Podium finishes and personal bests for BVI athletes abroad

February 2, 2017 by

By BVI Athletics Associaiton

University of Findlay junior Tynelle Gumbs named Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Female Field Athlete of the Week following her performance at the Elite Throws at the Findlay Classic. It is the second week in a row that Gumbs has earned this award. Photo: University of Findlay

Ashley Kelly opened her season in the 200m with a time of 24.15s to place her second in the Boston University John Thomas Terrier Classic missing the number one spot by .10s to Shenel Crooke. Ashley’s indoor personal best is 24.07.

Trevia Gumbs placed 3rd in the weight throw with a toss of 17.43m ( 57-02.25 ft) at the Findlay Classic Meet hosted by University of Findlay, Ohio.

Tynelle Gumbs established a personal best in the shot put with a throw of 13.23m (43-06.00 ft) to place 4th. Tynelle also had an opportunity to compete in the elite section of the Weight Throw event to place 2nd with a throw of 20.53m (67-04.75 ft). Tynelle was also named the University of Findlay Athlete of the Week for the 2nd consecutive week.

Jonel Lacey placed 6th in the 200m with a time of 25.06s and aided her teammates in the 4X400m to secure 2nd with a time of 3:44.98 at the Ocean Breeze Complex, Staten Island.

J.H. Phillips Academy student, 13 year old Nechanti Thomas placed 3rd (out of 38 competitors) in the 60m dash with a time of 8.45s at the Birmingham Middle School Indoor Gold Standard Meet.

Tarique Moses placed 1st in his heat in the 600m with a personal best of 1:22.70 seconds to improve his previous 1.25 seconds at Paradise Valley in Phoenix, AZ.

Rikkoi Brathwaite ran the 55m n 6.63 seconds to place 4th out of a total of 128 competitors at the David Oliver Invitation at Winston-Salem NC. Rikkoi also ran the 300m in 37 seconds to place 19th out of 153 competitors.

 

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Behind the Scenes at Rio 2016 with Ashley Kelly

August 13, 2016 by
Ashley Kelly in team wear at Rio 2016 Photo: BVIOC

Ashley Kelly in team wear at Rio 2016 Photo: BVIOC

After the whirlwind of excitement of leading Team BVI as the British Virgin Islands’ Flag Bearer into the Maracana Stadium at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, Ashley Kelly switched into full training mode for the upcoming Women’s 200m heats which kick off at 8.35am on Monday, August 15.

Waking up bright and early on day 6 of the Olympics, Ashley grabs a bowl of cereal and makes her way to the Athletes’ Transport hub with Head Athletics Coach Winston Potter and personal coach, Pete Charles. Plugging in to some tunes, Ashley takes the opportunity to focus on the morning ahead during the 20-minute bus ride.

The sun is out and it’s a moderately cool and temperate day in Rio. The Navy Base Club, one of the three athletic training grounds for Rio 2016, is active with athletes from all over the world clustered in small groups on the track field. The trio that make up Ashley’s group find a spot under the tent and discuss the set of exercises that Ashley will do that morning.

“I don’t normally get a say in what my training schedule looks like,” says Ashley. “I can tell Coach if my body is particularly
hurting but otherwise, it’s his decision on what I will be doing that day.”

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Ashley Kelly training at Rio 2016. Photo: BVIOC

Ashley begins her session with stretches and limb warm ups. “I’m not doing any starts today,” she explains. “It’s a light training day so I’ll do a couple of short sprints and finish with one hard 200m sprint.”

The following day being a rest day means that Ashley will go back and have a session with the Team BVI physiotherapist, Matt McGrath. “I don’t tend to have treatment if I’m training the next day because Matt’s work goes deep into my muscle and it takes a while for the soreness to dissipate.”

Matt agrees, explaining that the physical response to the targeted treatment varies from individual to individual.

Ashley Kelly with Head Athletic Coach Winston Potter and personal coach, Pete Charles. Photo: BVIOC

Ashley Kelly with Head Athletic Coach Winston Potter and personal coach, Pete Charles. Photo: BVIOC

Ashley had incorporated some light gym work in her training regime at the start of the week just to warm up her muscles. “At this point, it’s not about building or strengthening muscles and Tuesday was my last day at the gym. The hard work has been done and now it’s about keeping in optimal condition for competition.”

