Territory’s Best Clashing in National Youth Championships

Photo courtesy of Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

Photo courtesy of Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

By BVI Athletics Association

The top U15 athletes across the territory have been invited to participate in Friday and Saturday’s BVI Athletics Association National Youth Championships, which will also mark the 21st IAAF World Athletics Day.

The 2-day competition will bring together the best 16 athletes in each event who competed in the 2016 Inter Primary Championships A and B Divisions based on times, as well as U15s from the Elmore Stoutt High School Inter-house Sports Day, Bregado Flax Educational Center and St. Georges among others, all of whom will meet for the first time at the A. O. Shirley Recreation Grounds.

Session I starts at 5 p.m. on Friday and includes the Shot Put, Baseball Throw and the Long Jump among field events. Track events will include prelims of the U9 Boys and Girls 60m dash; U11 Boys and Girls 80m dash and U13 and U15 Boys and Girls 100m as well as the U13 and U15 Boys and Girls 600m and 800m timed finals. Day I concludes with finals in the short sprints.

Saturday’s competition will begin at 3:30 p.m. with the U13 and U15 Boys and Girls Baseball Throw and the U9 and U11 Boys and Girls Long Jump. The U15 Boys and Girls High Jump will start at 5 p.m. Prelims of the U9 and U11 Boys and Girls 150m and the U13 and U15 Boys and Girls 200m will kick off at 4:10 p.m.

Finals of the U13 Girls and Boys 300m and U15 Girls and Boys 400m as well as the short sprints will follow.

BVI To Host 2nd OECS Track and Field Championships

Rey O'Neal, right, former BVI Olympic Committee & BVI Athletics Association President speaks during a media briefing, as BVI Olympic Committee President Ephraim Penn & BVI Athletics Association President Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway, listens

Rey O’Neal, right, former BVI Olympic Committee & BVI Athletics Association President speaks during a media briefing, as BVI Olympic Committee President Ephraim Penn & BVI Athletics Association President Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway, listens

By BVI Athletics Association

The British Virgin Islands will host the 2nd Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Track and Field Championships, July 1-3 at the A. O. Shirley Recreation Grounds and officials are expecting ‘top flight competition’ from the sub region’s athletes.

The BVI will host athletes and officials from Anguilla, St. Kitts-Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Montserrat, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada.

“The BVI Olympic Committee is a part of the Association of Olympic Committees of the OECS (ANOECS) and ANOECS played a key role in getting these championships started,” noted BVI Olympic Committee president Ephraim Penn, during a press briefing at the BVI Olympic Committee office. “The decision was made in 2013 when the event was held in St. Kitts, to get things moving in this direction. Our regional Olympic Committees wanted to start national championships in the OECS, so that our up and coming athletes could get exposure to top flight competition, first among themselves, then regionally and internationally. The first one they came up with, with its rich history, is the athletics championships.”

Although there was an OECS championships from 1987-1991, under the new arrangement with ANOECS, Penn noted the first championship was held in St. Kitts in 2014 and last year’s slated for BVI was cancelled because of work planned for the track. He congratulated the BVI Athletics Association for taking up the mantle after the track has been resurfaced to move forward with the championships this year.

“I know the athletes in the OECS are looking forward to it, the Olympic Committees in the OECS are looking forward to it and I’m sure the fans will be in for a great treat,” Penn stated. “These are the athletes you will see later in August competing in the Olympic Games, so you’ll get a first glance of some of the top athletes in the OECS who will be in Rio. From discussing the event with other Olympic Committees, we get a sense that they are fully supporting their Athletic Associations and they will be funding them sufficiently to be here, so we expect big crowds and top flight competition. I’m encouraging fans to come out and see track and field at a very high level and enjoy the warm up for Rio.”

Former BVI Olympic Committee president and BVI Athletics Association founding member and longest serving president Rey O’Neal, an OECS Congress member, said what was great about the previous OECS Championships, is that outside of the Carifta Games and to a much lesser extent the biannual CAC Jr. Championships, there were very few opportunities for athletes from the small islands to compete.

There were a number of athletes at the time who still wanted to compete but, were not at a level where they would go to the CAC Sr. Championships, and the OECS meet gave them a chance to develop at their own pace.

“It was possibly the best development meet that could have been made available,” he noted. “There hasn’t been a whole lot for developing athletes outside the 20 and under age group. It was good to see the OECS Championships come back on stream. We are on the right track and I think it will be an excellent meet.”

Regarding athletes in this year’s competition, O’Neal, a member of the Association of Track and Field Statisticians, said Antigua and Barbuda’s Men’s 4x100m Relay team a Pan Am Games and 2015 IAAF World Championships finalist as well as their sprinters will be here. He noted that Grenada has a formidable 4x400m relay quartet-though he’s not sure if everyone will make it-but they currently have the two fastest quarter milers in the world in Kirani James and Bralon Taplin.

The field events will be stronger than they have ever been and Grenada has a tradition for Javelin Throwers. O’Neal noted that the BVI’s Eldred Henry and Dominica’s Dillon Simon are two Shot Putters who have been throwing distances unthought of several years ago. The St. Lucian pair of High Jumpers, Laverne Spencer and Jeannelle Scheper, ranked in the top 20 in the world last year, and Antigua and Barbuda’s Priscilla Frederick, will lead a qualify field.

