11:57.21. 20. Carolie Leboyer, 12:38.99. 21. Felicity Means, 12:48.74. 22. Z’Hara Mclean, 13:09:42. 23. Tiya Herbert, 13:39.28. 24. Ava Ghiorse, 14:47.21.

Two Mile, Men: 1. Reuben Stoby, 11:23.25. 2. Vaughn Van Oudtshourn, 12:03.36. 3. Julius Farley, 12:15.12. 4. Tarique Moses, 12:31.72. 5. Samuel Romney, 12:49.73. 6. Adriano Gumbs, 13:05.67. 7. Jomo Rochester, 13:21.52. 8. Mikey Ennis, 13:29.15. 9. Zebalon McLean, 13:45.62. 10. Dave Pettigrew, 14:05.25. 11. Brad Betzener, 14:11.25. 12. Reu Rhymer, 14:37.04. 13. Ikyjah Williams, 15:13.65. 14. Claudius Rhymer, 15:16.18. 15. Ebenezer Joseph, 15:31.16. 16. Chris Graham, 15:56.54. 17. Alric Smith, 16:37.34. 18. Vadley Sylvester, 16:46.80. 19. Clyde Rhymer, 16:49.15. 20. Kenton Brewley, 16:50.67. 21. Stephen Bridson, 17:16.48. 22. Andie Donovan, 17:46.32. 23. Ajaalee Malone, 17:46.68. 24. Aaron Harry, 18:00.25. 25. Howard Moore, 18:14.25 26. Damian Creque, 18:25.47. 27. Jerry Thomas, 19:38.34. 28. Jim Cullimore, 19:44.31. 29. Steve Augustine, 20:04.56. 30. Chris Potgieter, 20:45.21. 31. Stephen Beard, 20:58.16. 32. Ahdan Doward, 21:18.78. 33. Diamonte Gumbs, 21:24.62. 34. John Cullimore, 22:26.84. 35. Devanio Wheatley, 22:30.06. 36. Quadray Daniel, 22:40.82. 37. Djimon Gumbs, 25:38.78. 38. Kadeem Hackshaw, 27:05.78.
`
Women: 1. Rosmond Johnson, 14:15.91. 2. Juliane Potgieter, 15:17.12. 3. Kay Reddy, 15:22.36. 4. Kyra Romney, 15:46.12. 5. Philomena Robertson, 16:34.87. 6. Almarie Maduro, 18:06.66. 7. Sarah Carroll, 18:48.75. 8. Kenyatha Grate, 19:39.62. 9. Sarah Duncan, 19:59.65. 10. Roslyn Gilbert, 20:39.85. 11. Cayley Smith, 20:42.07. 12. Aribella Parsons, 23:23.32. 13. Michelle Dennis, 23:27.16. 14. Khiayah Doward, 23:34.06. 15. Shirley Liburd, 23:55.36. 16. Christina Creque, 25:12.02. 17. Lynelle Gumbs, 25:15.35. 18. Kaiola Rymer, 27:21.18. 19. Riconia Penn, 27:21.77. 20. Alicia Davis, 28:44.41. 21. Pamella Bruce, 30:33.35. 22. Denise Frett, 30:52.59. 23. Valarie Guishard, 31:02.12. 24. Victoria Ghiorse, 31:03.06. 25. Deborah James, 34:59.25.
Cross Country (Team Category)

Team Scoring Rules: The positions of the first five members of each team counts towards the scores in this category. The positions of additional members of a team beyond the first five are not factored in. A minimum of 5 persons makes a full participating team.

