By: Dean Greenaway

Kyron McMaster, left and Nelda Huggins. Photo: Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

Two BVI Carifta Games bronze medalists in track events who have established National Jr. Records this season will represent the territory at the IAAF World Jr. Championships in Eugene, Oregon, July 22-27.

Sprinter Nelda Huggins and 400m Intermediate Hurdler Kyron McMaster have met the qualifying standards and will join the best U20 athletes from around the world in Eugene.

The territory almost had a third qualifier in Carifta Games 400m finalist Khari Herbert who came agonizingly close missing the standard by .001 in his last meet of the season.

Huggins will contest the 100 and 200m where the 17 year old has established National Youth and National Jr. Records in both events. Huggins who has been on the Carifta Games 100m podium every year since 2011, sliced her 100m best from 11.77 seconds she ran last year and matched during the Carifta Games in Martinique, to 11.59 in winning the U20 Girls event at last month’s BVI Twilight Invitational.

She’s coming off breaking her own 200m standard of 23.91 seconds established during the Carifta Games in April, with a run of 23.77 at the Antigua National Championships at the end of June.

Versatile McMaster has established personal bests in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 400m Intermediate Hurdles and 800m this season, qualifying for World Jrs. In the 400m Hurdles, his new pet event.

The novice has exactly four hurdles races to his credit—three of them over the 0.84m height—the regulations for U18 athletes. He debuted with 56.31 seconds in January then followed up with 56.08 to make the Carifta Games U18 Boys final, before running 52.85 for the bronze.

In his next race over the 0.914m barriers—the height for U20 athletes and collegians—he ran 53.26 second to qualify for World Jrs.

McMaster is coming off taking down Keita Cline’s 23 year old U18 Boys 200m National Youth Record of 22.09 seconds with a mark of 21.74 during the Antigua National Championships, where he also shaved his own 400m Youth Record from 48.14 to 48.10. He missed equaling Aliston “Al” Potter’s 100m National Youth Record of 10.96 seconds when he ran 10.97. He has also a 2:09.00 to his credit in the 800m.

Chief Coach Dag Samuels and Angeleta Bernard will be the accompanying officials.

BVI’s Ashley Kelly, right, St. Vincent & the Grenadines’ Kenike Alexander and Antigua & Barbuda’s Samantha Edwards in the 400m. They had times of 53.17, 52.47 & 53.45 respectively. Photo: St. KItts & Nevis Amateur Athletics Association.

For some it was a tune up for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland later this month. For others, it was the end of competition for the 2014 season.

By time Tahesia Harrigan-Scott comfortably crossed the line to win the 100m, the final women’s individual event Sunday evening’s program, BVI athletes had bagged six medals—including two gold—in the revival of the OECS Track and Field Championships which were last held in 1991 in St. Lucia.

Harrigan-Scott captured gold with a wind aided time of 11.29 seconds, in a race that had a +4.1 meters per second tailwind. Teammate Karene King—who was second the in the 200m on Saturday night—placed fourth in 11.70.

King got to the line in 23.49 seconds in the 200m behind St. Vincent and the Grenadine’s Kenike Alexander who ran 22.97. King advanced to the final with a time of 23.76.

Trevia Gumbs landed the Shot Put crown with a throw of 13.69m to collect the territory’s other gold medal on Sunday.

The medal haul began on Saturday when Tynelle Gumbs opened her Javelin Throw account with a heave of 35.40m which stood up as the second best throw of the competition, to collect silver.

The third silver medal was bagged when Ashley Kelly ran her fastest 400m since her collegiate days to finish second behind Alexander in 53.17 seconds eclipsing the 53.43 season’s best she ran at the BVI Twilight Invitational last month.

Lakeisha “Mimi” Warner finished third in a season ending 800m run with a time of 2 minutes, 16.14 seconds, to earn the bronze medal.

Tarique Moses ended his season with a personal best of 49.40 seconds after finishing fourth in the 400m. He ran 49.87 in the prelims to advance to the final.

Harrigan-Scott, King and Kelly, will be joined by Chantel Malone, Shaquoy Stephens, Keron Stoute and Eldred Henry at the Commonwealth Games, which will have track and field action from July 27-Aug 3.

Following the Commonwealth Games, Stephens and Henry will fly to Kamloops, Canada, for the NACAC U23 Championships, Aug 8-10.

By: BVI Athletics Association

St. Vincent & the Grenadines’ Kineke Alexander, left, Barbados’ Jade Bailey, BVI’s Tahesia Harrigan-Scott, USVI’s Laverne Jones-Ferrette and BVI’s Ashley Kelly in the 200m won by the USVI’s Allison Peter, not pictured

Five All Comers and six meet records were broken, highlighting the 2nd BVI Twilight Invitational on Saturday evening at the A. O. Shirley Recreation Grounds.

Even before the opening ceremony had wrapped up, the USA’s Whitey Gipson opened the competition with an All Comers Record leap in the Long Jump, when she cut the sand at 6.42m on her first attempt. Her mark eclipsed the BVI’s Chantel Malone’s 6.09m record from 2008. Malone was second in a season’s best 6.29m effort and the U.S. Virgin Islands Waynetta Kirby, third in 6.06m—marking the first time that three women had cleared 6.00m in the territory.