“On the track, the sprints are obviously going to be strong and St. Kitts-Nevis and Antigua and Barbuda, figure to be the leaders. While Grenada has several top 400m runners, there are several others we expect to see here and we have a few one lappers of qualify as well, but, there’s going to be a lot of good competition,” he said. “We anticipate a number of our All Comers Records falling.”

The BVI’s Tahesia Harrigan-Scott and Chantel Malone are the reigning OECS 100m and Long Jump champions O’Neal noted and that both of the territory’s female relay teams should do well, with the 4x100m team running 44.05 seconds last week in Florida.

“We really think the crowd will enjoy what they see and there will be competition at a high level,” O’Neal said.

Stoby, Mays Lead Virgin Gorda Half Marathon Tune Up

PHOTO: Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

PHOTO: Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

By BVI Athletics Association

Reuben Stoby and Maria Mays led the field of 33 participants in the men and women’s divisions respectively, during the first of two Dive BVI 10K Series races on Saturday, which are a tune up for the 5th Virgin Gorda Half Marathon and 6 Mile Challenge on May 14.

Stoby ran the race over the first half of the Half Marathon course with a trek out to Nail Bay and the notorious ‘beast’ in 46 minutes and 14 seconds. Mays was timed in 51.16 in the women’s division.

“We had directional on the road so that everyone would know where to turn so that for the Half Marathon, they are on their game and knew exactly where to go,” explained race director Casey McNutt. “We had 17 people from Tortola that came over to gauge what they are going to experience in the Half. Right now, we have 72 pre registered for the Half Marathon and 6 Mile Challenge. We are leaps and bounds a little over a month out from where we were last year. We have a tremendous amount coming from the U.S. Virgin Islands with 28 preregistered so far, so it’s really nice to see them coming over.”

Saturday’s race came ahead of the upcoming early bird preregistration period that end on Friday. McNutt said the early bird cut off is where participants can register for $60 before the fee goes up to $70 from April 16. The $40 fee for the 6 Miles Challenge will increase to $50.

“We have an amazing kit for all the participants, the race bags are awesome and we’ll have a lot of great merchandise on sale at the Half Marathon Festival,” she said. “This is our fifth anniversary and we’re really excited bout it. It has gotten better every year. So we’re hoping that people take advantage of the early registration and book early.”

The next 10K will cover the last 6.2 miles of the course including taking in vistas of historic Copper Mine and the renowned Baths, on April 30.”

Final results. Men: 1. Reuben Stoby, 46:14. 2. Julius Farley, 48:51. 3. Curwin Andrews, 50:56. 4. Vincent Fournier, 51:50. 5. Alan Cundall, 53:56. 6. Ben Mays, 57:19. 7. Dennis Versoza. 1:07:25, 8. Ryan Everett, 1:08:57. 9. Luke Plummer, 1:09:44. 10. Paul Hubbard, 1:17:47. 11. Zebalon McLean, 1:22:33. 12. Tim Backlund, 1:25:24. 13. John Hudspeth, 1:34:19.

Women: 1. Maria Mays, 51:16. 2. Rosmond Johnson, 57:59. 3. Kat Brownsdon, 1:01:11. 4. Anna Gillham, 1:01:44. 5. Kay Reddy, 1:03:15. 6. Becca Knight, 1:06:19. 7. Kim Takeuchi, 1:10:18. 8. Debbie Bell, 1:10:33. 9. Sarina Hancock, 1:12:59. 10. Tiffanie Houston, 1:17:36. 11. Jude Holmes, 1:17:47. 12. Clair Burke, 1:19:01. 13. Nedy Adordionicio, 1:20:45. 14. Michelle Backlund, 1:25:25. 15. Casey McNutt, 1:33:36. 16. Tasia Veenkemp, 1:33:37. 17. Kim Hudspeth, 1:34:19. 18. Kim Beradine, 1:44:58. 19. Chrissann Nickel, 1:44:59. 20. Chris Yates, 1:49:20.

Fournier Ends Stoby’s Streak in Blenheim Trust 5K Series Opener

Photo courtesy of Dean Greenaway

Photo courtesy of Dean Greenaway

By BVI Milesplit

Virgin Gorda resident Vincent Fournier ended Reuben Stoby’s year long winning streak in local road races during Saturday’s season opening Blenheim Trust 5K Series tour stop in Road Town, breaking the eight year-old course record in the process.

Fournier controlled the pace from the start to win the circumnavigation of Road Town from the A. O. Shirley Recreation Grounds and return in 17 minutes, 00.91 seconds. His time eclipsed Steven Asson’s 17:09.17 from 2008. Stoby finished in a personal best of 17:07 with Tarique “Tweety” Moses third in 18:14, in the race that saw five runners under 19 minutes.

“Every time I race, I try to do my best, I set my own things, if somebody beats me, he beats me, if he doesn’t he doesn’t, that’s just how it goes,” Fournier pointed out. “Today, I wanted to do 3:30 per kilometer. I ended up doing it and I’m proud of myself. I ended up winning too, so that was a great thing.”

