Harrigan victorious at Drake Relays; Youth team 3rd in Leewards

BY DEAN GREENAWAY

The busiest weekend in BVI track and field this season, saw sprinter Tahesia Harrigan winning the Drake Relays 100 meter title in Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday; the Leeward Islands Youth team placing third in Anguilla; personal and seasons best performances in Puerto Rico and on the U.S. collegiate scene in California and Texas, as well as the start of the Dasani Community Spring Series. In all, more than 50 participants were in action.

Harrigan, a University of Alabama Jr., became the second BVI athlete and first woman to win an individual title at Drake in the last 25 years—behind Dean Greenaway who won the 400 meters in 1980— when she ran 11.43 seconds to grab the 100 meter crown.

“I had a great start,” Harrigan said. “I felt really comfortable coming out of the blocks, and I really focused on my execution, like my leg turnover and everything. I ran really well today, I’ve been improving each week, and today I was very close to my PR. I love it here at the relays, it is a great atmosphere and I look forward to coming back next year.”

Harrigan picked up another Drake Relays title, when she teamed with Majik Reed, Beau Walker and Kou Lougon to anchor the victorious 4 x 100 meter relay that ran 44.17 seconds, after winning their heat in 44.90. Harrigan led off the Crimson Tide’s 4 x 400 meter that went on to a third place heat finish, in 3 minutes, 44.51 seconds.

In California at the Steve Scott Invitational in Riverside, sprinter Keita Cline won the 100 meters Cline with the day’s fastest time and seasonal best of 10.50 seconds. He had another season’s best in 21.19 seconds the 200 meters. Further up the road in San Luis Obispo, Cal State Northridge Jr., Kevin Fahie was third in the Cal Poly 5 way meet 200 meters, covering the half lap in a wind aided 21.45 seconds. He contributed a leg to the team’s 4 x 400 meter relay third place 3 minutes 18.91 seconds finish.

At the Rice Invitational in Houston, Texas, University of Texas-Pan American sprinter Adriana Herbert had a career best 12.29 seconds in the 100 meters to place fourth overall. Teammate Deon Marquis was seventh in 12.39. Herbert recorded a time of 25.58 for fourth in her 200 meter heat and finished eight overall.

Trent Harrigan was 12th in the Florida State High School Class 2 A championships in the 400 meters, with a time of 51.19 seconds.

At the Sr. National Circuit in Dorado, Puerto Rico, Sanya Penn had career best performances in three events. She won the 100 meters in 12.30, was second in the 200 in 25.44, then in the Long Jump leaped 5.46 meters (17’11”). Steina Fleming was fourth in the 100 meters in 12.58, just ahead of Leniece Lewis’ personal best 12.64 in fifth. Fleming was fifth in the 200 meters in 26.55, while Lewis won her 400 meters heat in 1:00.84, to place fourth overall.

On the men’s side, Aliston Potter had a fourth place finish in the 100 meters, which he ran in 11.00 seconds, and was sixth in the 200 in 22.06. Shaun Williams ran his 200 meters in 23.75, after recording a season’s best 52.57 in the 400 meters with a fifth place finish. Linden Peters followed in 55.38, following his 2 minutes 11.27 seconds run in the 800 meters.

Ralston Henry had a fourth round Long Jump measuring 7.22 meters (23’8¼”) to win the event.

At the Webster Park in Anguilla, a strong second day showing on Sunday—with seven firsts, three seconds and five thirds—vaulted the BVI from fifth position and into third place, in the weekend Leeward Islands Youth Athletics Championships.

Overall, the BVI bagged 10 gold, three silver and 16 bronze medals, to finish behind winner St. Kitts, who amassed 451 points, followed by Nevis with 259. The BVI tallied 236. Host Anguilla had 208. Antigua finished with 158, St. Martin 29 and the USVI, 9. At the end of Saturday’s competition, the BVI had 3 gold, no silver and 11 bronze medals.

Before heading to the meet, Coach Angelita Bernard did not expect the BVI to be among the top three. “I’m glad I’m able to eat my words, it’s a very good feeling,” Bernard said, noting that there were some unexpected performances. “Some people rose above what we expected which is very good, because that is what training is all about,” she added. “At the right time you peak and perform as you should.”

After day one, the BVI had 97 points in what Bernard described as a ‘disappointing fifth place.’ When they returned to the hotel, the coaches had a discussion with the athletes and she said they got excited and didn’t want to go home in fifth place, behind teams the BVI has beaten in the past.

Stepping up on Sunday, Kayvon Solomon won the Under 11 boys Long Jump and High Jump. Carifta Games bronze medalist Chantel Malone was victorious in the U-15 Long and High Jumps along with the 400 meters. The Under 15 girls 4 x 100 meter relay team of Britney Wattley, Malone, Ashley Kelly and Shanice Hazel, had a three seconds victory with a time of 51.06 seconds. Tashara King won the Under 11 Girls High Jump, and Darnesha Robinson, the U-13 girls Cricket Ball Throw. Wattley won the 200 meters on Saturday. “All in all, we had a lot of good performances and most of the athletes contributed—all contributed but some more than others, because it was on a points system,” Bernard explained.

