Chantel Malone soars to a new personal best of 17'0" in the Long Jump during Saturdays BVI Amateur Athletics Association Development Meet.

Records, personal bests for BVI athletes at home and abroad

BY DEAN GREENAWAY

BVI athletes at home and abroad had a busy weekend that saw Omar Jones and Chantel Malone throwing and jumping in the range of the BVI Amateur Athletic Association qualifying standards set for the Easter weekend Carifta Games in Tobago, during Saturday’s first of three development meets at the A. O. Shirley Recreation Grounds; Abroad, Eric Matthias cracked the 60-foot barrier in the 35-pound Weight Throw for the first time; Tahesia Harrigan meeting an NCAA provisional qualifying time in the 60-meter dash.

Jones, 16, the 2004 Caribbean and Central American Jr. Championships under 17 division Javelin Throw silver medalist had a debut toss of 50.52 meters, (165’8)

In her first Long Jump competition this season, Chantal Malone, 13, who had personal bests of 26.7 and 60.3 seconds respectively in the 200 and 400 meters in last weekend’s Martin Luther King. Jr. meet in St. Thomas, achieved a career best performance of 5.18 meters, 17’0” inches in the Long Jump.

Association president Ephraim Penn said he was pleased with what he saw, despite a lower than expected turnout. “It has been a good meet, even though we had some delays in getting the field marked and being ready, and also getting information out,” noted Penn. “But, the kids came out and they had some good competition. It’s the first one and we are looking forward to the next one on February 19, which should be a lot better with more publicity.”

Penn described Jones and Malone’s performances as ‘eye openers’ thus far in the early season. He also cited young Shanice Hazel who had a personal best time of 12.4 seconds in the 100 meters. “All in all, the performances were good. It’s the first meet and the track is not up 100% and to have the athletes performing that well show that they are in condition and we should be in good shape with the crop of athletes we have now.”

On the collegiate scene, sprinter Tahesia Harrigan, a junior at Alabama, earned an NCAA provisional qualifying mark at the Frank Sevigne Husker Indoor Track and Field Invitational held on Feb. 4-5 on the University of Nebraska campus.

Harrigan ran a season’s best time of 7.43 seconds in the 60 meters dash, to finish in third place, earning a chance to advance to the March 11-12, NCAA Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. Harrigan had a time of 7.50 in the prelims, her best times of the season, Harrigan also had a time of 25.06 seconds in her 200 meters heat to finish 14th overall on Saturday, then contributed a second leg to her team’s 4 x 400 meter relay that placed 7th in 3 minutes and 48.04 seconds.

Meanwhile, Boise State University senior Eric Matthias cracked the 60-foot barrier for the first time in his career in the 35-pound Weight Throw, competing at the United Heritage Invitational in Nampa, Idaho on Saturday. Matthias’ 18.34 meter (60’2”) heave improved on his two week old 18.25 meters, (59’10½”) BVI Indoor Record set at the Hampton Inn and Suites Classic on Jan. 22, at the Idaho Sports Center. He placed 9th overall in the Shot Put on Saturday, with a throw of 15.71 meters (51’6½”).

Elsewhere, University of New Orleans junior Ludence Smith was fifth in his 800 meter heat at the Hayatt Regency Invitational in Houston Tex, with a time of 2 minutes, 01.96 seconds. At the same meet, University of Texas-Pan American sprinter Adriana Herbert, had times of 7.91 and 26.53 seconds for fourth and third places in her 60 and 200 meter heats.

Kevin Fahie, a junior at Cal State Northridge, had a time of 48.50 seconds to finish third in the Washington Invitational, held at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Meanwhile, 13 athletes and officials will attend the weekend Barbados Relay Fair. The group departs on today and returns on Sunday. It is comprised of: Steina Fleming, Leniece Lewis, Jackeal King, Bianca Dougan, Stephanie Russ Penn, Xavier Samuels, Willis Todman, Angelita Bernard, Winston Potter, Chantel Malone, Karene King, Sanya Penn and Omar Jones.