Stoby said Fournier pushed a good pace and he was feeling comfortable for the second mile and was right there with him. “At the end, I just couldn’t keep up, he was very consistent so it was a very good run,” Stoby explained. “About the fourth kilometer, he put on a stretch that I couldn’t cover.”

Fournier said he heard Stoby’s breathing throughout the race. “I never really knew if he was going to give a surge or not, so in the end, I was happy to see him enter (the A. O. Shirley Grounds) way behind and I was like ‘yes, I got this.'”

Stoby is now looking forward to an interesting battle in defending his Male Road Racing Athlete of the Year title.

“This certainly makes the season very interesting with Fournier in the mix now, so I’m looking forward,” Stoby stated. “The aim this year is to run 16 (minutes) in the 5K and I’ve managed 17:07, smashing my personal best, so a very interesting season ahead.”

Katrina Crumpler who missed last year’s series because of injuries, returned and wiped out Claire-Louise Whiley’s women’s mark of 22.45 from 2011, with a time of 20:11.83.

“It was really fast and I think the conditions were really good, nice and cool, a little bit of wind,” she noted. “The first mile was too fast for me. I was trying to keep up with the boys and did about 6:20 which was really quick, so I backed off a bit over the second mile because of the hill and picked it up again.”

Final Results: Men1. Vincent Fournier, 17 minutes 00.91 seconds, (New course record. Old record, Stephen Asson 17:09.17, March 14, 2008.)  2. Reuben Stoby, 17:07.  3. Tarique Moses, 18:14.  4. Julius Farley, 18:32.  5. Guy Williamson, 18:52.  6. Michael Killourhy, 19:28.  7. Emrol Amsterdam, 19:57.  8. Stephen Asson, 20:05.  9. Zebalon McLean, 20:11.  10. Simon Cook, 20:49.  11. Simon Cross, 21:14.  12. Guyp Dubois, 21:27.  13. Adrian Dale, 21:41.  14. Ishwar Persad, 21:49.  15. Daniel Mitchell, 22:02.  16. Charles Kerins, 22:23.  17. Martin Trott, 23:02.  18. Lovat Carnally, 23:19.  19. Ravindra Sukhu, 23:20.  20. Dennis Delacruz, 28:40.  21. Howard Moore, 28:54.  22. Ravenal Santos, 31:44.  23. William Kinkead, 33:28.  24. Barry Leon, 34:16.

Women: 1. Katrina Crumpler, 20:11.83 (New course record. Old record, Claire-Louise Whiley. 22 minutes and 45.41 seconds, 2011.).  2. Rosmond Johnson, 21:21.  3. Melissa Brunner, 22:19.  4. Amy Sweeney, 22:23.  5. Lauren Julien, 23:06.  6. NiMade Oniasih, 23:51.  7. Anna Kinkead, 24:25. 8. Chloe Harris, 24:35.  9. Melisande Rowe, 24:45.  10. Philomena Robertson, 25:23.  11. Brodie Faragher, 26:27.  12. Sophia Addas, 26:27.  13. Clair Burke, 31:06.  14. Sara Knock, 32:16.  15. Simpa Ganadillo, 32:42.  16. Claire Santillan, 32:29.  17. Nedy Adordionicio, 33:40.  18. Jenny McConnell, 36:17.

Power Walkers: 1. Shirley Liburd, 45:45.  2.= Sophie Bennett and Linda Li, 48:06.

Three Records Fall in Boston and Arizona Indoor Competitions

By Dean Greenaway/BVIAA

Sprint Tech quartet of Tarika "Tinkerbell" Moses, left, Beyonce DeFreitas, Karene King and Lakeisha "Mimi" Warner, became the first BVI women to run a 4 x 400m Relay indoors and established a record of 3:45.34. Photo: Provided

Sprint Tech quartet of Tarika “Tinkerbell” Moses, left, Beyonce DeFreitas, Karene King and Lakeisha “Mimi” Warner, became the first BVI women to run a 4 x 400m Relay indoors and established a record of 3:45.34. Photo: Provided

Three indoor records were set during a busy weekend for BVI athletes in Boston and Arizona, marking the fourth straight week a record had been broken. Records were established for 13 straight weeks in 2015.

Competing at the Boston University John Thomas Terrier Classic on Friday, Ashley Kelly kicked off the banner weekend that saw BVI athletes winning several heats of the competition and being among the Top 10 performances.

Kelly ran 23.69 seconds to win the third heat of the 200m with the competition’s second best time, ahead of Karene King’s 23.92, to claim King’s 2-year old record of 23.73, also established in Boston. Kelly was second in her 400m heat and fifth overall in 53.47 seconds, a season’s best effort. Her time is second to Chantel Malone’s indoor mark of 53.23.

To wrap up Friday’s competition, the Sprint Tech quartet of Tarika “Tinkerbell” Moses, Beyonce DeFreitas, King and Lakeisha “Mimi” Warner, became the first BVI foursome assembled for an indoor 4x400m Relay. They won the third heat, beating Boston College by two seconds as well as Morgan State and Manhattan in the process, with a time of 3 minutes 45.34 seconds. The time was the sixth best mark of the competition and established a BVI record in the process.