Primary Schools Teams: Althea Scatliffe Primary (ASPS), Cedar School Primary (CP), First Impressions Primary (FIPS), Francis Lettsome Primary (FLPS), Joyce Samuel Primary (JSPS), Willard Wheatley (WWPS):
1. Kenroy Joseph (FLPS-1), 15:43.69. 2. Jahshani Farrington (FLPS-1), 16:02.37. 3. Kadeem Pena (FLPS-1), 16:33.47. 4. Kendi Brewley (AMPS), 16:34.87. 5. Jayden Augustine (PG), 16:41.65. 6. Malike Romney (AMPS), 17:04.88. 7. M’Khori Crabbe (JSPS-1), 18:47.10. 8. Kieanjah Roberts (JSPS-1), 18:50.34. 9. Jahtivya Williams (ASPS), 18:57.35. 10. Johnibel Richards (FLPS-1), 19:04.62. 11. Daniele Walters (WWPS), 19:51.94. 12. Deonna Campbell (ASPS), 19:53.90. 13. Abriel Magloire (ASPS), 19:5838. 14. Jahmarley Frett (WWPS), 20:38.86. 15. Makeda Gumbs (JSPS-1), 20:44.08. 16. Kavon Wheatley (FLPS-2), 21:06.13. 17. Chad Willock (PG), 21:48.29. 18. Ikeyyah Taylor (JSPS-2), 22:33.60. 19. Kashani Farrington (WWPS), 23:13.29. 20. Marik Pemberton (FLPS-2), 23:32.47. 21. Rickey Harewood (FLPS-2), 24:15.00. 22. Frankiesha Browne (FLPS-1), 24:25.52. 23. Angeni Benjamin (JSPS-1), 24:42.02. 24. Kamari Gillings (FLPS-2). 25. Jana Davis (JSPS-1), 25:27.18. 26. Johannes Blok (CP), 26:35.75. 27. Vallesha Guishard (WWPS), 26:41.50. 28. Carolyn Hernandez (FLPS-2), 27:34.44. 29. Aiden Creque (FIPS), 27:36.28. 30. Sanjay Henry (JSPS-1), 28:01.91. 31. Shinique Robin (JSPS-1), 28:03.24. 32. Anica Penn (JSPS-1), 28:20.70. 33. Matai Frett (FLPS-1), 28:24:59. 34. Martina Martin (JSPS-2), 30:27.58.
Points: 1. Francis Lettsome Team-1, 38. 2. Joyce Samuel Team-1, 78. 3. Francis Lettsome Team-2, 109. 4. Willard Wheatley, 71 (4 participants). 5. Althea Scatliffe, 34 (3 participants). 6. Alexandrina Maduro, 10 (2 participants), 7. Peligan Gate, 22 (2 participants). 8. Joyce Samuel Team-2, 48 (2 participants). 9. Cedar School, 26 (1 participant). 10. First Impression, 26 (1 participant).
Secondary Schools Team: Cedar School (CS), St. Georges (SGS): 1. Liam Blok (CS), 12:54.10. 2. Tallulah Kinkead (CS), 14:41.25. 3. Robert Wong Jr. (CS), 26:59.65. 4. Aria Creque (CS), 31:17.98.

Points: 1. Cedar School, 10.

Service Clubs: Interact Club (IC), Rotaract Club (RC), Rotary of Road Town (RR), Rotary Sunrise of Road Town (RS), Rotary of Tortola, (RT): 1. Michael Killourhy (RT), 12.21.06. 2. Derrick Rawling (RT), 14:05.25. 3. Maureen Peters (RS), 16:18.83. 4. Stacy-Ann Wynter (RT), 17:09.18. 5. Marvin flax (RS), 17:28.81. 6. Henry Creque (RT), 18:01.10. 7. Ryan Geluk (RR), 18:08.48. 8. Brian Liverpool (RR), 18:40.90. 9. Ixora Wong (RT), 19:12.10. 10. Lorna Smith (RT), 19:21.44. 11. Vanessa King (RT), 19:51.14. 12. Warren Wintz (RT), 20:08.84. 13. Elvis Harrigan (RR), 20:14.21. 14. Corazon Fos (RR), 22:26.00. 15. Richard Parsons (RR), 23:21.09. 16. Alphonso Warner (RR), 24:44.90. 17. Kenneth Morgan (RT), 25:00.06. 18. Mitsy Ellis-Simpson (RT), 27:14.76. 19. Anthony Clarke (RR), 30:03.19

Scoring Rule (A female must be a part of the 5 members that count towards scoring.)
Points: 1. Rotary Club of Tortola, 22. 2. Rotary of Road Town, 48. 3. Rotary Sunrise of Road Town, 8 (2 participants).

