Athletes’ personal bests lead parade of medals in St. Thomas

BY DEAN GREENAWAY

BVI athletes opened their 2005 track and field season with personal best performances, and a parade to the award stand to collect medals in every event at the Martin Luther King Jr. meet in St. Thomas over the weekend. Athletes from Fast Lane and Top Notch Clubs and HLSCC Stingrays, made up the 40 athletes from the territory at the competition which comes ahead of Saturday’s 9:00 development meet at the A. O. Shirley Recreation Grounds.

The majority of athletes had or ran close to their personal bests. Among the highlights, Brittney Wattley, 12, scorched the red tartan track for a 200 meter time of 25.1 seconds, to become only the eight BVI female athlete to break the 26 seconds barrier and the youngest to do it. Bianca Dougan lowered her 400 meter best to 59.2 seconds while Chantel Malone had lifetime bests of 26.7 and 1:00.3, in the 200 and 400 meters respectively. Sprinter Ashley Kelley lowered her 100 meter best to 12.5 seconds.

Meanwhile, a BVI Amateur Athletic Association sanctioned development meet has been scheduled for Saturday, February 5, with another on February 19, followed by the youth and junior championship competition on March 12. Construction of the track and stadium had been rumored to begin since late last year, but no work has begun. This had the association’s plans on hold and delayed planning for local competition.

Association Secretary General Stephanie Russ Penn, said letters have been send to schools throughout the territory, informing them of the respective competitions. “The 2005 track season offers many opportunities regionally and internationally for both youths and juniors,” Penn noted. “The association wants to ensure that all budding athletes are prepared to take advantage of these opportunities. We are strongly encouraging schools to continue to support their student athletes and to assist in the process of preparing them for this year’s season.”

Results by Club from the Martin Luther King Jr. Meet in St. Thomas on January, 29: Fast Lane; 100m: U-15 (f). Ashley Kelly, 12.5 (1st), Shemora Penn 13.5, Takiyah George, 13.5. Threcia Phillips, 13.9. Kaetia Maduro, 13.9. Open (f) Sanya Penn, 12.3 (1st), Jackhel King ,12.5 (2nd). 200 M; U-15. (F) Britney Wattley, 25.1 (1st), Kaetia Maduro, 29.1 (7th), Threcia Phillips, 30.1 (11th). Open (f) Jackhel King, 26.3 (1st), Karene King, 26.8 (2nd). Open (m) Keone Maduro, 25.3.

400 M Open (f)Bianca Dougan, 59.2 (1st). Leniece Lewis, 66.4 (4th). Open (m) Ralston Henry, 52.33 (2nd), Mitch Christopher, 52.93 (4th), Jameel Herman, 54.37 (5th).

4 x100 M Relay; Open (f) (Steina Fleming, Sanya Penn, Jackhel King, Karene King) 49.2. (1st) (Britney Wattley, Threcia Phillips, Ashley Kelly, Shemora Penn, 52.9) (4th)

4 x 400m relay Open (f). (Steina Fleming, Leniece Lewis, Bianca Dougan, Sanya Penn) 4:12.2 (1st) Open (m) Mitch Christopher, Ralston Henry, Keone Maduro, Jameel Herman, 3:41.7 (1st).

Top Notch: 100 M. Aliston Potter, 10.5. Mark Kendall, 11.2. Dwight Brookes, 11.2. Shawn Mactavious, 11.3. Ramo Pemberton, 11.7. Jevonte Croal, 13.5. Ashley Hodge, 13.8.

200 M. Mark Kendal, 22.5. Dwight Brookes, 23.2. Michael Butler, 23.5. Nateshon Thomas, 24.0. Akeil Burrows, 24.2. Female: Chantal Malone, 26.7. Saungie Liburd, 28.3.

400M: Akeil Burrows, 55.0. Rhakim Todman, 59.6. Chantel Malone, 1:00.3. 800M: Rasheed Richards, 2 minutes, 14.8 seconds. D’Wanya Blyden, 2:48.3. D’Anna Blyden, 2:53.0. 1500M. Rasheed Richards, 4 minutes, 40.6 seconds. Dione Blyden, 5:29.0. D’Anna Blyden, 5:56.2.

HLSCC Stingrays: 100 M Open. Nicols Charles, 11.1. Micah Williams, 12.0. Stacy Gill, 12.8. Lenette Lewis, 13.7. 200 M. Nicols Charles, 23.7. Shaun Williams, 23.8. Micah Williams, 24.2. Stacy Gill, 26.8. 400 M. Nicholas Laurac, 51.9. Shaun Williams, 52.7. 800 M. Esan Stoutt, 2 minutes, 14.5. Darwn Peters, 2:42.4. 1500 M. Esan Stoutt, 4:59.0. Darwn Peters, 5:29.3.

4x100 Relay, 46.7 (Nicols Charles, Shaun Williams, Nicholas Laurac, Micah Williams).

Female: 52.4. (Stacia Gill, Darwn Peters, Leniece Lewis, Lenette Lewis).