Dropped baton cost team BVI possible Gold at IAAF Relay

Source: BVIPlatinum

(l-r) Nelda Huggins, Ashley Kelly, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott, Karene King and (not pictured) Chantel Malone and L’t’sha Fahie made up the 4×100 relay team at the 2017 IAAF/BTC World Relay Championships in the Bahamas. Photo: Provided

A minor error cost team BVI a possible gold last weekend, at the 2017 IAAF/BTC World Relay Championships in the Bahamas, April 22 and 23.

The event saw participation from a local team made up of female sprint stars, Nelda Huggins, Ashley Kelly, Chantel Malone, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott, Karene King and L’t’sha Fahie.

While participating in the B Finals of the 4x100m event, which took place last evening, the team, who was leading by a significant distance, suffered a blunder while passing the baton from the second to the third leg.

Consequently, the race was incomplete by the BVI team.

Prior, the team secured 10th place in the semi-finals of the 4×100 relay, thus securing a spot to compete in the B Finals.

The team also made it to the finals in the 4x200m relay race, securing 7th place.

In interviews following the race, Ms. King expressed her delight in representing the BVI, and commended their effort.

“For us to make it to the finals is a big thing. As you know we are a small country, but with a big heart.”

Mrs. Harrigan-Scott, said, “We went in there thinking that we can make it, all the girls gave their best effort and were able to reach the finals.”

New National Records set by VI athletes

Source: VINO

St Augustine University senior Khari Herbert Jr won the 400 metre dash in 47.49 seconds at the CIAA Conference Championships held in Lynchburg, Virginia. Photo: MileSplit BVI/File

St Augustine University senior Khari Herbert Jr won the 400 metre dash in 47.49 seconds at the CIAA Conference Championships held in Lynchburg, Virginia. Photo: MileSplit BVI/File

The Virgin Islands’ top athletic prospects continue to enjoy improvement and success overseas, with four new National Indoor Athletics Records set during the period spanning February 10-13, 2017.

At the ISTAF meet in Germany on February 10, 2017, Chantel E. Malone placed 4th in the long jump, extending her National Best by 2 cm to 6.67m, finishing behind Olympic bronze Medalist Ivana Spanovic of Belarus and two German internationals. Malone’s mark also places her 9th in the early season rankings.

In Boston, Tynelle Gumbs, now representing the University of Fundlay (Ohio) continued to impress, winning the weight throw with a stellar 21.32m, third best this year among Division II throwers and twentieth in the USA.

She also continued to improve in the shot put, propelling the iron ball out to 13.97m after never having thrown as far as 13 metres prior to this season.

Clemson University freshman Lakeisha”Mimi” Warner, after coming close on two prior occasions, finally secured the national record for 800m, finishing 4th at a home meet in 2:09.37, knocking over three seconds off her indoor best and moving into the top 10 all-time OECS two-lappers (all conditions), ironically dropping clubmate Tarika ‘Tinkerbell’ Moses one spot to 11th.

The final new national record went to Khari Herbert Jr at the CIAA Conference Championships held in Lynchburg, Virginia, as the St Augustine University senior won the 400 metre dash in 47.49 seconds and also finished second in the 200 in a personal best (indoor or outdoor ) time, clocking 21.57 as St Augustine’ took the team title in commanding fashion.

Other good weekend performances came from Tahesia G. Harrigan-Scott, who finished third in a photo finish with Jamaica’s Jura Levy (7.32) and Audra Segree (7.33), a time also recorded by the Virgin Islands veteran in the 60 metres.

Finally, Iowa Central College freshman Nelda Huggins, who won the 60 metres in a personal best of 7.46 seconds, stamping her name as one to watch at the Lunior College Championships.

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

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.

Penn Relays, Personal Best for BVI Track Athletes

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.

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.

BVI Quartet Improves 4x100m Relay National Record

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.

Kelly Gets Olympic Games Qualifier In Florida Relays

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.

Record 27 Nominated For Athletes of The Year Presented By Sol

By BVIAA

NACAC President Victor Lopez Photo Credit: Todd VanSickle

NACAC President Victor Lopez Photo Credit: Todd VanSickle

Despite uncertainty surrounding the start of the 2015 season because of repair work planned for the Mondo track at the A. O. Shirley Recreation Grounds, BVI track and field athletes turned in stellar performances during the 2015 season.