Jamaica’s Anastacia Leroy who was second a year ago, won the Women’s 400m in 51.62 seconds—.03 faster than her last visit. St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Kineke Alexander was second in 51.78 and the Bahamas’ former World Youth and World Jr. champion Shaune Miller third in 52.60.

The first record on the track went when the USA’s Torrington Lawrence took the 400m race out to win in an All Comers Record of 45.45 seconds and eclipsed the Dominican Republic’s Gustavo Cuesta’s 45.87 mark established last year. The U.S. Virgin Islands’ Tabarie Henry—coming off 2-years of injuries—ran a season’s best of 45.75 to hold off the Bahamas’ Chris Brown, who slightly hurt his back in warm up by .02. Cuesta was fifth in 47.18.

USA’s Tawana Medows demolished Puerto Rico’s Genolskia Cancel 100m meet record of 11.62 seconds and missed the All Comers Record by .06 in winning with a time of 11.28 (1.7). Barbados Jade Bailey was second in 11.49 followed by the BVI’s Taheisa Harrigan-Scott in 11.57. St. Croix’s Laverne Jones-Ferrette was fourth in 11.61 while Karene King placed sixth in 11.75.

Guyana’s Adam Harris comfortably won the men’s 100m in 10.23 seconds (-1.3) ahead of St. Kitts and Nevis’ Brijesh “BJ” Lawrence’s 10.38, with the USA’s Ivory Williams 10.49 placing him third.

USA’s Kimmarra McDonald shattered Lakeisha “Mimi” Warner’s 800m All Comers Record of 2 minutes 10.92 seconds from 2012 to win the event after overhauling Trinidad and Tobago’s Alena Brooks in a stretch run duel, 2:06.12-2:06.31. Barbados’ Sadie Sealy was third in 2:08.65.

Tayron Reyes of the Dominican Republic outkicked the USA’s Richard Jones in the last 50 meters to win the 800m by taking down the BVI’s Greg Rymer’s 18-year old All Comers Record of 1 minute 50.12 seconds when he stopped the clock at 1:49.98. Jones was second in 1:50.71 followed by Puerto Rico’s William Gonzalez who was timed in 1:55.63.

Jamaica’s Jermaine Brown—a member of their 4x200m World Record breaking team at the IAAF World Relays—nipped the USA’s Sean McLean at the line to win the Men’s 200m by .03 in an All Comers Record of 20.46 seconds, wiping out the 20.82 of Anguilla’s Zharnel Hughes from last year. McLean finished in 20.49 followed by Honduras’ Ronaldo Palacios who ran 20.69, as the top five all went under the old mark.

U.S. Virgin Islands’ Allison Peter won the 200m in 23.41 seconds, ahead of Alexander’s, 23.55. Bailey ran 23.62 for third ahead of the BVI’s Karene King’s, 23.83. Harrigan-Scott edged St. Croix’s Laverne Jones-Ferrette, 23.91-23-93 for fifth with the BVI’s other athlete Ashely Kelly rounding out the competition in 24.02.

Huggins’ Jr. Record

Nelda Huggins, who has qualified for next month’s IAAF World Jr. Championships in both sprints, shattered her 100m National Youth and National Jr. Record of 11.77 seconds she ran last year and equaled at this year’s Carifta Games, with a time of 11.59 seconds to win the U20 Girls event. The wind reading was 0.8. L’Tisha “Lea” Fahie ran a personal best of 12.01 in second while Taylor Hill placed third in 12.12.

Kyron McMaster who has also qualified for World Jrs., in the 400m Hurdles, ran a season’s best 48.45 in the 400m.

Beyonce DeFreitas, 13, won the U20 Girls 400m in 56.82 seconds, leading Judine Lacey to 57.73 and Kelsha Fortune, 58.35—all personal bests.

By: Dean Greenaway

Maxford Pipe, 2nd runner and the lead group heading out of the A. O. Shirley Recreation Grounds before he broke away and went on to victory Photo credit: Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

Versatile Maxford Pipe had his easiest weekend of the season in winning the kick off of the 2014 Ceres Juices 10K Series on Saturday.

Typically playing Cricket and Football as well, his Vincy team was eliminated from the June 1 Digicel Twenty 20 final and his Football team was not in action. Added to the mix, Guy Williamson, his biggest road racing rival was also absent.

Running unchallenged, Pipe took control within the first quarter mile of the City Circuit race en route to winning in 41 minutes and 33 seconds. He was followed by Julius Farley in 43:42 and Ian Montgomery in 43:55.

“First of all, I must give God thanks for health and strength in running this race,” Pipe said. “It was a flat course, no hills and I enjoyed it a lot. But, I miss Guy. If he was here, I would have run a faster race. I’m satisfied with the time of just over 40 minutes and hopefully I’ll get it down and under 40 minutes by the end of the series.“

Pipe said he set a goal of breaking 19 minutes in the recently concluded Blenheim Trust 5K Series and he accomplished it and is looking to meet his time goal in the longer race. “It will take some hard work and getting my body back into it again,” he explained. “I hope the races aren’t too far apart so I can train harder, keep my body fit and healthy so I can make the time.”