Community Partners: Black Opps (BO), BVI Tourist Board (BVITB), Cedar School Parents/Teachers (CSPT), Digicel (D), H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC), Joyce Samuel Parents (JSP), Montessori Parents/Teachers (MSPT), Limitless Fitness (LF)

1. Tommy Farrell (D), 13:14.35. 2. Anna Kinkead (CSPT), 15:35.70. 3. Iswar Persad (BVTB), 15:51.97. 4. Martin Cherry (HLSCC), 16:49.84. 5. Richie Paul (MSPT), 17:41.35. 6. Ariana Forbes (LF), 17:51.37. 7. Conor Looney (D), 18:29.11. 8. Natasha Chalwell (BVTB), 18:45.90. 9. Elaine Burke (D), 18:52.06. 10. Rhonda Pinnock (BO), 19:51.56. 11. Lucy Hannett (LF), 20:49.62. 12. Garfield Neita (CSPT), 21:09.15. 13. Sarah-Jane Knock (MSPT), 22:47.81. 14. Deidra Thomas (LF), 23:19.28. 15. Marc Brabant (CSPT), 24:34.72. 16. Annelies Brabant (CSPT), 24:35.31. 17. Monet Francis (LF), 26:15.25. 18. Karl Dawson (HLSCC), 26:35.29. 19. Bernice Magloire (D), 27:07.56. 20. Ella Chistopher (D), 27:18.08. 21. Monique Latchman (HLSCC), 27:26.20. 22. Shirley Creque (CSPT), 27:36. 34. 23. Paul George (HLSCC), 27:53.40. 24. Marian Cazabon-Blok (CSPT), 28:03.80. 25. Orlandette Crabbe (JSPT), 28:14.06. 26. Surbhi Williams (HLSCC), 28:40.41. 27. Renesha Stephens (HLSCC), 29:42.40. 28. Rhianna Stephens (HLSCC) 29:42.50. 28. Esme Stephens (HLSCC), 29:42.65. 29. Janvieve Pickett (LF), 29:55.00. 30. Onika Ramsammy (JSPT), 31:02.12. 31. Rochelle Smith (HLSCC), 31:40.40.

Points: 1. Digicel, 56. 2. Cedar School Parents/Teachers, 67. 3. Limitless Fitness, 75. 4. H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, 91. 5. BVI Tourist Board, 11 (2 participants). 6. Montessori Parents/Teachers, 18 (2 participants). 7. Joyce Samuel Parents, 50 (2 participants). 8. Black Opps, 10 (1 participant).

Filed Under: Athletics

VI athletes in action at Samoa 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games

September 7, 2015 by
The BVI delegation to #Samoa2015 Commonwealth Youth Games. (L-R) Team Leader Mrs. Angeleta Bernard, Paul Oliver (Men’s Singles Tennis), Team Official Mr. Ephraim Penn, K’Cei Moses (100m & 200m), and Kala Penn (100m & Long Jump). Photo: BVIOC

The BVI delegation to #Samoa2015 Commonwealth Youth Games. (L-R) Team Leader Mrs. Angeleta Bernard, Paul Oliver (Men’s Singles Tennis), Team Official Mr. Ephraim Penn, K’Cei Moses (100m & 200m), and Kala Penn (100m & Long Jump). Photo: BVIOC

The British Virgin Islands Olympic Committee, acting in its capacity as the local Commonwealth Games Association, has sent a delegation of three (3) athletes and (2) officials to attend the V Commonwealth Youth Games which are taking place September 5 – 11 on the small Pacific island of Samoa.

The games feature nine sporting disciplines and the action takes place in the nation’s capital, Apia, across two sporting complexes. The nine sports include Aquatics (Swimming), Archery, Athletics, Boxing, Lawn Bowls, Rugby Sevens, Squash, Tennis and Weightlifting.

The athletes, representing the VI in athletics include Kala Penn in the 100m & Long Jump, K’Cei Moses in the 100m and 200m and Paul Oliver competing in Men’s Singles Tennis. In charge of the delegation is Team Leader for Samoa 2015, Mrs. Angeleta Bernard and Team Official Mr. Ephraim Penn.

