Four senior track and field athletes traveled to the territory to compete in the Annual Virgin Islands National Track and Field Championships, according to a press release from the VI Track and Field Federation (VITFF).
Those attending were Nia Jack, Wanetta Kirby, Yashira Rhymer-Stuart and Lavern Jones-Ferrette.
Jack won the women’s open 100m in a time of 11.88, which is the fastest time run by a female on the St. Croix Education Complex track. Rhymer-Stuart won the open women’s high jump, with a jump of 1 meter and 70 centimeters.
The younger athletes were thrilled to see and speak with the VI national record holders and outstanding senior athletes. Kirby is the VI national record holder in the heptathlon and javelin. Jones-Ferrette is the VI national record holder in the 100m, 200m and 400m sprints. Rhymer-Stuart is the VI national record holder in the high jump.
The St. Croix Track Club, the Jolly Rogers Track Club, the Mary’s Fancy Track Club and Cheetahs’ Track Club competed on the youth, junior and master levels. Michelle Smith lowered her VI National Junior record in the 400m hurdles by winning the event in a time of 62.45 seconds. Smith also lowered the VI National Junior record in the 100m Hurdles by .07 of a second to make it 15.51 seconds.
Johann Clendenin of St. Croix Track Club was the oldest athlete, competing in the over 70 age group. The youngest athlete was eight-year-old Kaleb Scott, also of St. Croix Track Club, who competed in the shot put, as did Clendenin.
There were many wonderful performances by the VI athletes and the full results can be viewed at the VITFF web site.
The following athletes were selected to represent the territory in the AAU Junior Olympic Games for track and field as Team Virgin Islands: Raynier Charlery, St. Thomas; Michael Dizon-Buman, St. Croix; Ariana Edgar, St. Croix; Rahyim George, St. Thomas; Cecil Hector, St. Thomas; Akyra Joseph, St. Croix; Makari Matthew, St. Croix; V’Andre Rochester, St. Thomas; V’Manie Rochester, St. Thomas; Michelle Smith, St. Croix; Jordan Vaughn, St. Croix; and Joshua TeWinkle, St. Croix. The event will be held in Houston, Texas, July 29 through Aug. 7.
This is an opportunity for junior athletes to compete in a high-level track and field meet in lieu of the CARIFTA Games which got canceled this year (2021) and last year (2020) because of COVID-19.
Full results of the Virgin Islands National Track and Field Championships are attached: NationalChampionship-Results 2021