Gold, Silver and Bronze for Virgin Islands at Barranquilla 2018 CAC Games

August 1, 2018 by

Medals at Barranquilla 2018 – Kyron McMaster, 400m hurdles gold and new CAC Games record with a time of 47.60, Chantel Malone, long jump silver (6.520, Eldred Henry, shot put bronze (20.18). Photo: CM Farrington/BVIOC

With one day of competition remaining for the Virgin Islands’ athletes at the 23rd Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Barranquilla, Colombia, the territory’s senior athletes have set new records for the Games and for the nation so far as they secure three medals of gold, silver and bronze.

Last night, Kyron McMaster, ranked by the IAAF as the third fastest man in the world, set a new CAC Games record when he won the gold in the 400m hurdles with his second fastest time of 47.60. The new record, set in the final race of the night, surpassed the standing eight-years old Games record of 48.47 by almost one second.

On Monday evening, Chantel Malone leapt her way to a silver medal in the long jump with a seasonal best of 6.52. This was her second medal of the CAC Games after winning gold in the same event in Mexico in 2014.

The first win for the VI and new national record was set with Eldred Henry’s bronze medal finish in the shot put on Monday night when he hurled the orb a distance of 20.18m to break his previous national record of 20.00m.

This is the fifth consecutive CAC Games in which the VI has won gold medals starting with Dion Crabbe in the 100m at San Salvador 2002. Tahesia Harrigan-Scott continued the gold medal win when she came 1st in the 100m at Cartagena 2006 and again at Mayaguez 2010. Chantel won the fourth gold in long jump at Mexico 2014 and now the VI has its fifth gold with Kyron’s win. It is the first time at the CAC Games that the territory’s athletes have won 3 medals.

“It has been quite emotional here as we celebrated the 3 medals won at these games so far. I am exceptionally proud of the athletes’ achievements and I along with the VI delegation are looking forward to cheering on Ashley Kelly, Trevia Gumbs and Kala Penn in their upcoming events. I know the same is true for all their supporters back home and elsewhere.” said Ephraim Penn, President of the BVI Olympic Committee.

Ashley Kelly will run in the 400m finals tonight while Trevia Gumbs will compete in the shot-put final and Kala Penn in the triple jump.

“To date, all 13 of the VI’s senior and national athletes at Barranquilla 2018 have competed in their track and field events and a full report will be distributed at the conclusion of the Games but I can confirm that all athletes have worked hard and have been excellent ambassadors for the territory,” said Cleave Farrington, Chef de Mission for Barranquilla 2018. “We have Kyron’s medal ceremony later today followed by 3 more track and field events which we are excited about. The majority of the delegation will depart Colombia tomorrow.”

Updates are posted on the BVIOC social media platforms of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Filed Under: Athletics, Barranquilla 2018, BVI Olympic Committee, CAC Tagged With: , , , , ,

McMaster represents athletes of small countries winning first medals at Commonwealth Games

April 16, 2018 by

Kyron McMaster represented athletes of small nations winning their first Games’ medal in the official Commonwealth Games’ Federation wrap up press conference. (L-r) Andy Street, Mayor, West Midlands; Kyron McMaster, Gold Medalist 400m Hurdler, BVI; Mark Peters, CEO, Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation; Peter Beattie AC, Chairman, Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation; David Grevemberg CBE, CEO, Commonwealth Games Federation; Louise Martin CBE, President, Commonwealth Games Federation.

Kyron McMaster, the 400m hurdles champion and inaugural British Virgin Islands (VI) gold medalist sat on the head table with top executives of the Commonwealth Games Federation, GOLDOC, and Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games at the final day press conference of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The line up included Andy Street, Mayor, West Midlands; Kyron McMaster, Gold Medalist 400m Hurdles; Mark Peters, CEO, Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation; Peter Beattie AC, Chairman, Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation; David Grevemberg CBE, CEO, Commonwealth Games Federation; and Louise Martin CBE, President, Commonwealth Games Federation.