Final results from Saturday’s competition at the A. O. Shirley recreation Grounds. 600m Senior Girls: 1. Bianca Dougan,1 minute 48.2 seconds. 2. Dawn Peters, 1:53.9. 3. Leniece Lewis, 1:56.3. U-13 Girls: 1. Threcia Phillips, 2:02.7. 2.

Tarikah Warner, 2:10.2. 3. Riian Durante, 2:31.0.

400 Meters; U-11 Boys : 1.Yhance Smith, 1:15.9. 2. Aaron Hedley, 1:24.5. 3. Tarik Aaron 1:28.8. 4. Ryan Kelly, 1:31.5. U-13 Boys: 1. Dione Blyden, 1:06.8. 2. Rowan Victor, 1:07.9. 3. Calicio Romney,1:27.9. 4. Shakiel Humphrey,1:28.8. U-15 Girls: 1. Chantal Malone, 1:01.9. 2. Kanishque Todman, 1:05.8. 3. D’Wayna Blyden, 1:10.2. 4. Yanique Smith, 1:12.1. 5. Lauren Frederick, 1:16.5. 6. Shavurne Richardson,1:24.6.

Senior Boys: 1. Kimon Lewis, 53.7. 2. Linden Peters, 55.1. 3. Mikhail Howe, 1:04.7.

100 Meters; U-11 Boys: 1. Shakiel Humphrey, 15.4. 2. Joash Victor, 15.6. 3. Chemoia Hodge, 17.0. 4. Tahj Malone, 17.2. U-15 Boys: 1. Chevorn Henley 13.8. 2. Ryan Alfred,14.1. 3. Calicio Romney, 14.5. 4. Ryan Kelly, 16.6. U-15 Boys: 1. Naheem Stevens, 11.7. 2. Akimo Williams,12.1. 3. Shanica Hazel, 12.4. 4.Jevonte Croal,13.1.

U-17 Boys: 1. Ramon Pemberton,11.6. 2. Mikhail Howe, 12.0. 3. Donnel Freeman,12.6.

Senior Boys: 1. Aliston Potter,10.7. 2. Mark Kendall,10.9. 3. Dwight Brooks,11.0. 4. Nichols Charles, 11.3.

1500 Meters; U-13 Boys: 1. Rowan Victor, 5:33. 2. Dione Blyden, 5:41. 3. Yohance Smith, 6:21. 4. Aaron Headley, 6:29. 5. Joash Victor, 9:02. Girls: 1. D’Anna Blyden, 6:19.

Shot Put; Boys: 1.Jordon Luke, 11. 69 Meters. 2. Kyle Francis, 11. 50. 3. Bryan Walters, 6.69. Javelin Throw: 1. Omar Jones, 50.52 Meters. 2. Cliff Williams, 43.87. 3. Nicholas Laurac, 35.31.

Long Jump; U-11 Boys: 1. Yohance Smith, 12’7 ½” (3.85). 2. Tahj Malone, 8’9”(2.67)

Joash Victor, 6’1”(1.85). U-13 Boys: 1. Ryan Alfred,11’7” (3.54). 2. Tarik Aaron, 11’3 ½” (3.45). 3. Shakiel Hymphrey, 10’8”(3.25). 4. Aaron Headley,9’3½” (2.83). 5. Ryan Kelly,8’8”(2.64). U-15 Girls: 1. Chantal Malone,17’0”(5.18). 2. Shanice Hazel, 16’3” (4.96). 3. Kanishque Todman, 15’3”(4.63). U-15 Boys: 1. Akimo Williams, 18’0” (5.50).

2. Jovonte Croal, 17’1½” (5.29). 3. Dione Blyden,16’3½” (4.97). 4. Rohan Victor, 14’ 6 ½” (4.38). U-17 Boys: 1. Donnelle Freeman, 17’5”(5.32). Senior Boys: 1. Dwight Brooks, 22’1” (6.73). 2. Nateshon Thomas, 21’4” (6.50). 3. Nichols Charles, 19’10” (6.04). 4. Nicolas Laurac, 19’4” (5.88).

U-20 Girls: 1. Dianne O’Neal, 16’0” (4.90). 2. Lenette Lewis, 15’10”(4.83). 3. Sayngie Liburd, 15’1½” (4.62).