In other individual competition, Moses outdistanced the field to win the 500m overall with a time of one minute 11.60. Warner-who won heat 5-placed fifth overall in 1:13.43, followed in sixth by teammate Jonel Lacey’s 1:13.72 in winning the seventh heat. Judine Lacey took the 10th heat in 1:16.00.

DeFreitas was second in her 200m heat in 24.53 seconds and L’T’Sha Fahie- won her 60m section in 7.54 seconds-which stood up as the meet’s second best mark was also second in the 200m in 24.98.

In Saturday’s male competition, K’Cei Moses ran 7.09 seconds to win the ninth heat of the 60m dash, while Rikkoi Bratwaithe was eight in the second heat in 7.00. Moses won section 26 of the 200m in 22.25 seconds, while Brathwaite ran 22.36 for second in Section 15. Josh Hill won the 16th heat of the 500m with a time of 1:08.37.

Record throw in Arizona

Central Arizona College sophomore Tynelle Gumbs, upped her Weight Throw record from 17.28m to 17.84m, in her 2016 debut, to win the Paradise Valley Community College Indoor meet in Phoenix. The mark qualified her for Jr. College Indoor Nationals. Twin sister Trevia was fourth with a heave of 15.27m. Trevia finished fourth in the Shot Put with a fourth round throw of 13.81m.

Eldred Henry used a 17.56m effort to win the Shot Put and booked a ticket to the Jr. College Nationals. He was second in the Weight Throw with a 15.62m heave ensuring he’ll see action at Nationals in a second event.

Kyron McMaster made his collegiate debut for Central Arizona, with a second place finish in the 400m in 48.93 seconds. He will join Gumbs, Henry and South Plains College’s Taylor Hill who qualified in the 60m, at March 4-5 JUCO Nationals in Winston Salem, North Carolina.

St. Augustine Jr. Khari Herbert won this 200m heat in 22.49 seconds at the Camel City Invite in North Carolina. He led off the 4x400m Relay with a 48.77 seconds split, helping them to second overall with a time of 3 minutes 14.79 seconds.

In Jamaica, Nelda Huggins was second in her heat and fourth overall in the Queen’s Grace Kennedy Invitational 200m. She debuted with a time of 24.51 seconds.

At the Houston Invitational and Multis, sprinter Tahesia Harrigan-Scott ran a season’s best 7.30 seconds to finish third in the 60m dash. She ran 7.36 in the semis.

BVIAA DEVELOPMENT MEET #7 RESULTS

January 15, 2016

ALL TIMES ARE FULLY ELECTRONIC (no wind gauge)

80M

U.9 females:

  1.    Tamri Thomas 12.20; 2) Khloe Harrigan- 12.80; 3) Shyra Stoutt- 13.09; 4) Taryn Augustine-13.40; 5) Riley Brewley- 13.90; 6) Kaylee Tucker- 18.20.

U.11 females:

1) ASIA McMaster – 12.69; 2) Zaria Johnney – 12.93; 3) Nejma Robinson – 12.94; 4) SHANIQUE GLASGOW – 13.06; 5) SHARIKA HENDRICKSON – 13.67; 6) KENNIQUA GRATE – 14.61

100M

U.13 females:

1) Akeela Mcmaster – 14.26; 2) Cassidy Williams- 14.29; 3) Kaelyah Liburd – 14.36; 4) Ariyah Smith – 14.50; 5) Aniyah Findlay – 15.27; 6) D’naesia Springette – 15.32; 7) Reeiah Woodley – 15.35

U.15 FEMALES:

1) Xiomara Malone 13.40; 2) Crystal Mitchel – 14..59

U.18 FEMALES:

1) Britney Williams- 13.30; 2) Naya Penn – 13.53; 3) Kala Penn 13.55; 4)Arianna Hayde – 13.70

300M

U.13 females:

1)KAELYNN LIBURD – 46.16; 2) Kenyatta Grate – 48.43; 3) Anaya Findlay – 49.37; 4) Cassidy Williams-50.82

U.15 females:

1) Tashira Edwards – 42.06; 2) Akrisa Eristee – 42.14; 3) Alisha Hayde- 44.57

JAVLEIN THROW

FEMALES:

1kg: 1) Kiwana Emmanuel- 28.60; 2) Javlyn Frett – 28.55

Shot Put

4kg: 1) BRITNEY PETERS – 9.45

LONG JUMP

1)   Kayla Penn – 5.19m; 2) Arianna Hayde – 5.08m; 3) Xiomara Malone- 4.95m; 4) Ariyah Smith- 4.09m; 5) Kenyatta Grate- 3.67m

MALES:

80M

U.9:

1)Tiondre Frett – 13.03; 2) Latriel Williams – 13.07; 3) Ty’rique Charles 14.94

U.11

1) D’lano Hodge – 12.02; 2) Kshawn Martin – 12.40; 3) Johari Lacey- 12.49; 4) Sean Samuel – 12.52; 5) JAYQOI HOPKINS – 14.52

