By Virgin Islands Archery Association

The first Virgin Islands JOAD (Junior Olympic Archery Development) Archery Team along with two of the VI Women’s Compound Archery Team opens season with the 1st Caribbean Cup Archery Tournament in Manati, Puerto Rico. With high spirits after the Official Practice on Sunday 30th of April, 2015. The team took part in qualifications with much anticipation. This World Archery International Event included competitors from 8 countries and the World ranking event included top archers from 10 countries including Korea, Great Britain and the US.

“This competition was a very good experience full of fun and frustration”. Says Winnette Lawrence competing in the Compounds Women Division. “I am not used to the weather conditions we shot in. There was wind, rain and slush from the mud caused by the rain. It was a bit tiring but overall it was a great experience shooting on the line with so many different people from so many countries. We are competing on the same field with Olympic Athletes like, Sara Lopez of Columbia and Para Athlete Andre Shelby, the first black Olympic archer to ever win a gold medal. This was the first outdoor and international tournament of the year and we came here for training before the tournament.”

At the end of qualifications our VI team are in the following positions:

JOAD Team
Recurve Junior Men
Jahmaine Liburd – 2nd place –Total Points 436
Adriel Singh – 3rd place – Total Points 382

Recurve Junior Women
Khristie Latchman – 1st Place – Total Points 436

Compound Men
D’Moi Martin – 2nd Place – Total Points 491

Compound Cadet Women
Shania Daigneault – 1st Place – Total Points 588

Womens Team
Compound Women Ritseeniyah Georges – 1st Place – Total Points 639
Winnette Lawrence – 2nd Place – Total Points 542

The Eliminations (Medal Rounds) will be televised and will be held on Thursday for the Caribbean Championships.

There are very few sports in the world that allow the world’s best to compete on the target with someone fairly new. Tournaments in archery are often without barriers and enable friendships between individuals from all walks of life and our VI youth are experiencing this great opportunity.