The first half of the two-part conference focused on the wrap up of the Games and reflections of the event.

Speaking on two memorable events in what is being dubbed ‘Game of Firsts’, Ms. Martin said, “Forty-three countries have won medals. Five of these are first ever medals and they’re all small countries which, to me, is exceptional.”

Identifying the win of the first medal for the VI as one of the memorable moments of the Games, Kyron was asked to share his experience on winning and on the public’s reaction to it.

“Winning the first medal for the British Virgin Islands was big,” said Kyron. “Before the race, everyone was messaging me crazily saying, ‘no pressure, but we want the medal’.”

“Winning it after what we have been through (Hurricane Irma), I was happy that I could deliver on that and especially the gold medal. Everyone was just so happy and so I was happy to bring some joy back to the BVI.”

A lot of the stories behind the athletes at the Games have been about triumph through adversity and Kyron explained what winning the medal has meant to him given the impact of Hurricane Irma.

“It gives athletes hope when they see me go out there and do it. Not only for the athletes back home but also those from other small countries who haven’t medaled yet, who can say ‘if this small-town boy can do it, we can do it’,” said Kyron. “For the athletes back home, I know that they are looking at it as motivation regardless of the standards of their training. They can use it and can progress.”

Kyron looks forward to competing at Doha 2018, Qatar on May 4 in one of the series of fourteen of the ninth edition of the annual IAAF Diamond League. It will be one of the biggest Diamond Leagues he has attended.

Filed Under: Athletics, BVI Olympic Committee, Gold Coast 2018 News Tagged With: , , , ,

Team BVI wraps up Gold Coast 2018 with historic Gold medal and fanfare

April 16, 2018 by

Team BVI at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, Queensland, Australia. Photo: BVICGA

Team BVI was led by flag bearer and four-times Commonwealth Games athlete, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott in the Gold Coast 2018 Closing Ceremony on April 15 marking the end of the 21st edition of the Commonwealth Games.

“This has been an amazing and emotional Games,” said Ephraim Penn, President of the BVI Commonwealth Games Association. “We saw Gold Coast 2018 as an opportunity to inspire the Virgin Islands through sports after the devastating hurricanes Irma and Maria and hoped that the athletes’ achievements would motivate the territory to tackle new beginnings. Our athletes rose to the occasion with their tremendous effort and individual and team achievements. We believed that this was the strongest team we had yet taken to the Commonwealth Games and their performances have proved it to be the case. We are exceptionally proud of each, and every one of them and thank them for showcasing our nation on the world stage with grit and grace.”

At the end of 10 days of competition in Queensland, Australia, 10 of the VI’s athletes had participated in 9 track and field events and 2 squash events. All track and field athletes completing their events made it through to semi-finals and five went on to compete in the finals. In squash, the VI won the Plate of the men’s singles.

British Virgin Islands Kyron Mcmaster won the men’s 400m hurdles final in a time of 48.25 seconds during the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games at the Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast on April 12, 2018. Photo credit: SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images)

The crowning moment came on April 12 when Kyron McMaster took to his starting blocks in front of a packed stadium in the 400m Hurdles and made history with his 1st place finish in a time of 48.25 seconds and winning the territory’s first medal ever in the Commonwealth Games.

Competing in his first Commonwealth Games, Kyron triumphed for his hurricane ravaged country and in memory of his beloved coach, the late Xavier ‘Dag’ Samuels. “My first phase of the race wasn’t what I wanted but I remembered what coach would have told me ‘just in case something like that happens, just stay calm and relax’” said Kyron. “When I saw I was in a position to take control of the race, I did and ran home with the gold. I am very proud that I was able to bring it home for the Virgin Islands.” 2nd and 3rd places went to Jeffrey Gibson of the Bahamas (49.10) and Jaheel Hyde of Jamaica (49.16) respectively.