There is a lot of support for each other in the three apartments shared by the Team BVI delegation of athletes, coaches, physiotherapist and Chef de Mission at Olympic Village. Everyone is on a different schedule but there is constant communication between them through social media chats to make sure that everyone is kept up to date with information, plans (and jokes).

There are dining options in the Village but as a person who likes her fresh fruits, Ashley keeps a stock to hand along with healthy snacks that she tucks into as she feels like.

Ashley Kelly in training at at Rio 2016. Photo: BVIOC

Ashley Kelly in training at at Rio 2016. Photo: BVIOC

“I’ve met up with some of my peers from Illinois and other track meets and I’ve had the opportunity to watch some fencing and basketball,” says Ashley of her extra curricular time at her first Olympic Games. “Those are the two sports I was particularly keen to see at this level and that’s enough for now. My end game is why I’m here and that’s what I’m focused on.”

Filed Under: Athletics, BVI Olympic Committee, Rio News Tagged With: , , , ,

Rio 2016 Team BVI in the count down to competition days

August 8, 2016 by
Team BVI at Rio2016 Opening Ceremony 1

Team BVI ready for the Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony (l-r): Benoit Grattepanche, Swimming Coach; Ashley Kelly, (200m) Flag bearer; Elinah Phillip (50m Freestyle); Eldred Henry (Shot Put) Tracy Bradshaw, Swimming Chaperone; Tahesia Harrigan-Scott (100m); Stephanie Russ Penn, Chef de Mission; Winston Potter, Athletics Head Coach.

The day after the Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony, the four members of the British Virgin Islands team took time to recover from an exciting and late night and started the training count down to their first competition dates.

This is the third consecutive Olympiad for 100m sprinter, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott, and the first Olympic Games for 200m runner, Ashley Kelly, shot putter, Eldred Henry and 16-year old swimmer, Elinah Phillip.

Athletics head coach, Winston Potter, swimming coach, Benoit Grattepanche, and physiotherapist, Matt McGrath have the athletes’ daily training, physiotherapy and rest schedules in place. All four athletes are on programmes designed to prepare their muscles for peak performance on action day.

BVI's Ashley Kelly in training at Rio 2016

BVI’s 200m runner, Ashley Kelly in training at Rio 2016

“Sunday was my last day in the weight room,” said Ashley. “I worked on power stuff – light and fast – before hitting the track. All the work is done so I am just working on firing up my muscles and getting sharp.”

Settled in three adjacent apartments in the Olympic Village, the delegation of athletes, coaches, physiotherapist and doctor – under the guardianship of Chef de Mission, Stephanie Russ Penn – have created a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere which is critical for the athletes’ mental and emotional preparation for the competitions.

Reflecting on the Opening Ceremony held on August 5, the athletes agreed that the experience was unique, with Tahesia stating that the enthusiasm and warmth of the crowd was a stand out for her.

Ashley had the honour of leading the team as the flag bearer, entering the Maracana Stadium as the 203rd country out of 207.

The outfits worn by the team reflected the green, white, and gold of the territory’s official colors. It included a white dress and green cardigan for the ladies and white jacket and pants for the men – both outfits accented with a blue scarf imprinted with the green, white, and gold Vigilate.

“We worked with Kristin Frazer of Trefle Designs who was a key person in conceptualizing the ensemble,” said Stephanie. “She was the designer of the dresses and jacket while the team at Quami’s Sewing design Ltd. assisted in the production of the tailor made outfits. Everyone was excited to be part of this and the BVIOC extends sincere thanks for their support.”

Live coverage of all Olympic events in which the territory’s athletes are competing, along with live coverage of the Caribbean’s athletes, will be broadcast on CBN Television Channel 51 and on CBN Radio 90.9FM. Events take place from 8.00am until 2.00pm EST and in the evenings from 7.00pm until 11.00pm EST. Rey O’Neal will be in the studio for live commentary and analysis of the VI’s athletes during their events.

The VI’s athletes’ first round of events are scheduled to take place on August 12 with Tahesia Harrigan-Scott in the Women’s 100m Preliminary Round / Round 1. The Women’s 100m semi finals and final will take place on August 13.