Over 1,000 athletes and officials are attending the games which began with a uniquely

The VI delegation led by flag bearer, Kala Penn at the Opening Ceremony of the #Samoa2015 V Commonwealth Youth Games. Photo: Getty Images

The VI delegation led by flag bearer, Kala Penn at the Opening Ceremony of the #Samoa2015 V Commonwealth Youth Games. Photo: Getty Images

Pacific-style Opening Ceremony over the weekend, 5th September 2015. Kala was the flag bearer for the VI.

Noting that Samoa is 15 hours ahead of the VI, day 1 of the competition for the territory’s athletes started on Monday, September 7 at the Apia Park Sports Complex with Paul Oliver beating Edgell Tigona of Vanuatu 6-0, 6-0. Paul goes on to play Eleftherios Neos of Cyprus on September 8.

Kala Penn placed 3rd in the 100m to qualify for Semi-finals; she later placed 6th in a time of 12.69s but did not advance. Kala will compete in the Long Jump on September 8.

K’Cei Moses placed 6th in the 100m with a time of 11.12s but did not advance. K’Cei will run in the 200m in Heat 1 on September 8.

The latest results can be accessed at www.samoacyg2015.ws. Photos can be found on the BVI Olympic Committee Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BVIOlympicCommittee

Daily highlights and the closing ceremony will be streamed live globally, free of charge at www.tv1samoa.tv. Users must register to access footage.

The Opening ceremony
The Samoa 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games Ceremonies followed the overall theme for the Games with Inspiration and Empowerment of young people at their core. The Opening Ceremony was Samoa’s largest-ever cultural performance, featuring almost 1% of the entire island population.

Dignitaries, spectators and athletes from around the Commonwealth, including the Samoan Head of State, Samoan Prime Minister, Commonwealth Secretariat Secretary General and President of the Commonwealth Games Federation, enjoyed traditional singing, dancing and Pacific entertainment. The event started with the parade of nations, with the previous Youth Games host from 2011, Isle of Man, given the honour of entering the field of play first.

Addressing the crowd, and asking the young athletes to show themselves as stars of the Young Commonwealth by raising their smartphones in to the air, Commonwealth Games Federation President Louise Martin CBE said: “It gives me the greatest of pleasure to stand here before you at the Opening Ceremony of the Vth Commonwealth Youth Games – a joyful celebration of impactful sporting performance, personal development and new Commonwealth friendships made on the level playing field of sport. Having been involved with the very first Commonwealth Youth Games back in the year 2000, I am so pleased and proud to see this very special event now taking place on your wonderful Pacific island nation”.

Filed Under: Athletics, Samoa News, Tennis Tagged With: , , ,

Malone wraps up IAAF World Champs

August 28, 2015 by

By BVIAA

Chantel Malone sails through the air en route to a best leap of 6.46m Photo: Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

Chantel Malone sails through the air en route to a best leap of 6.46m Photo: Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

BEIJING, China: Chantel Malone of the British Virgin Islands finished 10th in Group B and 21st overall of the 34 Long Jumpers in the qualifying rounds of the 15th IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China yesterday, to wrap up Virgin Islands athletes competition. She did not qualify for tonight’s final.

Malone had a best leap of 6.46m on the second of three attempts and finished three places ahead the USA’s Britney Reese, who won the last two editions of the event in South Korea and Russia respectively.

“It felt pretty good on the run through but the first jump was a little flat,” she recapped of her 6.22m measurement. “I tried to bring the speed in the second jump and I think the speed helped with the 6.46 and I just tried to keep that momentum going, but I dropped my foot on the last jump.”

Malone said there was no difference between her last two outings where she established a personal best of 6.69m at the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Championships, after a 6.62 mark in the Pan Am Games.

“There were just some things that didn’t come together today that happened in the last meet,” she explained. “It’s not a matter of there being a difference. Today, I was a little flat and it didn’t end up the way I wanted it to.”