That same evening, Chantel Malone landed a 5th place in the Long Jump final with a leap of 6.48. This was Chantel’s second appearance in a Commonwealth Games, the first being at Glasgow 2014 where she landed a 4th place with a jump of 6.41. Podium finishers of the long jump were Christabel Nettey of Canada (6.84), Brooke Stratton of Australia (6.77) and Shara Proctor of England (6.75).

Next up were Commonwealth Games debutants, twin sisters Tynelle and Trevia Gumbs competing against a field of 13 in the Discus final. Tynelle hurled the disc 47.04 to place 9th. Top spots went to Dani Stevens of Australia (68.26), Seema Punia of India (60.41) and Navjeet Dhillon of India (57.43). Tynelle’s performance was in her second event of the Games – the first being the Hammer Throw in which she placed 7th overall and attained a Seasonal and Personal Best as well as beating her previous National Record with a distance of 60.97.

Trevia retired early in the Discus final to avoid irritating an injury and to save herself for the Shot Put final.  On April 13, and the last day of competition for the VI, Tynelle improved on her Shot Put qualifier round result of 14.08 with a third attempt throw of 14.12. Top three putters were Danniel Thomas-Dodd of Jamaica (19.36), Dame Valerie Adams of New Zealand (18.70) and Brittany Crew of Canada (18.32).

Eldred Henry joined Trevia in rounding off the VI’s performance at the Games with his seasonal best throw of 50.96 when he competed in the Discus final. The mark was an improvement of his 50.43 achieved in his qualifying round. Medalists in the event were Fedrick Dacres of Jamaica who set a new Games Record with a throw of 68.20, Traves Smikle of Jamaica (63.98) and Apostolos Parellis of Cypress (63.61). On April 9, Eldred had competed in the shot put final. GC2018 was Eldred’s second Commonwealth Games.

Earlier in the Games, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott ran her last race of a Commonwealth Games on April 8 when she crossed the finish line of the 100m semi-finals with a time of 11.63 to place 7th in her field and 13th out of 24 runners in the semi-finals.

On April 10, Ashley Kelly closed out her GC2018 performance with a 53.00 finish in the 400m semi-finals. The time placed her 5th in her race and 14th out of an overall line up of 23 semi-finalists. This was Ashley’s second Commonwealth Games, the first being Glasgow 2014 where she competed in the 200m and 400m semi-finals.

Khari Herbert Jr was disappointed when he pushed out of the blocks in his 400m qualifying round on April 8 and had to retire due to a hamstring injury. This was Khari’s first Commonwealth Games.

Squash Round Up

In squash, Joe Chapman and Neville Sorrentino ended their GC2018 competitions on April 12 when they played in a hard-fought doubles match against Pakistan’s duo, Tayyab Aslam and Farhan Zaman.

The first game was an exciting round with the BVI taking 8 points. The crowd watched a strong performance from both players with Neville playing some of his best squash for an edge-of-the-seat game. The second game to decide the match was ultimately won by Aslam and Zaman 11-4.

This was the second doubles match that Joe and Neville played at the Games, the first being on April 10 when they were defeated by England’s James Willstrop (CWG 2018 Singles Gold Medal winner) and James Declan (World ranked #25).

GC2018 was Neville’s Commonwealth Games debut and in which he played in the Men’s Squash singles and doubles, and Joe’s fourth appearance at the quadrennial event. The pinnacle for Joe was his win of the Men’s Singles Plate on April 9 when he beat Cameron Stafford of the Cayman Islands 3-1 (11-9, 4-11, 11-8, 11 – 7).

The VI delegation to GC2018 included Mark Chapman, Chef de Mission; Athletics coaches Winston Potter, Joey Scott, Dwight Phillips and Omar Jones; and Squash coach Adam Murrills; Physio Mark Latimer; Attaché Julie-Anne Pearson; CGA Assistant Katrina Pfeffer; BVICGA Secretary General Lloyd Black; and Deputy Premier, Dr. The Honourable Kedrick Pickering.