As BVI athletes put those early season challenges behind, there was an unparalleled run of National Records in the BVI Athletics Association 44-year history, where for 13 consecutive weeks, starting on January 23, 2015, some level of National Youth, Jr. Senior Record was established.

Against that backdrop, a record 27 athletes are vying for the coveted Athlete of the Year awards presented by Sol in Youth, Junior and Senior divisions. The forthcoming event is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 29, at the Moorings. Donation is $50 single and $85 per couple.

Sol will also dole out awards to athletes who have established a National Records that stood at season’s end. In all, there were 15 National Records established during the season.

During the evening, the Most Outstanding Athletes Awards from U9 through the Open Divisions in track events, field events and combined events will be recognized as well as the Most Improved Athlete, and the Comeback Athlete of the Year.

The Coach of the Year will also be named. Awards for Road Racing will also be presented and three early contributors to the development of the organization will receive the BVIAA’s Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Following are the respective nominees in the different divisions.

2015 Athletes of The Year Nominees presented by Sol
2015 Youth Female Athlete of the Year
Beyonce DeFreitas, A’Keela McMaster Alisha Hayde, Ariyah Smith, Asia McMaster

2015 Youth Male Athlete of the Year
Kori Penn, Sean Samuel, Malakai Smith, T’Koy Stevens, M’Kori Crabbe

2015 Jr. Male Athlete of the Year
Kryon McMaster, Akeem Bradshaw, K’Cei Moses, D’Jimon Gumbs

2015 Jr. Female Athlete of the Year
Trevia Gumbs, Tynelle Gumbs, Nelda Huggins, Taylor Hill, Deya Erickson, L’T’sha Fahie

2015 Sr. Male Athlete of the Year
Khari Herbert, Eldred Henry, Shaquoy Stephens

2015 Sr. Female Athlete of the Year
Tahesia Harrigan-Scott, Karene King, Ashley Kelly, Chantel Malon

2015 Most Outstanding Track & Field Performance Nominees

2015 Most Outstanding Combined Track Events Male Athlete
Akeem Bradshaw, Kyron McMaster, Khari Herbert

2015 Most Outstanding Combined Field Events Male Athlete
Akeem Bradshaw, Eldred Henry, Dylan Moses, Kevin Vanterpool

2015 Most Outstanding Combined Track Events Female Athlete
Ashley Kelly, Karene King, Taylor Hill, Nelda Huggins

2015 Most Outstanding Combined Field Events Female Athlete
Kala Penn, Tynelle Gumbs, Trevia Gumbs, Arianna Hayde

2015 Most Outstanding Combined Events Male Athlete
Eldred Henry

2015 Most Outstanding Men’s Open Track Athlete
Shaquoy Stephens, Khari Herbert, Tarique Moses

2015 Most Outstanding Women’s Open Track Athlete
Karene King, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott, Ashley Kelly

2015 Most Outstanding Men’s Open Field Athlete
Keron Stoute, Eldred Henry

2015 Most Outstanding Women’s Open Field Athlete
Chantel Malone

2015 Most Outstanding Boys Under-20 Track Athlete
Ronique Todman, Kyron McMaster, Akeem Bradshaw

2015 Most Outstanding Girls Under-20 Track Athlete
Taylor Hill, Nelda Huggins, Lakeisha Warner, Jonel Lacey, Tarika Moses, Deya Erickson