Katrina Crumpler—seventh overall—was the top woman in 47:47 and was followed by Prudence Cooper in 51:04 and NiMade Oniaish in 52.08.

Crumpler, who ran the Chicago Marathon in 3hrs 25.09 said it was a good course, a good turnout and she loves the 10K Series. “I’m still getting back into the season of running and I’m not back into form from last year,” she noted, with her last competition being a victory in the recent Virgin Gorda Half Marathon. “It’s a good enough time and I’m happy.”

The next race in the series that leads up to the BVI Half Marathon in November, is on June 28 in Carrot Bay.

Final Results: 1. Maxford Pipe, 41 minutes and 33 seconds.  2. Julius Farley, 43:42. 3. Ian Montgomery, 43:55. 4. Curwin Andrews, 44:59. 5. Ravindra Sukhu, 45:28. 6. Adam De Monte, 47:37. 7. David Kinkead, 48:06. 8. Zebalon McLean, 50:21. 9. Ciaran O’Shaughnessy, 50:26. 10. Adrian Dale, 50:32. 11. Shaun Reardon John, 50:57. 12. Charles Kerins, 52:08. 13. Joseph McIvor, 57:32. 14. Paul Hubbard, 53:16. 15. Shane Donovan, 54:26. 16. Jude Kinkead, 56:51. 17. Kenton Brewley, 1:00.36. 18. Ruairi Burke, 1:01.58. 19. Andrew Willins, 1:02.28. 20. Howard Moore, 1:04.47. 21. Stephen Beard, 1:07.09.

Women: 1. Katrina Crumpler, 47:47.  2. Prudence Cooper, 51:04. 3. NiMade Oniasih, 52:08.  4. Clare-Louise Whiley, 53:35.  5. Kay Reddy, 56:04.  6. Natasha Ruscheinski, 56:25. 7. Anna Kinkead, 56:52.  8. Sue Tucker, 57:30. 9. Gillian Plaxton, 58:12. 10. Rosmond Johnson, 58:42.  11. Sally Blackmore, 59:50. 12. Samantha Sukhu, 1:00.30. 13. Philomena Robertson, 1:04.16.  14. Maureen Peters, 1:04.57.  15. Amity Hill, 1:11.24.

Power Walking: Men. 1. Deberio Alexis, 1:28:17. Women: 1. Sophie Bennett, 1:31:32.  2. Juliet Wade, 1:37:40.

By: Dean Greenaway

Ashley Kelly, left, Nelda Huggins, Chantel Malone and Karene King became the BVI’s first athletes to compete in Nassau, Bahamas at the IAAF World Relays. Photo credit: Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

NASSAU, The Bahamas — The British Virgin Islands Women’s 4x100m Relay team ran the second fastest time in the territory’s history to reach the B final of the inaugural IAAF World Relays here in Nassau, The Bahamas and finished in the top 16.

Knowing just before they left that Tahesia Harrigan-Scott would not be joining them after pulling out of a race in Beijing, China on Wednesday with slight discomfort, the trio of Ashley Kelly, Chantel Malone, and Karene King, knew they’d have to help National Youth and National Jr. 100/200m sprinter Nelda Huggins at 17, one of the youngest women in the competition.

With only one day’s practice, they got the stick around and finished the semi final in 44.53 seconds just off the 44.34 national mark established in 2010 as the territory haven’t had many opportunities to field a senior squad in competition. In the B final, they placed seventh in 45.06 and all shared that it was a good experience.

“I wasn’t surprised that we made the B final because I knew we could come in here, handle business and definitely be in the top 16,” lead off leg, Kelly said. “We came together as a team. We motivated each other and I think we showed our maturity by embracing Nelda and she showed her maturity in handling business. I think that was important for us as a team to come together and embrace her and help her to learn.”

King, who anchored the squad described the meet as exciting. “I thought it was important for us making BVI history as the first 4x100m team to be at the IAAF World Relays,” she said. “As a small country, it shows that we can handle business at any time. We ran the second fastest time in our history and it was just a great experience.”

Malone who ran third leg said she thought the team held its own with Nelda coming in and learning the importance of unity and practicing. Since they don’t’ get an opportunity to be together often, the hand off was a challenge.

“If not a second (off our time) who knows, because I feel that once we get hand offs down pat, we can be much better,” she said. “Coming into this meet, we didn’t have one of the times that people would really look at and say we should watch out for them. I feel that even though we might be an underdog, we just have to stick to what we know and try to execute. We are a small country, but still could be a factor. We showed that today because nobody expected us to get to the B final, even though it was just the B. We had the slowest national record in our heat but we came out, worked as a team and brought it home.”

Huggins who will enter U20 competition next year said it was an experience that taught her she can’t play around. “It’s not like running with the U18s. These girls are serious,” she noted. “I took in a lot. It was fun being around the team, they are always joking and I learned a lot from them.”