Also on August 12, Elinah Phillip will compete in the Women’s 50m Freestyle Heats with the semi finals taking place later that day. The final for the 50m Freestyle takes place on August 13.

On August 15 Ashley Kelly will compete in Round 1 of the 200M. The semi finals will take place on August 16 and the final on August 17.

On August 18, Eldred Henry will be throwing the Shot Put.

Updates on the VI’s athletes at Rio 2016 will be posted on the BVIOC accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and can be found on these platforms under BVI Olympic Committee.

Supporters are encourage to use the hashtag handle #teambvi.

Filed Under: Athletics, Rio News, Swimming Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Ashley Kelly selected as Flag Bearer for Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony

August 2, 2016 by
Chef de Mission Stephanie Russ Penn arrived in Brazil ahead of the athletes and delegation for final preparations prior to their arrival for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

Chef de Mission Stephanie Russ Penn arrived in Brazil ahead of the athletes and delegation for final preparations prior to their arrival for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

The British Virgin Islands Olympic Committee today announced the selection of Ashley Kelly as the flag bearer for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games. Ashley, who qualified in April this year to compete in her first Olympic Games in the 200m, will lead Team BVI at the Opening Ceremony on August 5.

“It’s an honour to have been selected as the flag bearer and I am incredibly proud to have been given the opportunity to introduce the Virgin Islands and team BVI as we join the opening ceremony parade at the Maracana Stadium this Friday. This is my first Olympic Games and I feely doubly blessed to have qualified for an event I trained so long and hard for and to serve as ambassador for my country.”

Ashley is one of the VI’s four athletes who will be competing in Rio 2016. Tahesia Harrigan-Scott makes history as she competes in her third Olympic Games in the 100m dash, while Eldred Henry debuts in the Shot Put and 16-year old Elinah Phillip takes the title of being the first swimmer to represent the VI in the Olympics when she competes in the 50m Freestyle.

Chef de Mission, Stephanie Russ Penn arrived in Rio, Brazil on July 29 ahead of the VI delegation to tend to administrative tasks and ensure that all preparations are complete for the smooth transition of the athletes and coaches upon their arrival to the Athletes Village and training venues.

“It has been an extremely busy but exciting few days,” said Mrs. Russ Penn. “There have been challenges with accommodation but these should be resolved by the time the athletes arrive in the next couple of days. The organisers of the Games are working hard to bring things together and we have been assigned a very capable assistant, Elaine, to help us throughout our time here. The Olympic Aquatic Stadium seems to be in good order and the Olympic Stadium is ready for action.”

Chef de Mission Stephanie Russ Penn signed the Wall of Truce and exchanged gifts with Rio 2016 at the welcome ceremony held on August 1 for the VI, Afghanistan, Ireland, Rwanda, and Turkmenistan.

Chef de Mission Stephanie Russ Penn signed the Wall of Truce and exchanged gifts with Rio 2016 at the welcome ceremony held on August 1 for the Virgin Islands, Afghanistan, Ireland, Rwanda, and Turkmenistan.

Mrs. Russ Penn attended the flag raising ceremony on August 1 where the Territorial flag was hoisted at the Athletes Village as part of the opening ceremonies to symbolize the representation of all the nations attending the Games. Describing the occasion as pleasing and enjoyable, Mrs Russ Penn signed the Wall of Truce and received the gift to the territory from Rio 2016.

Live coverage of all Olympic events including the events in which the territory’s athletes are competing and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies will be broadcast on CBN Television Channel 51 and on CBN Radio 90.9FM. Events take place from 8.00am until 2.00pm EST and in the evenings from 7.00pm until 11.00pm EST.

The broadcast contracted to ESPN Caribbean by CANOC Broadcasting Inc (CBI), will focus on Caribbean sports and will include interviews of Caribbean athletes prior to the events. Rey O’Neal will be in the studio for live commentary and analysis of the VI’s athletes during their events.

The VI’s athletes first round of events are scheduled to take place on August 12 with Tahesia Harrigan-Scott in the Women’s 100m Preliminary Round / Round 1. The Women’s 100m semi finals and final will take place on August 13.

Also on August 12, Elinah Phillip will compete in the Women’s 50m Freestyle Heats with the semi finals taking place later that day. The final for the 50m Freestyle takes place on August 13.

