Ogier-Deloite BVI half marathon women’s record expected to fall

Ogier's Ray Wearmouth, right and Deloite's Natasha Ruscheinski, 2nd left, presents the sponsors check to BVI Half Marathon Director Kay Reddy and BVI Athletics Association President Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

Ogier’s Ray Wearmouth, right and Deloite’s Natasha Ruscheinski, 2nd left, presents the sponsors check to BVI Half Marathon Director Kay Reddy and BVI Athletics Association President Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

St. Thomas’ Ruth Ann David will lead six women including the BVI’s Kartina Crumpler through the streets of Tortola’s south coast roads on Saturday in pursuit of the Ogier-Deloite BVI Sunrise Half Marathon course record.

David—the defending champ—missed Meriel Stedman’s mark of 1 hour 34 minutes and 09 seconds by 10 seconds, after taking a wrong turn last year.

Then, there’s Crumpler—fresh off a career best in last month’s Chicago Marathon—seeking to run a personal best, which is under the record established by in 2011.

“The BVI actually have a few good runners this year and we do expect a tight, competitive race at the front and the sponsors have agreed to put up a $250 award for the course record,” noted race director Kay Reddy. “There’s a $500 award for breaking the overall course record of 1 hour 07 minutes and 38 seconds set in 2010, but this is new for the ladies so we are expecting to see half a dozen ladies battling it out at the front to set a new course record.” [Read more…]

Exhibition highlights VI’s sports for Sochi 2014 and Glasgow 2014

BVI's half-pipe skier for Winter Olympic Fames Sochi 2014, Peter Adam Crook answers questions at the BVIOC's multi sport exhibition

BVI’s half-pipe skier for Winter Olympic Fames Sochi 2014, Peter Adam Crook answers questions at the BVIOC’s multi sport exhibition

The BVI Ski Association, the BVI Athletics Association, the BVI Swimming Association, and the BVI Squash Rackets Association presented their respective sports to a rapt audience at an interactive exhibition hosted by the BVI Olympic Committee at the Tortola Sports Club last Saturday. The morning event highlighted the upcoming Winter Olympic Games Sochi 2014, and the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games in which qualified athletes will represent the Virgin Islands.

Peter Adam Crook (Adam), who earlier last week was officially presented as the territory’s half-pipe skier for Sochi 2014, and Joe Chapman, squash player for the VI in Glasgow 2014 presented their respective sports in the glass-fronted squash courts to a public that previously had very little exposure to either half-pipe skiing or squash.
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Potgieter Wins Third Straight College Classic Series Race

Young athletes are using the College Classic Series to prepare for the 2014 Track & Field season

Young athletes are using the College Classic Series to prepare for the 2014 Track & Field season

Juliane Potgieter ran a personal best of 14 minutes 05.43 seconds, to win her third successive Highland Spring College Classic Series race Saturday on Tortola and locked up the women’s crown.

Following two second place finishes, Guy Williamson won his first race in the absence of defending champ Khiry Creque. He had a winning time of 11:33.12.

In the Cross Country segment, Cedar Secondary and the Rotary Club of Tortola have secured the overall wins in their respective divisions. The Rotary Club have won their ninth successive title over their other service club counterparts.

The other divisions will be decided during the series finale on November 16.  In the one mile, race Johari Laey who won the last outing, had an unfortunate fall at the start was able to recover and cross the line third behind Sam Potgieter and M’Khori Crabbe. A’Keela McMaster picked up another victory with Jahtivya Willams placing second.  It will be a battle for the win amongst these three males and two females in the final race.
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VI heading to Winter Olympic Games Sochi 2014 and XX Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2014

BVIOC to launch awareness campaign at interactive, multi-sports exhibition

BVIOC PosterThe Virgin Islands will be represented in the half-pipe ski event at the Winter Olympic Games Sochi 2014, and in squash, swimming, and athletics at the XX Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2014. In April 2014, the Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay will be in the VI.

The BVI Olympic Committee in collaboration with the BVI Athletics Association, the BVI Ski Association, the BVI Squash Racquets Association, and the BVI Swimming Association will host a free, interactive, multi-sports exhibition at the Tortola Sports Club on Saturday, October 26, 2014 from 8.30am – 12.00pm to showcase these international games, the sports, and some of the athletes who will be representing the VI.

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BVIAA marks 43rd anniversary with annual general meeting

2012-'16 BVIAA Executive Committee

2012-2016 BVI Athletics Association Executive Committee

The BVI Athletics Association—founded on Sept 19, 1970—marked its 43rd anniversary with an Annual General Meeting held at the Elmore Stoutt High School. The meeting attracted members, coaches, athletes and parents.