2015 Most Outstanding Boys Under-20 Field Athlete
Dylan Moses, Akeem Bradshaw, Kevin Vanterpool, Tahj Malone

2015 Most Outstanding Girls Under-20 Field Athlete
Tynelle Gumbs, Trevia Gumbs, Javlyn Frett

2015 Most Outstanding Boys Under-18 Track Athlete
Johnt’a Charles, K’Cei Moses, Malique Wattley

2015 Most Outstanding Girls Under-18 Track Athlete
L’Tsha Fahie, Shaniah Caul, Kala Penn

2015 Most Outstanding Boys Under-18 Field Athlete
Djimon Gumbs, Diamante Gumbs, Tyrique Bradshaw

2015 Most Outstanding Girls Under-18 Field Athlete
Kala Penn, Arianna Hayde, Akira Phillips

2015 Most Outstanding Boys Under-15 Track Athlete
Chaz Fahie, Ajaalee Malone, Malakai Romney

2015 Most Outstanding Girls Under-15 Track Athlete
Xiomara Malone, Zara Brown, Beyonce DeFreitas, Tashara Edwards

2015 Most Outstanding Boys Under-15 Field Athlete
J’Quaan Smith, Ajaalee Malone, Kawa Williams

2015 Most Outstanding Girls Under-15 Field Athlete
Xiomara Malone, Z’Niah Hutchinson, Dominique Moses, Tashara Edwards

2015 Most Outstanding Boys Under 13 Field Athlete
Malakai Smith, Kybah Dawson, Sha’el Lavacia

2015 Most Outstanding Girls Under 13 Field Athlete
Aryiah Smith, Alisha Hayde, Chassidy George, Kaelyah Liburd

2015 Most Outstanding Boys Under-13 Track Athlete
Sh’ael Lavacia, Kybah Dawson, Wanyae Bell, Malakai Smith

2015 Most Outstanding Girls Under-13 Track Athlete
Alisha Hayde, D’Neigh Williams, Ariyah Smith, Shymmera Forbes

2015 Most Outstanding Boys Under-11 Track Athlete
T’Koy Stevens, M’Kori Crabbe, Jahari Lacey, Kaleem Lettsome

2015 Most Outstanding Girls Under-11 Track Athlete
Jahtivya Williams, Akeela McMaster, A’Deja Hodge, Keanjah Roberts
2
015 Most Outstanding Boys Under 11 Field Athlete
Kaleem Lettsome, T’Khoy Stevens, M’Kori Crabbe

2015 Most Outstanding Girls Under 11 Field Athlete
A’Keela McMaster, D’Neah Hodge, Adeajah Hodge

2015 Most Outstanding Girls Under 9 Field Athlete
Asia McMaster, Shannia Johnson, Jada John-Lewis

2015 Most Outstanding Girls Under 9 Track Athlete
Shannia Johnson, Asia McMaster, Jada John-Lewis, Jah’Kyla Morton

2015 Most Outstanding Boys Under 9 Field Athlete
Sean Samuel, Latriel Williams, Kori Penn

2015 Most Outstanding Boys Under 9 Track Athlete
Kori Penn, Sean Samuel, Shamoi Dore

Premier Dental Collegiate Athlete of the Year Nominees
Khari Herbert, Trevia Gumbs, Eldred Henry, Tynelle Gumbs

2015 Road Racing Nominees (Unofficial) the 10th BVI Half Marathon will determine the rest of the Nominees.

Road Race Series Male Athlete of the Year
Julius Farley, Reuben Stoby

Road Race Series Female Athlete of the Year
Rosmond Johnson

Malone wraps up IAAF World Champs

By BVIAA

Chantel Malone sails through the air en route to a best leap of 6.46m Photo: Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

Chantel Malone sails through the air en route to a best leap of 6.46m Photo: Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

BEIJING, China: Chantel Malone of the British Virgin Islands finished 10th in Group B and 21st overall of the 34 Long Jumpers in the qualifying rounds of the 15th IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China yesterday, to wrap up Virgin Islands athletes competition. She did not qualify for tonight’s final.

Malone had a best leap of 6.46m on the second of three attempts and finished three places ahead the USA’s Britney Reese, who won the last two editions of the event in South Korea and Russia respectively.

“It felt pretty good on the run through but the first jump was a little flat,” she recapped of her 6.22m measurement. “I tried to bring the speed in the second jump and I think the speed helped with the 6.46 and I just tried to keep that momentum going, but I dropped my foot on the last jump.”

Malone said there was no difference between her last two outings where she established a personal best of 6.69m at the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Championships, after a 6.62 mark in the Pan Am Games.

“There were just some things that didn’t come together today that happened in the last meet,” she explained. “It’s not a matter of there being a difference. Today, I was a little flat and it didn’t end up the way I wanted it to.”