100M

U.13

1) Kyba Dawson – 13.98; 2) Carlyiek Benjamin – 14.01; 3) Tkhoy Stevens – 14.61; 4) Jaleel Smith – 17.48

U.15

1) Malaki Smith – 12.04; 2) WANYAE BELL – 13.54; 3)J’mari Duhaney- 14.90

U.18

1) Akeem Bradshaw – 11.44; 2) Keanu George- 12.13; 3) Josh Lynch – 12.42; 4) Osiah Vanterpool – 12.45; 5) TYRIQUE BRADSHAW – 13.06; 6) Ajaalee Malone – 13.12

1200M

U.13

1) Jaden Augustine- 5:01.56

300M

U.11

1) Kaleem Lettsome – 48.73; 2) Sean Samuel – 49.46; 3) Kshawn Martin- 51.47

U.13

1) T’khoy Stevens – 49.67; 2) AJAALI MALONE – 51.76

U.15

1) WANYEA BELLE – 44.91; 2) J’MARI DUHANEY – 46.23

400M

U.18 TO OPEN

1) Mikkel Bassue – 52.17; 2) Adriano Gumbs – 52.18; 3) Valique Graham – 52.43; 4) GEVAN SMITH – 54.60; 5) Khoy Vanterpool – 58.90; 6) Keanu George – 59.00; 7) Ryan Joseph- 1:00.55

Shot Put

5kg: 1) Djimon Gumbs – 15.58; 2) Diamate Gumbs – 12.50; 3)Deshoy Ward- 10.40M; 4) Dejahni Ward- 5.90

7.25kg: 1) KEVIN VANTERPOOL – 10.44

LONG JUMP

1)   Akeem Bradshaw – 6.46M; 2) Andre Turnbull – 5.88; 3) Malaki Smith- 5.30; 4) Vadley Sylvester-4.69; 5) Kybah Dawson- 4.32; 6) Dlano Hodge- 3.81

DISCUS Throw

1) Djimon Gumbs- 46.50; 2) Deshoy Ward- 34.45; 3) Kevin Vanterpool- 33.05; 4) Diamante Gumbs-32.40; 5)Dejahni Ward-15.70

BVI Athletes Shine at Home and Overseas

bpetersweb

Photo courtesy of Dean Greenaway

By BVI Milesplit

Virgin Gorda’s Raw Skillz Track Club member Britney Peters might be new to track and field, but not to British Virgin Islands sports.

The soon to be 19 year old is a Soccer goalie and has played on the BVI Jr. and Sr. Women National teams. She plays with the Avengers in the BVI Football Association League.

Peters took up track last April after the 2015 Soccer season ended after joining the Raw Skillz Track Club. She had her first competition in Miami last June and threw the Javelin 35.26m. It was the fifth best mark by a BVI female.

“I wanted to maintain my fitness, get stronger for soccer and I wanted to keep training so I wouldn’t fall behind because I’m to try and get out of here by September on a scholarship,” said Peters who started Soccer at 12.

During Friday night’s BVI Athletics Association Development Series meet, Peters heaved the 600g spear out to 37.39m, throwing into a strong cross wind. That mark vaulted her No. 3 on the BVI All Time List.

“I know I have the ability to do good,” she said. “I have the arm strength and my hands are good. Of all the events I’ve done-800m, 1500m, Shot Put, Long Jump, Javelin Throw-I like the Javelin best. I find it interesting.”

Harrigan-Scott lead NY winners

Sprinter Tahesia Harrigan-Scott tuned up for the Mar 17-20 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Portland, Ore., with a 60m victory in the Great Dane Classic in New York on Saturday. She had a winning time of 7.33 seconds, after running 7.39 in the prelims. Harrigan-Scott, who won the bronze at the 2008 championships, was a 2010 finalist and missed the 2012 final by .0001 has qualified for Indoor Worlds for a fourth successive time.

Karene King finished seventh in the same race in 7.62 after 7.59 in the prelims. She won her 200m heat in 24.15 seconds to finish second overall. IAAF World Youth Championships semifinalist L’T’Sha Fahie, had non advancing times of  7.65 and 25.43 in the 60 and 200m respectively.

Ashley Kelly won the 400m in 54.96 seconds. She’s coming off a 60m personal best of 7.46 seconds last week also in New York, becoming the BVI’s second best performer at the distance behind Harrigan-Scott.

Tarika “Tinker Bell” Moses won her heat in one minute 13.21 seconds and placed third overall in the 500m. Lakeisha “Mimi” Warner was fifth overall in 1:14.88, after winning her heat. Jonel Lacey also won her section with a time of 1:16.28, the 11th best mark of the competition.

400 Indoor Record for Herbert

St. Augustine Jr. Khari Herbert lowered his BVI Indoor Record 400m record from 47.92 seconds to 47.71, in finishing third overall in the Virginia Tech Invitational on Saturday.

In Alabama, Ronique Todman ran 7.20 seconds in the 60m dash and Adaejah Hodge, 9.14 second in the 9-10 division.