Towards the end of the life of the 2008-2012 Executive Committee, a decision was taken to adjust the association’s calendar year from January 1-December 31, to September 1-August 31, to give the new Executive Committee adequate time to plan for the 2013 season. As a result, elections were moved from December 5, 2012 to October 15. Thus, the current Executive Committee has been in place and done a magnificent job over the last year.
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Eldred Henry 4th in Pan Am Jr Championships Shot Put

Eldred Henry competes in the 17th Pan Am Jr. Championships Shot Put in Medellin, Colombia, where he placed 4th for the best ever finish by a BVI athlete in the competition. PHOTO: Liga de Atletismo DeAntioquia

Eldred Henry competes in the 17th Pan Am Jr. Championships Shot Put in Medellin, Colombia, where he placed 4th for the best ever finish by a BVI athlete in the competition. PHOTO: Liga de Atletismo DeAntioquia

Eldred Henry brought the curtains down on the 2013 track and field season with the best finish ever by a British Virgin Islands athlete in the Pan American Jr. Championships, when he placed fourth in the 6K Shot Put on Sunday evening, in the 17th edition of the competition held in Medellin, Colombia.

Henry’s performance came after equaling Samantha John’s 2009 fifth place finish in the 800m, when he heaved the Discus out to a Jr. National Record throw on Friday night.

Henry, who will begin his studies as a Central Arizona College freshman on Wednesday, tossed the 6k ball 17.75m. “I felt pretty good in the beginning and had a good warm up and a few good practice throws. My first throw was my best which was 17.75m,” he noted. “My second throw of 17.50 didn’t come together the way I wanted it to but it was still pretty good. Then, it started to rain and that threw me off my game completely. I was slipping in ring and the ball had no grip due to the fact that it was wet and it went down hill from there. But, the good thing is my first throw was able to keep me in the fourth place position throughout the competition.”

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BVI sending four to the 17th Pan Am Jr Championships in Colombia

Shot Putter and Discus Thrower Eldred Henry, a Central Arizona freshman will lead the team  to the Pan Am Jr. Championships. PHOTO Credit: Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

Shot Putter and Discus Thrower Eldred Henry, a Central Arizona freshman will lead the team to the Pan Am Jr. Championships. PHOTO Credit: Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

Four athletes — including one sprinter — will represent the British Virgin Islands at the 17th Pan American Jr. Championships in Medellin, Colombia, from Friday through Sunday.

Comprising the team are: twin sisters Trevia and Tynelle Gumbs who will contest the Shot Put and Javelin Throws respectively. Eldred Henry — now a Central Arizona College freshman — will tackle both the Shot Put and Discus Throw. The Gumbs sisters and Henry, were all Carifta Games medalists earlier this season.

Shaquoy Stephens, the lone sprinter on the squad, is entered in both the 100 and 200m. BVIAA assistant General Secretary is the team official.

The BVI Athletics Association sincerely thanks the BVI Government, led by Sports Minister Hon. Myron Walwyn, for facilitating the team’s participation in the season ending competition.

BVIAA’s Kiddies Athtletics Summer Camp wraps up on high note

Participants with their awards in the BVI Athletics Association's Kiddies Athletics Summer Camp in Capoons Bay on Saturday. PHOTO Credit: Asson Electronics

Participants with their awards in the BVI Athletics Association’s Kiddies Athletics Summer Camp in Capoons Bay on Saturday. PHOTO Credit: Asson Electronics

A mini track meet featuring hurdles, a formula 1 obstacle course and relays, wrapped up the BVI Athletics Association’s Kiddies Athletics Summer Camp in Capoons Bay on Saturday.
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King will use World Championships experience for future growth

Karene King competing in the 14th IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Russia. PHOTO Credit: Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

Karene King competing in the 14th IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Russia. PHOTO Credit: Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

The weather in Moscow, Russia was to Karene King’s liking—like her training base in Portland, Oregon, where she prepared under the watchful eye of Ronnye Harrison—who took her from a 25.34 seconds runner when she arrived to 23.24, to qualify for the 14th IAAF World Championships.

Her warm up for her debut 200m race went great—she felt loose and ‘stretchable’ than got the call to enter the call room.
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IAAF Silver Medalist Relay Team Welcomed home with ceromony and motorcade

paradeThe Virgin Islands sprint relay silver medal team and other athletes returned from the IAAF World Youth Championships held in Donetsk, Ukraine to warm hugs and kisses at the Road Town Ferry Terminal this afternoon, July 18.

Welcoming home the team were Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon. Dr. D. Orlando Smith and other members of Government, track and field officials and the athletes’ parents, friends and well-wishers.

Following the meet and greet, the athletes were featured in a motorcade through the streets of Tortola before an official ceremony at the Central Admin Complex.

On Sunday, the team of Taylor Hill, Nelda Huggins, Jonel Lacey and Tarika “Tinker Bell” Moses finished second in the Girls Medley Relay behind the United States, for the Territory’s first IAAF World Youth Championships medal.

The medal is the second for the Territory at an IAAF World Championships series event in five years. Tahesia Harrigan-Scott won the IAAF World Indoor Championships 60m bronze in 2008.

Lakeisha “Mimi” Warner on Saturday anchored the team into the automatic qualifying position in the finals behind Canada.

The BVI delegation also included Trevia Gumbs and Kyron McMaster, as well as officials Stephanie Russ Penn, Winston Potter and Ralston “Grandfather” Henry.