The British Virgin Islands Olympic Committee (BVIOC) acting in its capacity as the BVI Commonwealth Games Association (BVICGA) is sending a team of 5 athletes to represent the Virgin Islands (UK) in track and field at the Trinbago 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games. The 7th edition of the Games for participants aged 14-18 years, takes place in Trinidad and Tobago, August 4 – 11, 2023.
 
Chef de Mission Ms. Ericca Frederick, a coaching certified Physical Education teacher with extensive experience at editions of NACAC, Carifta, and the Caribbean Games, will be responsible for the delegation at Trinbago 2023. The cohort includes Cristal Daly (long jump), A’Sia McMaster (long jump), J’den Jackson (100m and 200m) Jonathan Lynch (800m), Jah’Kyla Morton (high jump) and coach Erwin “Redz” Telemaque. Mr. Ephraim Penn, President of the BVICGA, will be in attendance.
 
The Opening ceremony takes place at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Trinidad on Friday, August 4 when Chef Frederick will accompany Daly who was selected to be the flag bearer.
 
The events for the VI athletes take place on Monday, August 7 (100m and long jump), Wednesday, August 9 (heats – 200m, and 800m) and Thursday, August 10 (finals – high jump, 200m and 800m). The Closing Ceremony will be celebrated at Pigeon Point Beach Facility, Tobago on Friday, August 11.
 
“We are pleased that the BVI will be represented by a strong team at these youth Games,” said President Penn. “The selection was made from a long list of athletes put forward by the BVI Athletics Association and we should expect to see some good performances by the team members.”
 
Morton recently returned home with a gold medal in the high jump, which she won at the U18 NACAC Age Group Championships in Costa Rica. Her 1.74m (5’81/2”) clearance set a new NACAC U18 Girls’ high jump record as well a new National Record. McMaster, Jackson, and Lynch also competed in Costa Rica.
 
More than 1000 athletes from 71 Nations and Territories across the Commonwealth are registered to participate in the Games competing in events across 7 sports including athletics and para-athletics, aquatics, beach volleyball, cycling, fast 5 netball, rugby sevens and triathlon.
 
“The Trinbago 2023 organisers have done a great job to ensure that we are comfortable, well looked after and set to perform at these Games,” said Chef de Mission Frederick. “Our athletes are well prepared and the team spirit is high. Everyone is looking forward to competing as well as representing the Virgin Islands in the cultural exchange element of the Games and fostering friendships.”
 
The Commonwealth Youth Games is considered to provide an invaluable springboard for the developing athletes. San Salvador 2023 CAC medalist, thrower Djimon Gumbs and U23 NACAC double medalist, sprinter Beyonce Defreitas experienced their first success at a major Games when they won the territory’s first medals at a CYG.  Gumbs and Defreitas respectively brought home a bronze in the discus throw and a silver in the 200m competing at the 6th edition of the Games in the Bahamas in 2017.
 
The Games have traditionally taken place every four years with the first event being hosted in Edinburgh, Scotland in 2000. The VI was first represented at a CYG at Samoa 2015 when athletes competed in track and field and tennis.
 
Click on the link for the full schedule of events https://www.trinbago2023.com/schedule
 
Follow the BVIOC page on FaceBook for regular updates and results https://web.facebook.com/BVIOlympicCommittee/