By: BVI Athletics Association

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

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

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.”

By: Dean Greenaway

British Virgin Islands native and Central Arizona College freshman, Eldred Henry, won the National Jr. College Athletics Association Championships Discus Throw title on Saturday night, during the championships held at Mesa College, in Mesa, Arizona.

Henry, who was in second place throughout the competition earned the title on his final attempt which measured 54.35m. He was sixth in the Shot Put on Friday, with a heave of 16.73m.

Henry joins Omar Jones who on won the 2009 Javelin Throw title as the territory’s second JUCO National champion. He becomes the sixth BVI athlete to win Jr. College All America honors for Central Arizona, but the first to earn it in two events.

At the same competition ASA College freshman Khari Herbert helped his team earn Jr. College All America honors in the 4x400m Relay after placing sixth in 3 minutes 11.13 seconds with a third leg carry. He anchored them to 3:08.41 in the prelims.

In his open 400m, Herbert had a non advancing time of 48.59 seconds in the prelims.

At the North Carolina High School 4A State Championships, Cary High School Jr. Lakeisha “Mimi” Warner placed second in the 800m with a season’s best of 2:13.15.

By: Dean Greenaway

St. John’s Timothy “TJ” Hindes did his research, relied in his 8 Tuff Miles racing and course training, then executed his strategy to perfection en route to burying the field and winning Saturday’s 3^rd Virgin Gorda Half Marathon.

In his first trek to Virgin Gorda, Hindes wasted no time in breaking away from the field at the start, opened a sizeable gap that stretched to five minutes at one point by time he crossed the line in 1 hour 32 minutes and 34 seconds. Tortola resident Guy Williamson was second in 1:35.34 followed by Virgin Gorda’s Maxford Pipe in 1:39.37.

It was the fastest time run in the three editions of the race which this year featured a tougher and more challenging course.

“It’s the first Half Marathon I ever ran and my plan was to win it from the beginning. I looked online and saw that a 7:20 mile pace won it last year so I’ve been running 7:20 miles on St. John to stay ahead of it,” Hindes explained. “I did better than I thought I’d do in St. John’s 8 Tuff Miles, so I thought I could win it here. The course is tough. Those first seven miles up to Nail Bay, it was hard not to walk that.”

Hindes said his plan was to go out early and stay ahead because he likes hills. “I believe in myself and I run a lot of hills so I knew if I was ahead, I could coast on the way back,” he said. “The views are a little nicer than St. John. Everything is right there around the water.”

Williamson said the race is tougher than 8 Tuff Miles. “They should be calling this the 13 Tough Miles,” he said. It’s so unforgiving and you are using a lot of quad muscles or you’re flying down the hill using your hamstrings. You had to keep your head about yourself to ensure you can finish. The first half it takes a lot out of your legs trying to climb.”

Pipe said both Hindes and Williamson ran a great race and he tried his best to stay with them but ran out of fuel. He enjoyed the race and would do it again. “Trust me, it was very hard and I’m proud of my time under 1:40 up those hills,” he said. “I was surprised that Hindes went out so fast. I know the course quite well and I was saying he might break down during the race and get a chance to catch him but he didn’t. He ran a really good race and surprised me for sure.”

Woman’s winner, Kartina Crumpler who finished in 1:52.55, said the course was challenging. “Easily the hardest Half Marathon I’ve ever run.”

With support from the Valley Sound Lions Club, Valley Day School, BVI Cancer Society Virgin Gorda Branch, St. Mary’s School, Animal Rescue and Control (ARC) and Raw Skillz Track Club manning water stops and cheering participants on during key segments of the event, Race Director Casey McNutt said it was important to see everyone coming out and contributing to good health.

“That is very important to me and I love this community,” she said. “It’s important that we live healthy and long and doing so as a community is the only way to do it and they have done it,” McNutt noted. “We have made some improvements to the course. Some people hugged me and said it was a good course and others wanted to slap me and said never again. But, it was tough. Everyone started and finished.”

Adam D’Monte won the 6 Mile Challenge in 42.20 with Virgin Gorda resident Kathleen Brownsdon the top woman in 47.18.