Filed Under: Athletics, BVI Olympic Committee, Gold Coast 2018 News, Squash Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

2017 Top Senior VI Athletics ranked No. 2 and No. 10 in 2017 IAAF World Rankings

January 12, 2018 by

By the BVI Athletics Association

Chantel Malone and Kyron McMaster respectively named BVIAA 2017 Senior Female Athlete and Senior Male Athlete

The British Virgin Islands Athletics Association is pleased to announce that Kyron McMaster and Chantel Malone have been named the BVIAA Senior Male and Female Athletes of the Year for 2017. This accomplishment is topped with their achievements as number 2 and number 10 in the IAAF Men and Women World Rankings in their respective disciplines.

McMaster, the 400m hurdler ended the year as the World leader in the 400m after clocking a time of 47.80 seconds at the Jamaica Invitational on May 20, 2017. He is currently ranked second behind Karsten Warholm of Norway in the world rankings.

At the World Championships in London, McMaster failed to qualify after been disqualified but bounced back by beating a field of athletes which included World Champion Warholm of Norway at the Diamond League Meet in Zurich, Switzerland on August 24, 2017.

Third and fourth respectively in the world rankings are Yasmani Copello of Turkey and Olympic Champion Kerron Clement of USA.

“I want to be the best and to continue to train hard and represent my country to the best of my ability,” McMaster said.

Malone secured a seventh place finish in the women’s long jump at the 2017 World Championships making history for the Virgin Islands as the first ever athlete to make it to the final of a senior IAAF World Championships.

Britney Reese of the USA is ranked number 1 in the world rankings.

Malone was truly excited learning about her world ranking, she said, “I was surprised but happy! With everything that happened last season, it was definitely an icing on the cake. It inspired me to continue moving forward and being the best athlete that I can be.”

The long jumper further stated that “this year my inspiration stemmed from losing Coach Samuels. I want my success to be a beacon of hope for the athletes of the BVI and let the world know that we are still a force to be reckoned with.”

Notably, Malone and McMaster are the only two Leeward Island athletes in the top IAAF World rankings.

BVIAA President Steve Augustine commented that “as a people and as the Athletics family, we are especially proud of Kyron and Chantel. What they have accomplished internationally is truly a testament to what hard work and determination can masterfully achieve. I trust that this will serve as an inspiration to the many super talented BVI athletes seeking to follow in their footsteps.

“Undoubtedly, I must also give credit to the many coaches that nurtured their athletic abilities during their youth, junior and senior years; Coach Dag Samuels and the Fast Lane coaching staff, Coach Winston Potter and the Top Notch coaching staff and Coach Loren Seagrave, who currently coaches Chantel. ”

Both Malone and McMaster are now focused towards the next major games, the Commonwealth Games with their eyes ultimately to compete at the 2020 Olympic Games.

The BVIAA Board, members, Athletes and Track and Field family congratulates McMaster and Malone for their historic accomplishments on the WORLD stage and being named Male and Female Senior Athletes of the Year for 2017.

Awardees in several other categories including Youth and Junior Athletes of the Year for 2017 and record breakers will be announced in future updates.

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McMaster to train with new coach

October 5, 2017 by

Source: VINO

Kyron McMaster. Photo source: BVIAA Facebook Page

Kyron A. McMaster, the VI’s World Leading 400m Hurdler, has chosen Jamaican coach Lennox Graham as his new coach.

The 20-year-old McMaster, the only man to break 48 seconds this past season, lost his longtime coach, Dag Samuels during the passage of Hurricane Irma that ravaged the Territory in early September.

Following Samuels’ death, McMaster flew to the United States in search of a new coach and after careful consideration made the decision to go with the Jamaican.

“My new coach will be Lennox Graham and I will be based in South Carolina,” said McMaster, who under Samuels’s tutelage, set three of the four fastest times in the world this year.

Graham was recently appointed Assistant Coach at Clemson University after running a successful programme at Division II contenders Johnson C Smith University for the last decade.