Bernard said there was a bit of disappointment in the scheduling regarding Malone. The High Jump started on Saturday but wasn’t completed until Sunday. “She had the Long Jump, immediately followed by the High Jump, the 400 meters then the relays,” Bernard noted. “When we realized she had won, we had to pull her, for fear of re-injuring an ankle she was very tentative about, so she didn’t actually had a chance to go for the record. She had not finish jumping, just winning, but we had to have better sense rule.”

Bernard said some of the youths are likely to compete in the Leeward Islands Jr. Championships in Antigua at the end of the month, including Britley Wattley, Chantel Malone, Ashley Kelly, Shanice Haze, Naheem Stevens.

BVI Leeward Islands Youth championships results:

200 Meters U-11 Girls: 9. Michelle Smith, BVI 31.8. 10. Ashley-Marie McCall, BVI 31.98.Boys: 3. Kayvon Solomom, BVI 28.9. 6. Tyler Lewis, BVI 29.8. U-13 Girls: 4 Kalisha Todman, BVI 28.28. 8 Shenella Samuel, BVI 29.22. U-13 Boys: 3. Donald Lettsome, BVI 27.58. 8. Chevorn Henley, BVI 29.03. U-15 Girls: 1. Britney Wattley, BVI 26.08. 8. Shanice Hazel, BVI 27.39. U-15 Boys: 4. Naheem Stevens, BVI 24.45.

800 Meters U-11 Boys: 5.Larry Hendrickson, BVI 2 minutes 53.0 seconds. U-15 Girls: 3. Kanishque Todman, BVI 2:31.5. 5. Brittany Wilson, BVI 2:41.2.

4 x 100 Meter Relay; U-11 Girls: 4. BVI 1:04.7. Boys: 3. BVI 58.47. U-13 Girls: 3. BVI 55.76. Boys: 5. BVI 58.28. U-15; Girls: BVI 51.06. Boys: 3. BVI 51.37.

Cricket Ball Throw: U-11 Girls: 6 Tashara King BVI 30.44. 8. Matasha McGlore, BVI 23.63. Boys:5. Tyler Lewis, BVI 45.44. U-13 Girls: 1. Darnetia Robinson ,BVI 44.95. 8. Tarikah Warner, BVI 30.75. Boys: 5. Clinton Walters, BVI 54.66. 8. Joseph Smith Jr., BVI 50.74.

High Jump U11 Boys: 1. Larry Hendrickson, BVI 1.30. 6. Yohance Smith, BVI 1.10.

U-13 Girls: 3. Kalisha Todman, BVI 1.22. 8. Kenisha Stoutt, BVI 1.10. Boys: 3. Donald Lettsome, BVI 1.31. 6. Joseph Smith Jr., BVI 1.17. High Jump U-15 Girls: 1.Chantel Malone, BVI 1.57. 3. Shanice Hazel, BVI 1.42. Boys: 4 Akimo Williams, BVI 1.54. 7. Dion Blyden, BVI 1.40.

Long Jump U-11 Girls: 2. Natasha McGlore, BVI 3.82. 7. Jonel Lacey, BVI 3.10.

Boys: 1 Kayvon Solomom, BVI 4.36. 7. Yohance Smith, BVI 3.75. U-13 Girls: 6. Kalisha Todman, BVI 3.99. 8. Kenisha Stoutt, BVI 3.84. U-15 Girls: 1. Chantel Malone, BVI 5.14. 3. Shanice Hazel, BVI 4.65. Boys: 3. Akimo Williams, BVI 5.70. 4. Naheem Stevens, BVI 5.60. Shot Put U-15 Girls: 3. Ashley Kelly, BVI 7.50. 5. Kanishque Todman, BVI 6.42.

1500 Meter Open Girls: 6. Brittany Wilson, BVI 5 minutes 31.50 seconds. Boys: 3. Shervon Anthony, BVI 5:09.12.

400 Meters U-11 Girls: 9.Tashara King, BVI 1:23.88. 10. Michelle Smith, BVI 1:24.31.

Boys: 7. Larry Hendrickson, BVI 1:17.29. Yohance Smith, BVI dnf. U-13 Girls: 5. Kalisha Todman, BVI 1:05.39. 11. Tarikah Warner, BVI 1:14.31. U-13 Boys: 8. Clinton Walters, BVI 1:10.16. 11 Joseph Smith Jr. BVI 1:14.94. 12. A'Kim Frett, USVI 1:17.15. U-15 Girls: 1. Chantel Malone, BVI 1:00.40. 4. Britney Wattley, BVI 1:01.62. Boys: 9. Dion Blyden, BVI 1:02.31. 10. Shervon Anthony, BVI 1:04.13.

100 Meters U-11 Girls: 7. Ashley-Marie McCall, BVI 15.17. 8 Natasha McGlore, BVI 15.22. Boys: 8. Rondell Calliste, BVI 14.85. 9. Kayvon Solomom, BVI 15.68.

U-13 Girls: 3. Darnetia Robinson, BVI 13.84. 9. Shenella Samuel, BVI 14.37. Boys: 3. Donald Lettsome, BVI 13.67. 9. Chevorn Henley, BVI 14.61.

U15 Girls: 2 Shanice Hazel, BVI 13.07. 12. Ashley Kelly, 13.81. Boys: 4. Naheem Stevens, BVI 12.38. 11. Akimo Williams, BVI.

4 x 400 Meters Open Girls: 1. BVI 4:14.22. Boys: 4.BVI 4:29.78