On August 15 Ashley Kelly will compete in Round 1 of the 200M. The semi finals will take place on August 16 and the final on August 17.

On August 18, Eldred Henry will be throwing the Shot Put.

Updates on the VI’s athletes at Rio 2016 will be posted on the BVIOC accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and can be found on these platforms under BVI Olympic Committee. Fans are encouraged to use the handle #GoTeamBVI in their social media posts to show their support.

Filed Under: Athletics, BVI Olympic Committee, Rio News, Swimming Tagged With: , , ,

Live broadcast of VI’s four athletes competing in Rio 2016 Olympics

July 20, 2016 by
Rio 2016 #TeamBVI - Live action on CBN Channel 51

Rio 2016 #TeamBVI – Live action on CBN Channel 51

Four athletes will represent the Virgin Islands at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games which take place in Brazil from August 5 – 21. The BVI Olympic Committee confirmed that the VI’s qualified track runners, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott (100m) and Ashley Kelly (200m) will be joined by young swimmer, Elinah Phillip (50m Freestyle) and field athlete, Eldred Henry (Shot Put) competing through the universality invitation.

CANOC Broadcasting Inc (CBI) acquired the broadcast rights for the Rio 2016 Olympics and the local scheduling of live broadcasts of events in which Caribbean national athletes will compete. Events take place from 8.00am until 2.00pm and in the evenings from 7.00pm until 11.00pm.

The broadcast on ESPN Caribbean will cover all Olympic events including the Opening and Closing Ceremonies but will focus on Caribbean sports as well as interviews of Caribbean athletes prior to the events. The live coverage can be seen on CBN Television Channel 51 and listened to on the radio by tuning into CBN Radio 90.9FM.

Furthermore, the BVI Olympic Committee has invested in a decoder to be used by CBN to ensure that fans in the VI can follow the live broadcast of all the events in which the VI’s athletes will be competing.

The first rounds for these events are scheduled to take place on August 12 with Tahesia Harrigan-Scott in the Women’s 100m Preliminary Round / Round 1. The Women’s 100m semi finals and final will take place on August 13. Also on August 12, Elinah Phillip will compete in the Women’s 50m Freestyle Heats with the semi finals taking place later that day. The final for the 50m Freestyle takes place on August 13.

On August 15 Ashley Kelly will compete in Round 1 of the 200M. The semi finals will take place on August 16 and the final on August 17. On August 18, Eldred Henry will be throwing the Shot Put.

Mr. Rey O’Neal will be in the studio during the competitions with commentary and analysis of athlete performances.

“This will be the first time that we will have live broadcasting of our athletes in competition at the Olympic Games,” said Ephraim Penn, President of the BVIOC. “We invested in the decoder because we really want viewers and supporters to be able to watch the action for which our athletes have trained so hard. The Olympic Games are the pinnacle and goal of every athlete and it is no mean feat to have gained a spot in this global event. There are flexible, affordable advertising opportunities during the Olympic Games broadcasts on CBN Channel 51 and any interested persons should contact the BVIOC on (284) 494 6920 or by email at cmfarrington@bviolympics.org.”

CBN will also be broadcasting the semi finals and finals for the VI’s other national federation sports of Archery, Basketball, Cycling, Football, Rugby, Tennis, Taekwondo, and Volleyball. FLOW customers will also be able to watch alternative live feeds through the FLOW ID app.

Updates on the VI’s athletes at Rio 2016 will be posted on the BVIOC accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and can be found on these platforms under BVI Olympic Committee.

Chef de Mission for Rio 2016, Stephanie Russ Penn will be traveling to Rio one week in advance of the August 5 Opening Ceremony to prepare for the arrival of the athletes.

In addition to Mrs. Russ Penn, the official delegation to Rio 2016 includes Winston Potter, Athletics Coach, Omar Jones, Athletics Coach, Benoit Grattepanche, Swimming Coach, Tracy Bradshaw, Swimming Chaperone, Matthew McGrath, Physiotherapist, Dr. Harlan Vanterpool, Doctor, Mark Chapman, Olympic Attache, Ephraim Penn, President, BVIOC and Lloyd Black, Secretary General.

