The Virgin Islands Track and Field Federation announced on Monday, March 18, that thanks to a grant from the Virgin Islands Olympic Committee, the V.I. will accept an invitation to compete in the XXXXII CARIFTA Junior Track and Field Championships to be held Easter weekend in Nassau, Bahamas. The Caribbean Field and Track Association (CARIFTA) is considered to be one of the most competitive junior track and field championships in the world, particularly for the sprints, because it has produced many of the world champions and Olympic medalists.
The territory has had several medalists at CARIFTA including: Iyeachia Petrus, Flora Hyacinth, Sanny Eugene, Adrian Durant, Aneicia Williams, Juan Robles, Allison Peter, James Fleming and Leslie Murray, among others. CARIFTA started in 1972 in Barbados and the V.I. first competed in 1973 and has competed in all but three years.
The 2013 team will be one of the youngest and the largest in memory with a total of 18 male and females selected from those eligible to compete in age groups under 20 and under 17. Most of these athletes will be competing in CARIFTA for the first time, and some will have the opportunity to qualify for the IAAF World Youth Championships to be held in Russia later in the year.
Under 17 Girls:
Quashira McIntosh: 100m, 200m, relays; Nia Jack: 100m, relays; Britney Sage: 200m, relays; Ranesia Mattew: 400m, relays; Krystahl Gordon: triple jump, relays; Layla Browne: shot put, discus, javelin
Under 17 Boys:
Nyhne Daniel: 100m, relays; Eugene Kohun: 100m, 200m, relays; Emari Mills: 200m, relays; Malique Smith: 400m, 800m, relays; Avery Joseph: shot put, discus, javelin
Under 20 Girls:
Alile Browne: 100m, 200m, relays; Kayla King: 100m, 200m, relays; Keshema Fleming: 400m, relays; Karen Dascent: 400m, relays
Under 20 Boys:
Jared Hanley: 100m, 200m; Malachi Bostic-Wattley: 100m, 200m; Bradley Carbon: discus, shot put, javelin
Coaches:
Keith Smith, head coach
Ileta Potter, National Coach
Mireille Smith, team leader
Notes:
St. Croix CARIFTA Team members should contact Keith Smith, national coach, for practice schedule at 277-1123 or 778-2036.
St. Thomas CARIFTA Team members should contact Ileta Potter, coach, for practice schedule at: 514-8509 or 777-9256.
All athletes, including those off-island, and coaches should contact Mireille Smith, team leader, for travel information and uniform issue at 422-1123
To become eligible for a V.I. National Track and Field Team and for more information logon to: http://virginislandstrackandfield.org or e-mail: [email protected]