The Virgin Islands Track and Field Federation (VITFF) announced today that V.I. National Track and Field team member Laverne Jones-Ferrette won the bronze medal in the 100m at the Central America and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Vera Cruz, Mexico. She clocked 11.54 behind Andrea Purica of Venezuela, who won gold in 11.29, and Nedam Vargus of Venezuela, who won silver in 11.43. She expressed her satisfaction with the performance stating that the unusual meet in November is out of season and forced her to focus on winning a medal for her country instead of posting a faster time. She advanced to the finals by finishing third in her heat on Monday with a time of 11.63.
Her medal is the first for the V.I. in this CAC Games. She won a silver medal in the 2006 CAC Games which historically brings the total V.I. CAC Games track and field medals to nine.
Wanetta Kirby had a busy day at the CAC Games on Tuesday as she competed in two events that were separated only by minutes. She finished 8th in the long jump with a leap of 5.84, which is well off her personal record 6.20. Chantel Malone of the British Virgin Islands won the event with 6.46; Irisdaymi Herrera of Cuba was second with 6.36. With only minutes separating the events, she finished fourth in her heat of the 100m hurdles with a time of 14.12 to become the first female to compete in that event at CAC Games for the Virgin Islands. Kirby is also the V.I. national record holder in the heptathlon (seven event discipline).
Ninfa Barnard had a tough challenge in the 800m with the mile high altitude to place 6th in the 800m with a time of 2:16. She is the first female to compete for the Virgin Islands in that event at CAC Games. She is the V.I. national record holder with a 2:08
To compete latter at CAC are: Leslie Murray 400m hurdles, Eddie Lovett 110m hurdles, Muhammad Halim Triple Jump, Hasheem Halim Triple Jump, Leon Hunt Long Jump, Eduardo Garcia 10,000m and Allison Peter 200m
For information, contact VITFF [email protected] or logon to: http://virginislandstrackandfield.org or call 643-2557.