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BVI Women Caps Record Setting Day With OECS 4x100m Relay Record

July 5, 2016 by
OECSRelay

BVI relay quartet: L-R: Ashley Kelly, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott, Chantel Malone and Karene King. PHOTO: Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

By BVI Athletics Assocation

Hosts British Virgin Islands Women’s 4x100m Relay, capped a record setting Day 1 of the 2nd OECS Championships, by breaking the seven-year old OECS mark established by St. Kitts-Nevis in 2009.

In all, 11 Championships Records and eight All Comers Records were established on the A. O. Shirley Grounds, under overcast conditions.

With non OECS member Puerto Rico looking to solidify their No. 16 ranking for next month’s Rio Olympic Games and hosts BVI seeking to improve on their 44.05 seconds mark, starter Ashley Kelly-coming off taking down the championships 400m record and also a BVI national mark-got them off to a good start but Puerto Rico’s sprinter Beatrice Cruz gained some ground.

Cruz’s gain was suddenly taken back with veteran sprinter Taheisa Harrigan-Scott, who ran a stellar second leg to hand off to Long Jumper Chantel Malone. Malone, with a slight lead passed off to Karene King ahead of Genoiska Cancel.

With the hometown faithful on their feet, anchor leg King stormed home trying to hold off the charging ex Southern California All American Carol Rodriguez, who nipped her at the the line in a Puerto Rican National Record of 43.43 seconds, to break their six-year old mark of 43.46. The BVI finished in 43.45 seconds-their first time under 44.00-and in the process wiped out St. Kitts-Nevis’ OECS Record of 43.53. St. Kitts-Nevis-with two members of their 2009 record setting squad in the lineup-placed third in 45.19.

Puerto Rico’s time erased the three-year old All Comers Record of 43.97 seconds set by Canada in 2013.

With three teams in the lineup-OECS Record holders Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts-Nevis and non OECS member Barbados all of whom had run 38.65 seconds or faster-the soft eight-year old All Comers Record of 41.10 seconds established by Puerto Rico was going to fall.

Barbados in particular, ranked No. 17 among relay teams eyeing a spot in Rio, came to the meet needing to run 38.59 seconds, which would have bumped Cuba from the No. 16 position.

St. Kitts-Nevis got out fast, holding a lead through the first three legs before the serious running began.

By the time the pecking order was established at the finish, Antigua and Barbuda’s Miguel Francis-with the second fastest 200m time in the world this year of 19.88 seconds and coming off winning the 100m in 10.34 seconds-ran past Barbados’ Mario Burke to win in 38.91 seconds a Championships Record, wiping out St. Kitts-Nevis’ 39.38 time from 2014. Barbados followed in 39.11 and St. Kitts-Nevis got to the line in 39.39.

The Championships Records began falling when, the BVI’s Harrigan-Scott ran a season’s best of 11.25 seconds-just 03 off her 11.22 All Comers Record from 2010-to win the 100m and erased Dominica’s Hermine Joseph’s 11.83 seconds from 1991, in the earlier version of the championships.

Kelly then followed with a Championships Record, after measuring her steps to nip fast starting and defending champion Kineke Alexander of St. Vincent and the Grenadines at the tape, 52.29-52.30. It was a personal best and National Record, erasing the 52.35 established by Malone in 2010. Grenada’s Kanika Beckles was third in 53.37.

In the men’s 400m race, St. Kitts-Nevis’ Warren Hazel had a comfortable 46.30 seconds victory over the BVI’s Khari Herbert who ran 46.63, and destroyed his countryman Lestrod Roland’s meet record 47.67 from 2014. St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Brandon Valentine-Parris, finished third in 46.77.

The next meet and All Comers Record to fall on the track came when St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Delhonni Nicols-Samuel lapped everyone except second placer Reon Radix, to win the 5000m in 15 minutes, 08.62 seconds. Grenada’s Radix, ran 15:59.09 while countryman Tallan James was third in 16:38.55. Nicols-Samuel’s time, erased St. Lucia’s Jason Sayers All Comers mark of 15:40.32, from 2002.

