Athletes will line up on the track for the season's first meet from 10 a.m. on Jan 3. Photo>Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

TORTOLA—The first in a series of BVI Athletics Association Development Meets will kick off at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the A. O. Shirley Recreation Grounds. The series runs though March 7.

Saturday’s competition, which is expected to also attract participants from the U.S. Virgin Islands, is being used to gauge where athletes are in their training as they prepare for the 2009 season. Several BVI collegians—at home for the holidays— will also be in action during the competition.

Pre registration for the event that has two field events and four track events has already begun and officials are asking coaches and managers to return forms by email to bviathletics@gmail.com by Friday.

A one hour period between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. will be used to confirm final registration or make changes on Saturday morning. Field Events will include the Long Jump for Under 13 male and female athletes and Shot Put for Under 17 and Open, male and female participants.

Track events will include the 600 meters dash for Under 17 and Open male and female athletes; 200 meters Hurdles for Under 17 and Under 20 male and female athletes; 60 meters targeting Under 9 and Under 11 male and female athletes and the 150 meters targeting Under 13 to Open male and female athletes.

During the competition, for the first time in the 38-year history of the organization, the association will also name its 2008 Athletes of the Year as well as begin an Athlete of the Meet Recognition Program, where athletes’ performances will be highlighted.

Like their U.S. Virgin Islands counterparts, BVI athletes will be working towards qualifying for the CAC Age Group Championships, Carifta Games, IAAF World Youth and World Senior Championships, in 2009.
2008 track highlights

Locally, the biggest track and field news was actually on the track. After not enjoying or participating in track and field since the 2004 season, an IAAF Level II certified Mondo track officially opened in March—22 years after the grounds was expanded from 300 meters to accommodate a 400 meter track—ushering in a new era in the sport. With the new facility, Primary, High School, local, regional and international competitions were staged.

The biggest international impact in BVI track in 2008, came on March 7 in Valencia, Spain, when sprinter Tahesia Harrigan crossed the 60 meters line in 7.09 seconds to win an IAAF Indoor World Championships bronze medal, as the BVI became the smallest of the 213 IAAF members to have an athlete standing on the podium. Harrigan also became the territory’s first athlete to advance in the Olympic Games in the territory’s 24-year history of participation, when she made the 100 meter quarterfinals.

In all, 12 BVI rational records were broken during the season in five individual events by different seven athletes. Chantel Malone—who became the territory’s first IAAF World Jr. Championships semifinalist—improved her Triple Jump mark, then lowered the 400 meter record three times—the last time being pushed by Ashley Kelly, who had earlier supplanted her. Malone also teamed with Kelly, Samantha John and Britney Wattley, to lower the 4 x 400 meter national standard, which is also a junior record as all are Under 20 athletes.

© Copyright 2008-9 BVI Olympic Committee

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