Malone was happy with her season in which she improved her three-year old BVI National Record of 6.65m to 6.69. She said the she started off a little slow but caught herself. “You always have to be happy for being able to do what you do, so I’m pleased,” she said. “This has been a good experience. I think this is one of the first years I didn’t come in hurt or anything like that and I was really excited and ready to compete. And I still was, but it didn’t happen in the jump. I didn’t get the mark I expected, but I still had a good time competing. I liked the accommodations and the atmosphere of the place.”

With the 2015 season behind, Malone said her goal is now to make it to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. “Whatever that entails,” she said. “It’s every athlete’s dream to go to the Olympics. That’s the ultimate goal for me really.”

 

Filed Under: Athletics Tagged With: , , ,

Tahesia Harrigan-Scott places 5th in prelims at IAAF World Champs

August 24, 2015 by

By BVIAA

Tahesia Harrigan-Scott, right, Guam's Regine Tugade, Ukraine's Olesya Povkh and Trinidad and Tobago's Semoy Hackett competing in the Women's 100m Heat 5 in Beijing, China. Photo: Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

Tahesia Harrigan-Scott, right, Guam’s Regine Tugade, Ukraine’s Olesya Povkh and Trinidad and Tobago’s Semoy Hackett competing in the Women’s 100m Heat 5 in Beijing, China. Photo: Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

BEIJING, China – Putting a series of early season issues behind that affected her performances, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott of the British Virgin Islands came into the 15th IAAF World Track and Field Championships here in Beijing, China, riding a wave of unmatched performances in her career, an indication that she was ready.

During the recent Pan Am Games and the North American, Central American and Caribbean Championships in Canada and Costa Rica, all her 100m preliminary round races had been run well under 11.22 seconds. And, all her performances were 11.28 or better.

Returning to the iconic Beijing Bird’s Nest National Stadium where she competed during the 2008 Olympic Games and had subsequent runs since, the BVI’s 100 and 200m standard bearer was eyeing a spot in tonight’s 100m semifinals.

However, she wasn’t on her game and placed an unlooked for non-advancing fifth in her heat in 11.47 seconds.

“I lost it from my first step out the blocks because my body collapsed,” Harrigan-Scott disappointedly reflected afterwards. “I felt like I was fighting my entire drive phase trying to get my body in the right position and stay in the race and it just went downhill from there.”

Harrigan-Scott said her performance indicators coming in were good and showing promises of things to come. “I was in no way shape or form expecting the results I produced today,” she stated after qualifying for her sixth straight championships but turned in her worst result of them all. “Practices and race preparations felt good but it just didn’t come together today. I’m nowhere 11.47 shape. Negative wind or not, practices were going well and indicated that I should have ran a personal best.”

Her focus now turns to Rio 2016 for the Olympic Games as she has already put down a qualifying mark. She said she doesn’t have to alter any of her training plans leading up to her third successive Olympic Games. “I will do the same things I have been doing to get me here,” she pointed out. “Wouldn’t change anything. I dropped the ball at this meet.”

Next up is the U.S. Virgin Islands’ Eddie Lovett who will see action in the 110m Hurdles prelims during Wednesday morning’s session. Teammate Laverne Jones’ Ferrette will compete in the 200m prelims later in the evening.

Chantel Malone will take to the Long Jump pit on Thursday morning.

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Chantel Malone secures Silver in NACAC Championships

August 10, 2015 by

By BVIAA

Chantel Malone leaps to secure Silver in 2nd NACAC Snr Championships and set new National Record and PB. Photo: Dean "The Spostsman" Greenaway

Chantel Malone leaps to secure Silver in 2nd NACAC Snr Championships and set new National Record and PB. Photo: Dean “The Spostsman” Greenaway

Long Jumper Chantel Malone of the British Virgin Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands’ Eddie Lovett, won silver and bronze medals respectively, in the 2nd North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Track and Field Championships that wrapped up in San Jose, Costa Rica, last night.

Malone cut the sand with a personal best leap of 6.69m on her opening jump to secure the silver medal behind the USA’s Quansheka Burks, who opened with the same 6.69 mark as Malone, then leapt 6.93m, the ninth best jump in the world this year to secure the gold medal. Malone’s mark was .01cm off qualifying for the IAAF World Championships and improved her 6.65 National Record. The USVI’s Wanetta Kirby placed eight after hitting 5.90 on her last attempt, the same position she finished in the High Jump, competing both simultaneously.