BVIAA DEVELOPMENT MEET #5 RESULTS

January 15, 2016

ALL TIMES ARE FULLY ELECTRONIC (no wind gauge)

80M

U.9 females:

  1. SHYRA STOUTT-15.54; 2, REILLY BREWLEY – 14.75

U.11 females:

1) SHANNIA JOHNSON – 12.12; 2) ASIA McMaster – 12.36; 3) NEJMA ROBINSON – 12.70; 4) JADA JOHN-LEWIS – 12.98; 5) D’NEAH HODGE – 13.00;  6) SHANIQUE GLASGOW – 13.09; 7) JAH’KYLA MORTON – 13.11; 8) ACAIDA FRETT – 13.14; 9) SHARIKA HENDRICKSON – 14.26; 10) KENNIQUA GRATE – 14.53

100M

U.13 females:

1) ABRIEL MAGLIORE – 14.28; 2) ARIYAH SMITH – 14.37; 3) JAHTIAVIYAH WILLIAMS – 14.65; 4) KENYATTA GRATE – 14.66; 5) REEIAH WOODLEY – 15.19; 6) GANIYAH FINDLAY – 15.35; 7) NICKERIA DRUMMOND – 15.44; 8) KAYLIA BRATHWAITE – 15.67; 9) DIAMONAE THOMAS – 16.01; 10) BRITNEY MENDEZ – 16.03; 11) TASIA GLASGOW – 16.30; 12) SHENEAH HODGE – 17.02

U.15 FEMALES:

1) TASHIRA EDWARDS – 13.59; 2) AKRISA ERISTEE – 13.80; 3) ANGELICA PENI – 14.58; 4) SYMMERA FORBES – 15.39

U.18 FEMALES:

1) BEYONCE DEFRAITAS – 12.56; 2) ZAKHIRA FRETT – 12.90; 3) SH’KAIDA LAVACIA – 13.26; 4) NAYA PENN – 13.42

Malone, Henry 3-Peat As Sr. Athletes Of The Year

By Dean Greenaway /BVI Athletics Association

Caption: Former Presidents Johnny Hassan, left and John Lewis, with 2015 BVI Athletes of The Year Presented by Sol, Trevia Gumbs, Jr. Female AOY; Janella Thomas for her son Malaki Smith, Youth Male, AOY; Kyron McMaster, Jr. Male AOY and Beyonce DeFreitas, Youth AOY. Photo Credit: Cleave Farrington.

Caption: Former Presidents Johnny Hassan, left and John Lewis, with 2015 BVI Athletes of The Year Presented by Sol, Trevia Gumbs, Jr. Female AOY; Janella Thomas for her son Malaki Smith, Youth Male, AOY; Kyron McMaster, Jr. Male AOY and Beyonce DeFreitas, Youth AOY. Photo Credit: Cleave Farrington.

Long Jumper Chantel Malone and field events specialist Eldred Henry, 3-peated as the British Virgin Islands Sr. Female and Male Athletes of the Year, when the 2015 awards were presented by Sol on Tuesday evening at The Moorings’ Mariner Inn, during the BVI Athletics Association 7th Athletes Awards Gala.

After a fifth place finish in the Long Jump at the Pan Am Games in Toronto, Canada in late July, Malone earned a silver medal in her pet event at the 2nd North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Championships in Costa Rica in early August, after cutting the sand with a personal best leap of 6.69m, to improve her own National Record.

Malone, who also qualified for the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China over the summer, has won the AOY honor for four of the last five years and was the Jr. AOY in 2009 and 2010. She ended the 2015 season ranked #41 in the world.

Henry, who repeated as National Jr. Colleges Athletics Association (NJCAA) Discus Throw champion competing for Central Arizona, added the Shot Put title to his portfolio as well, for his third Jr. Colleges All America honor. In the Shot, he had a heave of 20.00m, becoming the first athlete in the OECS to reach that plateau. He finished the season rank #60 on the globe in the event. He also was the Premier Dental Collegiate Athlete of the Year award.

Central Arizona freshman Trevia Gumbs, landed the Jr. Female Athlete of the Year for a second time after winning it in 2012. Gumbs established National Records in the Shot Put, (14.83m) Discus Throw (46.69m) and Hammer Throw (47.66m) and was second in the NJCAA Shot Put as a freshman. She also won Carifta Games silver in the Shot Put with the 14.83m effort.

400m Hurdler Kyron McMaster now a freshman at Central Arizona, repeated as Jr. Male Athlete of the Year. In just his second year of hurdling, he broke the 18-year old national standard when he clocked 50.16 seconds at the Pan Am Jr. Championships in Edmonton, Canada.
Just 14, Beyonce DeFreitas earned Youth Female Athlete of the Year laurels. She was a Carifta Games 200m finalist and placed fifth with a personal best run of 24.50 seconds.

After turning some attention from Basketball to track, Malaki Smith took the Youth Male Athlete of the Year award. He was a silver medalist in the CAC Age Group Championships 60m and a bronze in the Baseball Throw.

Dag Samuels who has McMaster among his charges was the Coach of the Year.

