Selection for BVI Leeward Islands Youth, Jr. teams underway

BY DEAN GREENAWAY

The selection process for athletes that will represent the BVI at upcoming competitions began on Saturday morning at the A. O. Shirley Recreation grounds. The BVI Amateur Athletics Association held the first of two trial meets to select teams for the Leeward Islands Youth and Jr. Championships in St. Kitts, April 25-25 and Antigua May 15-16, respectively. The second trials are set for April 17.

“We got started, not as early as I would have liked, but all in all, I thought the trials were good,” association Secretary General Stephanie Russ Penn, noting that she didn’t have a chance to review the various times and distances. “I want to encourage as many athletes as possible to come out for the next trials. It’s all about running for time. This is not bout place and we look forward to the rest of the trials and choosing a team to go to the Leeward Islands Youths and Jr. Championships.”

Penn said there were some athletes who recorder good performances. Fourteen year old Bianca Dougan ran in the under 20 division and won the 400 meters; Sanya Penn and Regina Hewlett in the Under 17 and Under 20 Long Jump. Among the boys, she said Dwight Brooks who won the Under 20 boys Long Jump and 100 meters and Michael Butler in the Under 15 Long Jump, but there are many others who had good performances.

Penn said there may be several great performances across the board and in choosing a team, only a certain number of people will make the cut. “I’m going to review the results, look at the standards we set, compare them and we will the best people,” she said. “I also want to thank everybody who have come together to make the trials work; the members of the association; the members of the Sports Division we say thank you. We appreciate all you do