“It’s always good to accomplish something you have been dreaming about,” Malone said. “I wanted the gold and I definitely wanted a qualifier, but, I’m very pleased with my performance today.”

Malone, who hadn’t been jumping well until the Pan Am Games, said the mindset she had when she won the CAC Games gold in November, returned. “I’m happy that it did,” she stated. “For example, in the Pan Am Games, I had two fouls going in to the last jump before the final and normally, I would have freaked out. But, in my mind, I said it only takes one jump to get into the final. I kept positive and that’s what I did today too.”

Lovett broke his USVI 110m national record in the process of claiming a bronze medal despite a bad landing off the 10th hurdle, finishing in 13.31 seconds to lower his 2-year old best of 13.39, narrowly missing the silver medal by .01, taken by Cuba’s Jhoanis Portilla in 13.30.

“The race felt great, the only thing I wish I would have done better, which I believe cost me a second or first place medal, was coming off the last hurdle,” Lovett explained, noting he’s seeing difference from using a seven step approach to the first barrier. “I’m able to use my speed, but the end of the race is something I’ve been trying to fix, since the beginning of my career. The more I push the envelope, the more I’ll be able to stand tall and finish with the rest of them.”

Lovett dedicated the race to his sister who was killed last month and his father and said he felt them in the race. “They pushed me to be able to do what I had to do today and I hope I made them proud,” he said. “I know I have the support of my agent, the Virgin Islands community, my family, everybody involved and I thank everybody for their prayers.”

The BVI’s Tahesia Harrigan-Scott just missed the 100m podium by .06 seconds when she placed fourth in 11.28 seconds. USVI’s Laverne Jones-Ferrette was seventh in 11.53.

“I felt really good and I think I ran a really good race unfortunately, I didn’t end up on the medal podium, but that’s life, so now my focus turns to Worlds,” Harrigan-Scott said. “I loved my start and I loved my transition, my ending, I felt it was still good in my opinion. There are some things I need to work on in the last 10 meters, but I’ll fix it.”

Jones said besides not getting a good start in the 100m, she thought she executed well, then had a season’s best of 23.51 seconds in the 200m on Sunday. “I’m glad to come out healthy,” she said. “It wasn’t a doubt that I would have made the 200 final. I’m in shape, but it’s mostly race sharpness I needed.”

USVI Long Jumper Leon Hunt was seventh with a leap of 7.48m while teammate Muhammid Halim was next with 7.36.

“I had two legal jumps in the prelims and no legal jumps in the finals and all the good jumps happened in the finals,” Hunt said. “I have to work on that. The same thing has been happening the whole season.”

Eldred Henry of the BVI was fifth in the Shot Put with a heave of 18.49m on Sunday.

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Eight to compete in Pan Am Jr. Championships

July 29, 2015 by

By BVIAA

Pan Am Jr. Championships team following a practice. Photo: Provided

Pan Am Jr. Championships team following a practice. Photo: Provided

Eight athletes, seven home based and one overseas, will begin competing from Friday through Sunday in the Pan Am Jr. Track and Field Championships in Edmonton, Canada, July 31-Aug 2. The delegation departed on Tuesday.

For four of the athletes, twin sisters Tynelle and Trevia Gumbs, Taylor Hill and Jonel Lacey, it will be their last competition as juniors as they move to U23 competition in 2016.

Tynelle will contest the Javelin Throw, Discus Throw and Hammer Throw, where she has recorded career bests of 40.12m, 46.40m and 44.99m this season, while her twin will see action in the Shot Put, Discus Throw and Hammer Throw. Her bests are 14.83m, 46.49m and 47.66m.

Hill, who will join the squad from her Houston base will have Nelda Huggins’ company in the 100 and 200m dashes. Hill, who will take her talents to South Plains Jr. College in the fall, has run 11.83 and 23.84 this year while Huggins has an 11.90 to her credit and a windy 23.92.

Lacey will contest both the 400m and 400m Intermediate Hurdles. Joining Lacey in the Hurdles will be Lakeisha Warner. Warner has run the fastest electronic time of 61.07 seconds and Lacey, 61.26.