Reuben Stoby and Rosmond Johnson, were the respective Male and Female Road Runners of the Year.

As it marked it’s 45th anniversary, the BVI Athletics Association doled out its 2015 Lifetime Awards to Ambrozine Wilson, Rita Francis and Eucilita Tom. The trio were volunteers who fund raised for the association in the early 1970s.

Athletes breaking and establishing National Records that stood at season’s end received awards presented by Sol for their accomplishments. Eight athletes established 13 marks during the indoor and outdoor season. Sr. Male Athlete of The Year Eldred Henry and Jr. Female Athlete of The Year Trevia Gumbs each set three marks.

Athletes of the Year presented by Sol
2015 BVI Athletics Association Youth Male Athlete of the Year, Malaki Smith
2015 BVI Athletics Association Youth Female Athlete of the Year, Beyonce DeFreitas,
2015 BVI Athletics Association Jr. Male Athlete of the Year, Kryon McMaster
2015 BVI Athletics Association Jr. Female Athlete of the Year, Trevia Gumbs
2015 BVI Athletics Association Sr. Male Athlete of the Year, Eldred Henry
2015 BVI Athletics Association Sr. Female Athlete of the Year, Chantel Malone

Most Outstanding Athletes Awards by Divisions
2015 Most Outstanding Combined Track Events Female Athlete, Ashley Kelly
2015 Most Outstanding Combined Field Events Female Athlete, Trevia Gumbs
2015 Most Outstanding Combined Events Male Athlete, Eldred Henry
2015 Most Outstanding Men’s Open Track Athlete, Khari Herbert
2015 Most Outstanding Women’s Open Track Athlete, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott
2015 Most Outstanding Men’s Open Field Athlete, Eldred Henry
2015 Most Outstanding Women’s Open Field Athlete, Chantel Malone
2015 Most Outstanding Boys Under-20 Track Athlete, Kyron McMaster
2015 Most Outstanding Girls Under-20 Track Athlete, Deya Erickson
2015 Most Outstanding Boys Under-20 Field Athlete, Akeem Bradshaw
2015 Most Outstanding Girls Under-20 Field Athlete, Trevia Gumbs
2015 Most Outstanding Boys Under-18 Track Athlete, K’Cei Moses
2015 Most Outstanding Girls Under-18 Track Athlete, L’T’Sha Fahie
2015 Most Outstanding Boys Under-18 Field Athlete, D’Jimon Gumbs
2015 Most Outstanding Girls Under-18 Field Athlete, Kala Penn
2015 Most Outstanding Boys Under-15 Track Athlete, Chaz Fahie
2015 Most Outstanding Girls Under-15 Track Athlete, Beyonce DeFreitas
2015 Most Outstanding Boys Under-15 Field Athlete, Ajaalee Malone
2015 Most Outstanding Girls Under-15 Field Athlete, Xiomara Malone
2015 Most Outstanding Boys Under 13 Field Athlete, Malaki Smith
2015 Most Outstanding Girls Under 13 Field Athlete, Ariyah Smith
2015 Most Outstanding Boys Under-13 Track Athlete, Malakai Smith
2015 Most Outstanding Girls Under-13 Track Athlete, Alisha Hayde
2015 Most Outstanding Boys Under-11 Track Athlete, M’Kori Crabbe
2015 Most Outstanding Girls Under-11 Track Athlete, Akeela McMaster
2015 Most Outstanding Boys Under 11 Field Athlete, T’Khoy Stevens
2015 Most Outstanding Girls Under 11 Field Athlete, A’Keela McMaster
2015 Most Outstanding Girls Under 9 Field Athlete, Asia McMaster
2015 Most Outstanding Girls Under 9 Track Athlete, Shannia Johnson & Asia McMaster
2015 Most Outstanding Boys Under 9 Field Athlete, Sean Samuel
2015 Most Outstanding Boys Under 9 Track Athlete, Kori Penn