Final Half Marathon Results. Male: 1. Timothy “TJ” Hindes, 1 hour 32 minutes and 34 seconds. 2. Guy Williamson, 1.37.35, 3. Maxford Pipe, 1.39.37, 4. Ravi Sukhu, 1.45.19, 5. Curwin Andrews, 1.50.40, 6. Alan Cundall, 1.51.36, 7. Michael Sheesley, 1.52.53, 8. Paul Hubbard, 1.59.24, 9. Chris Thomas, 2.00.50, 10. Adrian Dale, 2.04.23, 11. Gary Salter, 2.05.15, 12. Joseph McIvor, 2.06.30, 13. Rodrigo DosSantos, 2.08.19, 14. Russell Crumpler, 2.09.18, 15. Ezron Simmons, 2.15.11, 16. Patrick Ormond, 2.19.33, 17. Shane Donovan, 2.23.54, 18. Daniel Mitchell, 2.25.07, 19. Jermain Abrams, 2.26.42, 20. Josh Rossiter, 2.30.31, 21. Claude Walker, 2.30.49, 22. Zoltan Birinyi, 3.20.29, 23. Michael Bell, 3.33.48

Women: 1. Katrina Crumpler, 1.52.25, 2. NiMade Oinasih, 2.07.07, 3. Kay Reddy, 2.11.37, 4. Natasha Ruscheinski, 2.13.27, 5. Kayla Joseph, 2.15.13, 6. Vivian Toro, 2.18.35, 7. Rhiannon Jones, 2.20.46, 8. Sarah Hayes, 2.22.55, 9. Jessica Miles, 2.31.04, 10. Harriet Robertson, 2.32.54, 11. Rebecca Knight, 2.36.09, 12. Amanda Nadeau, 2.42.35, 13. Richie Paul, 2.42.53, 14. Rene’ deJongh, 2.43.36, 15. Kerry Ann DosSantos, 2.44.34, 16. Chantelle Whittle, 2.51.30, 17.Cherie Brown, 2.57.24, 18. Monique Simon, 3.02.19, 19. Tara Murphy, 3.02.59, 20. Amber Walker, 3.32.22, 21. Anna Kinkead.

6 Mile Challenge. Men: 1. Adam D’Monte, 42.20, 2. Julius Farley, 44.46, 3. Vaughan Van Oudtashoorn, 46.33, 4. Stefano Tasking, 47.03, 5. Ciaran O’Shaughnessy, 49.36, 6. Mike Peterson, 50.01, 7. Zebalon McLean, 54.24, 8. Kenton Jones, 54.46, 9. Manuel Saborido Lanzas, 56.51, 10. Khemron Tillack, 59.25, 11. Guy-Paul Dubois, 1.02.38, 12. Stephen Beard, 1.11.46, 13. Dwight Sanford, 1.16.28, 14. George Mayberry, 1.34.58, 15. Brendan O’Reilly, 1.36.42, 16. Guy Valde, 2.01.26.

Female:1. Kathleen Brownsdon, 47.18, 2. Sally Blackmore, 57.25, 3. Lindsay Wilson, 57.59, 4. Rosmond Johnson, 58.55, 5. Philomena Robertson, 59.31, 6. Ashley MacDonald, 1.00.14, 7. Arielle Goodley, 1.01.43, 8. Jude Holmes, 1.03.53, 9. Megan Buckley, 1.08.23, 10. Ghislaine Hoogendijk, 1.09.24, 11. Lucinda Ford, 1.14.53, 12. Emily Drinkwater, 1.18.38, 13. Jenny McCleary, 1.29.11, 14. Linda Li, 1.29.11, 15. Kate Purdy, 1.29.16, 16. Christina Yates, 1.31.50, 17. Luana Fernandez, 1.32.32, 18. Erica Shaw, 1.34.58, 19. Krystalle Fuller, 1.35.11, 20. Eliza Walker, 1.35.11, 21. Claudia Walker, 1.35.11, 22. Anne Syrett, 1.40.23, 23. Andrea Syrett, 1.40.23, 24. Chrissann Nickel, 1.48.28, 25. Andrea Herrera, 1.48.28, 26. Aysegul Sanford, 1.48.28

 

By: Dean Greenaway

Unlike last month’s Carifta Games, this time, Kyron McMaster doesn’t have to worry about hurdle height, after he secured a ticket to the July 22-27, IAAF World Jr. Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Competing at Saturday’s NTC/Pure Athletics competition in Clermont, Florida, McMaster finished third in 53.26 seconds to join Nelda Huggins as the second clear qualifier for the championships.

McMaster’s time demolished Steve Augustine’s 19-year old Jr. mark of 55.32 seconds. Augustine coaches McMaster in the hurdles where he ran 52.85 seconds in just his third race over the barriers to earn Carifta Games U18 Boys bronze.

He will also contest the Central American and Caribbean Jr. Championships in Morelia, Mexico, in a final tune up for World Jrs., during the July 4-6 competition.

Deya Erickson won her 100m Hurdles heat in 14.90 seconds.

At the same meet, Shaquoy Stephens won the open 100m in 10.45 seconds in a race that had a +4.0 meters per second tailwind. He finished third in his 200m event after running 22.19 seconds.

After running 11.61 seconds in her 100m prelim, Karene King was seventh in the elite final in 11.62. Taylor Hill was fifth in her open division 100m race in 12.30 seconds and ran 25.02, to win her 200m heat.