Graham also coaches 2015 World 100m hurdles champion Danielle Williams and her sister, Shermaine.

McMaster said the final decision came after much deliberation. “This decision was made solely sitting down with my parents and family. We wanted an environment where we are not crowded too much or around a lot of people where I can be a lot more focused knowing what happened with my coach and the hurricane and everything,” he said. “Away from a lot of people where I would not be exposed to a lot of questions or people looking at me certain ways. Dag was like a father”

Given the longstanding relationship McMaster shared with Samuels, he revealed just how difficult it was to move on from his now deceased former coach.

“It was hard, because it’s like you’re making a decision to start a bond with somebody else from scratch,” he said, “so it is not easy to get a new coach like that or even compare a new coach because Dag was my father figure apart from my real father.”

McMaster ran his world-leading time of 47.80 seconds at the Jamaica International Invitational in May. However, his campaign for a gold medal at the IAAF World Championships in London in August ended early as he was disqualified after his opening-round run.

He would later return to beat the World Champion at a Diamond League Meet.

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Kyron McMaster wins Men’s 400m hurdles in Zurich Diamond League, Switzerland

August 25, 2017 by

Source: BVI Platinum

National record holder, Kyron McMaster has produced another outstanding performance on the world stage, to win the Men’s 400m hurdles in Zurich Diamond League, Switzerland on August 24.

His time was 48.07 seconds, just a touch slower than his 47.80, a world-leading time for 2017, which he established in May during the Jamaica invitational.

The time was good enough to beat the reigning World Champion Gold Medalist, Karsten Warholm of Norway, and Bronze Medalist, Kerron Clement of the USA.

This comes just over a month after he placed second in the 400m Hurdles at the 2017 IAAF Diamond League, Muller Anniversary Games in London last month.

 

McMaster, who is trained by one of the Territory’s longest-serving coaches, Xavier “Dag” Samuels, has his eyes set on the world record of 46.69 seconds.

Filed Under: Athletics Tagged With: , ,

Malone, Kelly and McMaster ready for 2017 IAAF World Championships

July 31, 2017 by

Source: VINO

Chantel E. Malone (Long Jump), Ashley N. Kelly (400m) and Kyron A. McMaster (400m Hurdles) to compete in 2017 IAAF World Championships. Photo credits: Malone – Dean Greenaway, Kelly – Lonny.

The three-athlete team of Chantel E. Malone, Ashley N. Kelly and Kyron A. McMaster are in their final preparations for the IAAF World Championships scheduled to be held in London from August 4 to August 13, 2017.

Organisers of the Championships have announced the latest sales figure for tickets with more than 660,000 sold and a bumper opening weekend with a quarter of a million spectators set to flock to the London Stadium over the Friday, Saturday and Sunday sessions.

The British Virgin Islands Athletics Association (BVIAA) President, Mr. Steve Augustine, is looking forward to what they will achieve on the World stage and is excited. “McMaster goes in as a top contender in his event, so hopes are high for what he will achieve, Kelly is expected to put up a great showing and of course Malone, who started her season late due to a foot injury, will have another opportunity to show what she can do as a top 30 ranked Jumper.”

“This is my first year as President,” noted Augustine. “The inspiration this provides the youngsters goes without saying. For them to be able to see the likes of McMaster training hard day in day out on the track in Road Town, motivates them to an all-time high.”

Kelly runs in the 400m, having recently set a new National Record, Malone takes on the Long Jump, and McMaster, with a world leading time already under his belt, competes in the 400m Hurdles.

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BVI’s Kyron McMaster places 2nd in 400m Hurdles at 2017 IAAF Diamond League

July 10, 2017 by

Source: BVI News online

British Virgin Islands athlete Kyron McMaster finished second in the Men’s 400m Hurdles at the prestigious Müller Anniversary Games in London on July 9, 2017 – his first international clash since May when he set a world leading 47.80 seconds in Jamaica.

