Five athletes in two sports represented the Virgin Islands (UK) non July 3 at the San Salvador 2023 CAC Games.
In Track and field events at the Estadio Nacional Jorge “El Magic” Gonzales, Djimon Gumbs, in his first appearance at a CAC Games, won the first medal for the VI at the 24th edition of the Games with a bronze in the shot put after hurling a distance of 19.00m (62.34ft) in his third attempt.
Eldred Henry OLY – shot put National Record holder (21.47m /70.44ft) – placed 6th in the shot put final with a best distance of 18.12m (59.45ft) during his 3rd attempt. Henry had won the territory’s first shot put medal at the CAC Games with a hurl of 20.18m (66.21ft) during his debut at Barranquilla 2018.
Sprinter Rikkoi Brathwaite went on to secure the territory’s second medal at the San Salvador 2023 with a bronze medal win in the 100m in a time of 10.26 seconds. Brathwaite had placed 1st in his heat with a time of 10.29 seconds a couple of hours earlier in his maiden race at the CACs.
The first ever medal for the BVI at a CAC Games was won in the very same stadium in 2002 by Dion Crabbe in the 100m with a then national record time of 10.28 seconds. Brathwaite would go on to break the record with a time of 10.20 seconds achieved at the 2022 NACAC Open Championships, Freeport, Bahamas.
“We knew that the competition field at San Salvador 2023 would be tough with strong contenders for medals and we couldn’t be prouder of the accomplishments of Djimon Gumbs and Rikkoi Brathwaite,” said BVI Olympic President Ephraim Penn. “With 2 more days of competition to come, we wish our athletes all the best in their events.”
Athletes who also were competing at San Salvador 2023 on July 3 included Beyoncé Defreitas who debuted in heat 3 of the 100m semi finals to place 4th with a non-advancing time of 11.84 seconds. Defreitas will compete again in the 200m on July 5.
Archer Ritseeniyah Georges, who had competed in the first round of the women’s compound individual event at the Poligogo de Tiro con Arco Ciudad Merliot on July 2, lost 123 – 148 against Andrea Becerra (Mexico) in the elimination round. Georges had an average of 8.2 out of 10 compared to Becerra’s average of 9.9. Georges is the first archer to represent the VI at a major Games with her appearance at San Salvador 2023.
Deya Erickson made her second appearance at a CAC Games competing in the 100m hurdles semi finals on July 4. Her time of 13.92 for a fifth place finish qualified her to move on to the finals on July 5.
Also competing on July 5 are Jaleel Croal, who debuts at the CACs in the 200m semi finals. Twin brothers Djimon and Diamanté Gumbs will compete in the discus. This is also the first CAC games for the Diamanté Gumbs.
“Congratulations on great performances,” said Chef de Mission Gloria Fahie. “They are the beginning of greater accomplishments yet to come!”
Henry, Brathwaite and Georges along with archery coach Winnette Lawrence and technician Xavier Buxo depart El Salvador on July 6. ILCA 7 laser sailor Thad Lettsome and coach Chris Watters left on July 2 after Lettsome qualified for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games with an overall 6th place in his event.
The BVI has won medals at every CAC Games since 2002 including 5 gold medals – 3 in the 100m by Dion Crabbe at San Salvador 2022, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott at Cartagena de Indias 2006 and Mayaguez 2010; 1 in long jump by Chantel Malone at Vera Cruz 2014 and 1 in the 400m hurdles by Kyron McMaster at Barranquilla 2018. Malone also won silver in long jump at Barranquilla 2018.