Marbeq Edgar led a St. Lucian 1-2 finish in the 800m, while erasing Antigua and Barbuda’s Dale Jones’ 26 year old mark of 1 minute 53.5 seconds covering the two circuits in 1:50.22 as the new Championships Record. Michael James was second in 1:51.30 and St. Kitt-Nevis’ Masai Jeffers, third in 1:53.25.

Tynelle Gumbs of the BVI, started off the field events record spree, when she added more than 10 meters on to St. Vincent and the Grenadine’s 37.32m mark from 2014, for a Championships, All Comers and National Record, with her 47.51m measurement. Twin sister Trevia was second with a throw of 43.93m, while St. Kitts-Nevis’ Stavia Lewis also went over the old mark with her 38.74m effort.

In the men’s equivalent, BVI strongman Eldred Henry claimed the 26-year old meet record of 49.22m established by Dominica’s Brian Bynoe, with a third round throw of 53.22m. Henry’s mark also wiped out Eric Matthias’ 51.51m 2008 All Comers Record.

With the Triple Jump being contested for the first time in the history of the championships, St. Lucia’s Sandisha Antoine laid down the standard with a fourth round 13.38m leap, after opening with 13.34m, to break Malone’s eight-year old All Comers Record of 12.40m.

Dominica’s Thea LaFond was second after cutting the sand at 12.70m while Kala Penn of the BVI secured third place with her second round leap of 12.39m.

St. Kitts-Nevis’ Jermaine Francis took down the BVI’s Raymond Solomon’s 25-year old High Jump Championships Record of 2.10m and Karl Scatliffe’s All Comers Record of 2.13m, with his leap of 2.16m.

After Day I, St. Kitts held a five points advantage over St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 65-60, in the Men’s Division. Grenada is third with 46. The BVI has 33, St. Lucia, 31, Antigua and Barbuda 26, Dominica 18 and Montserrat 8.

In the Women’s Division, host BVI amassed 69 points followed by Grenada with 42. St. Kitts occupies third place with 29, one ahead of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Defending champions St. Lucia is in fifth place with 15. Antigua and Barbuda is on 11 points, Anguilla 10 and Dominica 8.

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Penn Relays, Personal Best for BVI Track Athletes

May 3, 2016 by

By BVI Athletics Association

Ashley Kelly, Karene King, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott and Chantel Malone at the Penn Relays. Photo: Provided

Ashley Kelly, Karene King, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott and Chantel Malone at the Penn Relays. Photo: Provided

The British Virgin Islands quartet of Ashley Kelly, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott, Chantel Malone and Karene King, competed at the prestigious Penn Relays in the USA vs the World 4x100m relay on Saturday, April 30. They finished sixth in 44.97 seconds.

At the NTC/Pure Athletics Spring invitational in Clermont, FL, Lakeisha ‘Mimi” Warner was second after chopping her 400m personal best from 55.88 seconds earlier this year to 54.96, becoming the seventh BVI female athlete under 55.00 seconds in the process. Judine Lacey was fourth in the same heat in 57.46.

Tarika ‘Tinker Bell’ Moses won section 4 of her 200m heat in a personal best of 24.14 seconds, while Jonel Lacey lowered her three-year old best from 24.68 to 24.20, to finish fourth in section three. Warner and Moses qualified for the July 19-24, IAAF World Jr. Championships in a second event, with their respective marks. Warner’s 58.14 seconds at the Carifta Games qualified her in the 400m Hurdles, while Moses’ 53.72 in the 400m, also came at Carifta. Both of their Carifta marks were personal bests.

At the Sunshine Invitational Sprint meet in Miami’s Tropical Park on May 2, Moses followed up her 200m personal record by shaving .06 off her 400m best in winning the event in 53.66 seconds. Jonel Lacey became the eighth BVI female under 55.00, when she obliterated her 55.78 personal best from earlier this season with 54.76.

Harrigan-Scott used a windy 11.28 to win the 100m final, after advancing with 11.55. King who did not contest the 100m final after a seasons best 11.64, won the 200m in 23.61.

Warner ran 2 minutes 13.27 seconds to win the 800m.

Adaejah Hodge qualified for the Georgia State Championships after excellent showing in the Smyrna District Championships. After stumbling out the blocks, she won the 100m in 14.03 seconds, then placed second in the 200m in 28.32 seconds and leapt 12’11” a mark good for second in the Long Jump. The state championships will be held on May 14.