He also became the first male athlete from the British Virgin Islands to participate in an IAAF Diamond League event.

McMaster, who led the race beyond the final hurdle, was clipped near the finish line by Trinidad-born, Clement Kerron who competes for the United States.

Kerron clocked a Season’s Best of 48.02 to beat McMaster who finished in 48.12 seconds.

Copello Yasmani was third in 48.24 at the event held in the former Olympic Stadium, London.

This race comes weeks before the IAAF World Championships in London where McMaster will try to win the BVI’s first medal at such top-level event.

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Kyron McMaster breaks 48s in 400m Hurdles – a rare achievement in the sport

May 22, 2017 by

By: Rey O’Neal, A.T.F.S.

Kyron McMaster broke 48s with a time of 47.80s in 400m hurdles on May 20 at the 2017 Jamaica International Invitational – a rare achievement in the sport. Photo source: BVIAA Facebook Page

On Saturday, May 20, 2017, Kyron McMaster, a 20-year old British Virgin Islands hurdler achieved the most outstanding individual  athletic performance by a competitor from his country when he dominated a quality field to clock 47.80 seconds over the 400 metre hurdles at the Jamaica International Invitational track meet in Kingston.

His rivals included the two-time World Athletics Champion in the event, Bershawn”Batnan’ Jackson of the U.S.A., former Olympic Games medalists Michael Tinsley of the U.S.A., and Javier Culson of Puerto Rico, and Jamaica’s  Jaheel Hyde,who had won the event at the last two I.A.A.F. World Junior (Under-20) Championships, at the latter of which McMaster had become his country’s first individual medalist at a global event outdoors, finishing third behind Hyde.

Kyron McMaster now ranks as the world’s fastest for the 400 metre hurdles in 2017 and makes him No.28 on the World All-Time list.

Among athletes from the C.A.C. (Central America and Caribbean) region, he stands as fifth fastest behind double Olympic champion, Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic, the regional record holder at 48.25 seconds; Winthrop Graham of Jamaica (47.60), a medalist at both the Olympic Games and World Championships; Jehue Gordon of Trinidad and Tobago (47.69), a World Champion at both the Junior and Senior levels; and Culson, an Olympic medalist who may be the world’s most consistent performer at major Championships over the past decade, with a best performance of 47.72 seconds.

Kyron McMaster also ranks as the second fastest 20 year old ever, behind Trinidad-born, American Kerron Clement (47.24).

Clement, winner of two World Championships, an Olympic title and a world record in the 400 metres flat, has somewhat surprisingly never again run as fast as he did in his 20th year (2005).

Actually sub-48 second clockings are quite rare. No runner in the world achieved the feat in 2014. There were three in 2013, one 1n 2015 and four in 2016. Of those athletes mentioned, five have run faster than Kyron McMaster.

Congratulations are very much in order for Kyron McMaster and his coaches Dag Samuels and Steve Augustine.

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McMaster lowers own National 400m Hurdle Record

May 1, 2017 by

Sourc: VINO

Virgin Islands hurdler Kyron McMaster has cemented his current ranking as the second fastest in the 400m hurdles this season in the World. Photo: Dean ‘The Sportsman’ Greenaway

Kyron McMaster, running at the Tom Jones Memorial Track and Field Meet at the Percy Beard Track, on Friday April 28, 2017 lowered his own National 400m Hurdle Record with another blistering run.

McMaster comfortably won the race in a time of 48.69 to better his previous 48.71 set earlier this season, which also cements his current ranking as the second fastest in the discipline this season in the World.

His new best is just .38 seconds behind the world’s fastest this year

The event was held at the University of Florida, USA and McMaster easily held off the challenge from the rest of the field, with the second placed hurdler coming in at 49.19.

Virgin Islands hurdler Kyron McMaster has cemented his current ranking as the second fastest in the 400m hurdles this season in the World. Photo: Dean H. Greenaway aka The Sportsman/File

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