2015 Premier Dental Collegiate Athlete of the Year Award, Eldred Henry

2015 College Classic Series Overall Male Champion, Reuben Stoby

2015 College Classic Series Overall Female Champion, Rosmond Johnson

2015 Most Improved Female Athlete, L’T’Sha Fahie, 100m

2015 Most Improved Male Athlete, K’Cei Moses, 100/200m

2015 BVI Athletics Association Male Road Racing Athlete of the Year, Reuben Stoby

2015 BVI Athletics Association Female Road Racing Athlete of the Year, Rosmond Johnson

2015 Colonial Insurance Comeback Athletes of the Year, Tarika Moses

2015 BVI Athletics Association Coach of the Year, Dag Samuels

2015 National Record Breakers Presented by Sol
Tarika Moses, 800m 2 minutes 12.46 seconds, National Indoor Record, February 13, 2015, Boston
Deya Erickson, 100m Hurdles: 14.09 seconds, National Record, Carolina, March 21, 2015
Tynelle Gumbs, Weight Throw 18.14m (59’6½”) National Indoor Record, Tucson. February 7, 2015
Tynelle Gumbs, Javelin Throw 40.12m  (131’7½”) National Record, Basseterre, July 4, 2015
Trevia Gumbs, Discus Throw, 46.49m (152’6½”) National Record, Mesa, April 27, 2015
Trevia Gumbs, Shot Put: 14.83m (46’0¾”) National Record, Basseterre, April 6, 2015
Trevia Gumbs, Hammer Throw, 47.66m (156.4¼”) National Record, Hutchinson, May 14, 2015
Taylor Hill, 200m, 23.84 seconds, National Jr. Record, San Marcos, April 25, 2015
Eldred Henry, Weight Throw, 17.97m (58’11½”) National Indoor Record, March 6, Albuquerque
Eldred Henry, Shot Put, 20.00m, (59’10½”) National Record, Glendale, February 21, 2015
Eldred Henry, Hammer Throw, 47.48m, (155’9¼”) National Record, Hutchinson, May 14, 2015
Kyron McMaster, 400m Hurdles 50.16 seconds, National Record, Edmonton, August 1, 2015
Chantel Malone, Long Jump, 6.69m (21’11¾”) San Jose, Aug 9, 2015

$1500 On Offer For 10th BVI Half Marathon Winners

aBy Dean Greenaway, BVI Mile Split

Male and female winners could walk away with up to $1500 each in the 10th BVI Sunrise Half Marathon, presented by Deloitte and Ogier later this year.

To mark the 10th year, The BVI Tourist Board has increased the prize monies to $1000 for the male and female winners. Either can collect another $500 for breaking the respective course records of 1 hour 07 minutes and 38 seconds and 1:34.09 respectively.

The top five men and women’s finishers will collect cash prizes.

Early bird registration through Oct 31 for the Dec 5 event is $55. From November 1, the fee goes up to $60. Some 30 persons have already pre registered and organizers are capping the race at 125 participants for the event that forms part to the BVI Athletics Association 45th anniversary activities.

Race founder Simon Cook said its great that the event is still going and getting stronger each year.

“There are so many people out running during the week now with all different abilities which is great and people are enjoying it,” noted Cook, who relocated to Australia shortly after it began and returned to the territory and participate in the ninth edition last year. “Kay (Reddy) and the team have done a super job building it up and it’s great to be back here running. I didn’t envision it would carry on like this. It’s great that these other running races are going on as well. The 10K’, 5K’s, 2 Miles and the Tortola Torture, long may it continue and I think it will. A lot of people are doing running races and Marathons.”

Reflecting on the race development, the former Deloitte employee said he was preparing for the San Francisco Half Marathon at the time and Mark Chapman asked why not have a Half Marathon here and that’s how it started.

“We had about 40 people that first year in the event won by St. Thomas’ Adam Wood and that was a good start as we ran from West End,” he recalled. “Obviously, it has evolved after that.”

During its fifth year, it was run in conjunction with the OECS Half Marathon and several of the top regional runners participated, with New Zealand’s Michael Aish establishing the 1:07.38 course record as three went under 1:10. St. Thomas’ Shane DeGannes has won the race for the last three years.
“That 1:07 was insane, that’s like 5 minute miles,” Cook said. “Nobody’s going to touch that are they? That would be amazing if they did.”

With an average of 25 road races annually in the territory on Tortola and Virgin Gorda, Cook said it’s helping people gradually get into the longer distances. “It’s all word of mouth, people start doing 5Ks, then 10Ks and then say ‘if I can do a 10k, maybe I can do a Half Marathon and then maybe a Marathon,” he reasoned. “There’s just a lot more people out there running and being conscious and being fit, rather than being ill, so it great. Really great.”

Stoby holds off young Romney to win College Classic Series race

350x_1_12020002_10153717927096057_190454808334560334_n_01By VINO
PARAQUITA BAY, Tortola, VI- 14-year old Samuel Romney made it an exciting battle in the 3rd race of the Highland Spring College Classic 2-mile race series on Tortola on October 24, 2015 as he pushed series leader Reuben J. A. Stoby all the way to the finish line.

Romney took an early lead as Stoby started at a slow pace but eventually pursued the young Romney who was pushing a decent and consistent pace that even recognised road runners Julius Farley and Guy Williamson didn’t try to match.

The two ran together from just before the turnaround on Agriculture Road in Paraquita Bay and at one point Romney even tried to get away from Stoby who was tucked in behind him. Stoby accelerated on the final turn to the finish but Romney refused to be dropped as he dug deep but Stoby had the stronger legs.

Stoby clocked 11:25 for the win and has virtually won the series having won three races. The two-mile series adds to his 5k and 10k series titles this year.

Romney came close behind in 11:28.

Julius Farley was third in 11:58, Guy Williamson fourth in 12:08 and Ronique Todman fifth.

Meanwhile, another youngster Kira Romney burst on to the scene with victory in the women’s two-mile race. Romney recorded a time of 15:00 to edge out veteran road runner Kay Reddy (15:09). Gillian Plaxton was third in 15:47.

To mark World Polio Day, the Rotary Club of Tortola teamed up with the HLSCC College Classic Series to race for the final eradication of polio worldwide.

 

Farley & Ferrari win Ceres Juices 10k on Beef Island

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.