Ashley Kelly, left and Samantha John. Photo>Willis "Chucky" Todman

TORTOLA—Although disappointed she wasn’t a finalist, British Virgin Islands sprinter Ashley Kelly made two of her three Carifta Games goals in the Under 20 Girls 200 meters at the Jubilee Stadium in Basseterre, St. Kitts on Sunday night.

Kelly—in her first open 200 meters this year—ran a season’s best of 24.64 seconds, which also qualified her for the July 8-13, World Jr. Championships in Poland in the process. The time was .03 off the 24.61 she ran in Antigua in 2005. She joins teammates Shanice Hazel who made the 100 meters qualifying time since last year and showed good form by running a personal best 11.75 last week in Houston, Tex. Chantel Malone hit the qualifying mark in the Triple Jump, during the Big 12 Indoor Conference Championships last month in Lincoln, Neb.  

Kelly also had a personal best of 56.24 seconds in the 400 meters in only her third open race ever in the event. Kelly had been contributing strong legs to the BVI 4x400 and 4 x 100 meters National Youth, Jr. and Sr. Relay record setting teams over the last three years.

Samantha John, also competing in the Under 20 division and a first timer at the Carifta Games level, debuted in the 400 meters with a finals berth and a personal best of 55.96 but did not contest the final because of an injury. She lowered her best from 58.07. She bellcomes the #3 performer in BVI history in the 400 meters behind 

Tahesia Harrigan and Chantel Malone, who have run 55.60 and 55.70 respectively. Samantha also has the fastest 800 meters this year, after making her January debut with a time of 2:24.20.