Malone was happy with her season in which she improved her three-year old BVI National Record of 6.65m to 6.69. She said the she started off a little slow but caught herself. “You always have to be happy for being able to do what you do, so I’m pleased,” she said. “This has been a good experience. I think this is one of the first years I didn’t come in hurt or anything like that and I was really excited and ready to compete. And I still was, but it didn’t happen in the jump. I didn’t get the mark I expected, but I still had a good time competing. I liked the accommodations and the atmosphere of the place.”

With the 2015 season behind, Malone said her goal is now to make it to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. “Whatever that entails,” she said. “It’s every athlete’s dream to go to the Olympics. That’s the ultimate goal for me really.”

 

Chantel Malone secures Silver in NACAC Championships

By BVIAA

Chantel Malone leaps to secure Silver in 2nd NACAC Snr Championships and set new National Record and PB. Photo: Dean "The Spostsman" Greenaway

Chantel Malone leaps to secure Silver in 2nd NACAC Snr Championships and set new National Record and PB. Photo: Dean “The Spostsman” Greenaway

Long Jumper Chantel Malone of the British Virgin Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands’ Eddie Lovett, won silver and bronze medals respectively, in the 2nd North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Track and Field Championships that wrapped up in San Jose, Costa Rica, last night.

Malone cut the sand with a personal best leap of 6.69m on her opening jump to secure the silver medal behind the USA’s Quansheka Burks, who opened with the same 6.69 mark as Malone, then leapt 6.93m, the ninth best jump in the world this year to secure the gold medal. Malone’s mark was .01cm off qualifying for the IAAF World Championships and improved her 6.65 National Record. The USVI’s Wanetta Kirby placed eight after hitting 5.90 on her last attempt, the same position she finished in the High Jump, competing both simultaneously.

“It’s always good to accomplish something you have been dreaming about,” Malone said. “I wanted the gold and I definitely wanted a qualifier, but, I’m very pleased with my performance today.”

Malone, who hadn’t been jumping well until the Pan Am Games, said the mindset she had when she won the CAC Games gold in November, returned. “I’m happy that it did,” she stated. “For example, in the Pan Am Games, I had two fouls going in to the last jump before the final and normally, I would have freaked out. But, in my mind, I said it only takes one jump to get into the final. I kept positive and that’s what I did today too.”

Lovett broke his USVI 110m national record in the process of claiming a bronze medal despite a bad landing off the 10th hurdle, finishing in 13.31 seconds to lower his 2-year old best of 13.39, narrowly missing the silver medal by .01, taken by Cuba’s Jhoanis Portilla in 13.30.

“The race felt great, the only thing I wish I would have done better, which I believe cost me a second or first place medal, was coming off the last hurdle,” Lovett explained, noting he’s seeing difference from using a seven step approach to the first barrier. “I’m able to use my speed, but the end of the race is something I’ve been trying to fix, since the beginning of my career. The more I push the envelope, the more I’ll be able to stand tall and finish with the rest of them.”

Lovett dedicated the race to his sister who was killed last month and his father and said he felt them in the race. “They pushed me to be able to do what I had to do today and I hope I made them proud,” he said. “I know I have the support of my agent, the Virgin Islands community, my family, everybody involved and I thank everybody for their prayers.”

The BVI’s Tahesia Harrigan-Scott just missed the 100m podium by .06 seconds when she placed fourth in 11.28 seconds. USVI’s Laverne Jones-Ferrette was seventh in 11.53.

“I felt really good and I think I ran a really good race unfortunately, I didn’t end up on the medal podium, but that’s life, so now my focus turns to Worlds,” Harrigan-Scott said. “I loved my start and I loved my transition, my ending, I felt it was still good in my opinion. There are some things I need to work on in the last 10 meters, but I’ll fix it.”

Jones said besides not getting a good start in the 100m, she thought she executed well, then had a season’s best of 23.51 seconds in the 200m on Sunday. “I’m glad to come out healthy,” she said. “It wasn’t a doubt that I would have made the 200 final. I’m in shape, but it’s mostly race sharpness I needed.”

USVI Long Jumper Leon Hunt was seventh with a leap of 7.48m while teammate Muhammid Halim was next with 7.36.

“I had two legal jumps in the prelims and no legal jumps in the finals and all the good jumps happened in the finals,” Hunt said. “I have to work on that. The same thing has been happening the whole season.”

Eldred Henry of the BVI was fifth in the Shot Put with a heave of 18.49m on Sunday.