With a best of 51.87 seconds, Kyron McMaster who will join the Gumbs sisters at Central Arizona College in the fall, will contest the 400m Intermediate Hurdles, marking the second meet that the territory will have three 400m hurdlers in action. McMaster, Warner and Lacey competed in the event during the Carifta Games earlier this year.

Akeem Bradshaw will contest both the Long and Triple Jumps. Bradshaw cut the sand at 7.40m in the Long and 14.87 in the Triple on the season.

The BVI has never won a Pan Am Jr. Championships medal. Eldred Henry was fourth in in the Shot Put and fifth in the Discus Throw in 2013. Samantha John was also fifth in the 800m in 2009.

Officials accompanying the team are: Cliff Williams, Adriana Herbert, Anthony Dougherty, Doug Arter and Winston Potter.

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Stoby and Johnson extend 10K winning streaks

July 29, 2015 by

By BVIAA

Rosmond Johnson extended her winning streak during Saturday's Ceres Juices 10K Series race on Beef Island. Photo: Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

Rosmond Johnson extended her winning streak during Saturday’s Ceres Juices 10K Series race on Beef Island. Photo: Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

Reuben Stoby and Rosmond Johnson extended their respective men and women’s division road racing winning streaks during Saturday’s Ceres Juices 10K Series race tour stop on Beef Island.

On a less challenging course than the one in Carrot Bay, Stoby took the race out early to win in 39 minutes and 28 seconds. Julius Farley finished in 40:05 and Ian Montgomery, 40:14.

“I wanted to win this race to dedicate to my wife Yonette who I recently married,” Stoby said. “In fact, after not being in a racing mood up to last evening she encouraged me to go run and give my best and am just thrilled to have won.”

Stoby said the strategy was to go hard and intimidate the competition a little. “That’s that is why I started at such a crazy pace,” he said. “I was very pleased to see no one opted to go with me so I had a comfortable lead throughout the race. 39:28 is not a bad time but I would surely like to be running 37 minutes before the series ends. I think that is very achievable.”

Rosmond Johnson, despite taking a wrong turn and had to retrace her steps, ran 49:04 to take the women’s race ahead of Melissa Brunner who passed her on a hill at one point. “The race was really good,” she noted. “It was hot, but, I managed to finish. I did’t have a big competition with the ladies. Most of the times I looked around, no lady was close to me.”

Final results
Men:
1. Reuben Stoby, 39 minutes and 28 seconds. 2. Julius Farley, 40:05. 3. Ian Montgomery, 40:14. 4. Adam D’Monte, 42.30.5. Alex Dale, 42:31. 6. Mark Stephenson, 45:38. 7. Paul Hubbard, 45:52. 8. Simon Cook, 48:03. 9. Zebalon McLean, 48:43. 10. Dan Mitchell, 49:29. 11. Shane Donovan, 50:12. 12. Gabriel Obregon, 51:06. 13. Aaron Gardner, 51:06. 14. Ishwar Persad, 51:44. 15. Guyp Dubois, 52:29. 16. Ruairi Bourke, 55:55. 17. Luke Plummer, 56:29. 18. Frederic Lavalierre, 56:30. 19. Claudius Rhymer, 57:32. 20. Gareth Watkins, 59:55. 21. Sjoerd Koster, 1:00.51. 22. Gavin Foster, 1:02:05. 23. Thomas Parish, 1:05.19. 24. Howard Moore, 1:06.55. 25. Richard Parchment, 1:20.00.

Women:
1. Rosmond Johnson, 49:04. 2. Melissa Brunner, 50:21. 3. Claudia Ferrari, 54:22. 4. Debbie Bell, 56:19. 5. Natasha Ruscheinski, 1:00.27. 6. Rachel Sexton, 1:02.34. 7. Barbara O’Neal, 1:02.44. 8. Clair Burke, 1:07.21. 9. Philomena Robertson, 1:12.17.

3.5 Miles:
Women: 1. Emily Drinkwater, 36:13.
Men: 1. Brandon O’Reilly, 39:30.

Power Walkers:
Shirley Liburd, 1:50.00.

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