Twins and Central Arizona sophomores Trevia and Tynelle Gumbs, are competing in the Region One Championships, May 3 – 5.

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BVI Quartet Improves 4x100m Relay National Record

April 27, 2016 by

By BVI Athletics Association

Karene King, left, Chantel Malone,Tahesia Harrigan-Scott and Ashley Kelly. Photo: Annabelle Skelton-Malone

Karene King, left, Chantel Malone,Tahesia Harrigan-Scott and Ashley Kelly. Photo: Annabelle Skelton-Malone

Running together for the first time since 2013, the BVI’s quartet of Ashley Kelly, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott, Chantel Malone and Karene King, broke their six year old 4 x 100m Relay National Record at the Tom Jones Memorial Classic in Gainesville, Fla., on Friday.

In placing second, the quartet had a time of 44.05 seconds, to erase the 44.34 mark they established in 2010 on home soil, in beating St, Kitts-Nevis, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) record holders. Their mark is the third best ever recorded by an OECS squad behind St. Kitts-Nevis’ 43.52 and 43.98 from 2009.

They will line up at the Penn Relays on Saturday in the USA vs Rest of the World.

In individual competition, Malone won the Long Jump with a leap of 6.43m, while Harrigan-Scott had a season’s best of 11.34 seconds in the 100m. Kelly lowered her five-year old 100m best from 11.61 seconds to 11.58, and moved from No. 5 to No. 3 on the territory’s All Time List. King ran her 200m in 23.97.

St. Augustine’s Jr. Khari Herbert, was second in the CIAA Conference Championships 400m with a season’s best 46.95 seconds, after advancing with 47.17. He anchored the 4x400m Relay to a second place finish in 3 minutes, 12.39 seconds in helping retain the conference title with 203 points.

At the Triton Invitational in San Diego, twin sisters and Central Arizona sophomores Tynelle and Trevia Gumbs, had marks of 50.18m and 47.58m respectively in the Hammer Throw on Friday. Tynelle then threw the Discus 39.83m and Trevia, 39.69m. In Saturday’s action, Tynelle had a disappointing mark of 34.05m in the Javelin while Trevia recorded a season’s best of 13.48m in the Open Shot Put.

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Kelly Gets Olympic Games Qualifier In Florida Relays

April 5, 2016 by
Photo courtesy of BVI Milesplit

Photo courtesy of BVI Milesplit

By BVI Athletics Association

Ashley Kelly made her outdoor season debut a memorable one by becoming the second BVI athlete qualifying for this summer’s Rio Olympic Games in the 200m while Chantel Malone claimed the Long Jump title also in a season’s best at the Florida Relays.

Kelly finished second in the 200m in 23.17 seconds in the process of lowering the 23.36 she ran last year for the No. 2 mark on the BVI’s All Time List behind Tahesia Harrigan-Scott’s 22.98 from 2007. Kelly returned 35 minutes later and had her fastest 400m time since competing for Illinois, when she covered the oval in 52.95 seconds.

“I think it was a really good way to bounce back from my disappointing performance at indoor worlds and to top it off with a Rio qualifier, I’m really excited about that,” Kelly said. “My goal was to really get a good race, a solid race most of all, and I was hoping I could get a qualifier earlier because of how I was practicing. But after worlds, we tried to take it a bit easy because I have a long season and transitioning from indoor to outdoor.”

Although qualifying for Rio, Kelly said when she saw her 52.95 seconds 400m time she was really excited about it.

“I don’t know why I was excited about the 400 time more than the 200,” she said. “In the 400, I wasn’t thinking of anything else. I just went out and tried to execute. I was in the race pretty much by myself because the other girl ran 54.41. From the first 60m, it was just about me breathing and knowing when to transition. I’m happy with the the time.”

Malone leapt 6.66m in the Long Jump, missing the Rio qualifying standard by 4cms and her personal best established last year by 3cms.

In Arizona, coming off demolishing her twin sister Trevia’s Hammer Throw Record with a whopping 56.13m heave that upped her best from 44.99m, Tynelle Gumbs won the Arizona Colleges Athletics Championships with a heave of 47.78m. She also won the Discus Throw with a mark of 43.42m, after taking out another of her sister’s marks that stood at 46.49, with a 47.36 effort in Texas last weekend. Tynelle was third in the Shot Put with 12.96m, followed by Trevia with 12.68m.

Tynelle picked up her third victory, taking the Javelin Throw with a mark of 39.52m.

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Harrigan-Scott Reaches 4th Straight IAAF World Indoor 60m Semi-finals

March 22, 2016 by
Tahesia Harrigan-Scott, left and Ashely Kelly at the 15th IAAF World Indoor Championships. Photo BVI Milesplit.

Tahesia Harrigan-Scott, left and Ashely Kelly at the 15th IAAF World Indoor Championships. Photo BVI Milesplit.

By BVI Milesplit

Veteran sprinter Tahesia Harrigan-Scott advanced to her fourth straight IAAF World Indoor Championships 60m semis on Saturday night, during the championships held in Portland, Oregon.

Harrigan-Scott ran 7.30 seconds in her prelim and was fifth but her mark was the third best among the six fastest losers advancing. A 2008 finalist and bronze medalist, as well as a 2010 finalist placing seventh with only three races that season, who narrowly missed the 2014 finals by .0001, was fifth in her semi in 7.23 the 15th best mark of the meet.

Harrigan-Scott said she can’t complain about the championships and had a good time. “I executed my start really well in the semifinals,” she said. “But, what I’m having a problem with is at the end of my race, I’m losing my body position which I’ve been able to correct as of lately. The fact that I got out so fast (in the semis), faster than I normally do, I had a hard time getting everything in front of me. The first part of my race is where I want it to be now I have to take it a step further and execute the transition of my race.”

She said confidence-wise, indoor has set her on track for outdoors but there are some things she still needs to work on. “Mentally, I’m where I want to be,” she pointed out. “I know if I execute the race I’m supposed to run, then I will have a good season. I’m feeling way better than I did last year and I ran better times than I did last year when I ran 11.14. If I can continue to capitalize on that and stay healthy, I should have a good season.”

Ashley Kelly got the ball rolling on Friday night in the 400m where she finished third in her heat after running 54.95 seconds, then later learnt her time was the 13th best of the field as the first 12 advanced.

“It wasn’t one of my best (races) and surely nothing I’m proud about,” Kelly said. “I have to learn to react better in different situations.”

Hammer Throw record for Gumbs

Coming off winning the National Jr. Colleges Weight Throw crown in record fashion, Tynelle Gumbs opened her outdoor campaign by taking down twin sister Trevia’s Hammer Throw record with a huge personal best at the Willie Williams Classic in Tucson, Arizona.  Tynelle placed fifth in Hammer Throw throw with a 48.87m heave, to take down Trevia’s 47.66m mark of a year ago. Her previous best was 44.99m. Trevia finished sixth with a 47.37 effort and placed eight in the Shot Put with 12.75m.

Tynelle was fifth in the Javelin Throw with a 36.92m effort and settled for 12th overall in the Discus Throw after reaching 40.97m.

In Jamaica, Nelda Huggins, representing St. Jago High School, was second in the Class I Girls 100m in 11.67-the second best mark of her career. She ran 11.85 to win the prelims and 11.75 for second in the semis.

Competing at the Carolina Spring Break Classic in Puerto Rico, Deya Erickson won her heat of the 100m Hurdles with the day’s third best mark of 14.17 seconds.  Kala Penn debuted with 17.04, then leapt 5.53m to finish fifth in the Long Jump.

Shaniyah Caul won her 400m heat in 58.34 seconds. Ronique Todman had a 49.59 seconds mark for second second in his 400m heat, while Tarique Moses ran 50.77, in another segment. Todman ran 22.38 for fourth in his 200m heat.

Akeem Bradshaw was second in the Triple Jump with a 14.57m measurement.

Jonel Lacey finished second in the 400m Intermediate Hurdles, in 1:02.99, while Lakeisha “Mimi” Warner finished sixth in her heat in 1:04.89.

Shaquoy Stephens ran 11.06 seconds in his 100m debut while Johnt’a Charles had a time of 11.53 in his heat.

Mariah Christian finished seventh in the 1500m in 5:23.70, a mark that’s No. 5 on the All Time List.

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