www.bviolympics.com CAC Games CARTAGENA, Colombia—The British Virgin Islands became just the second country behind powerhouse Cuba, to have a female sprinter follow up by winning the 100 meters in the Central American and Caribbean Games, after its male sprinter won the same event in the last games.
Sprinter Tahesia Harrigan rocketed from the blocks and powered her way to the gold medal last night in the 20th edition of the games in the sun drenched city of Cartagena, Colombia, by reaching the line ahead of seven pursuers from around the region in 11.15 seconds, 1/100 off the meet record. Harrigan led a sweep by Leeward Islands athletes, a feat accomplished for the very first time. She was followed by the U.S. Virgin Islands’ Lavern Jones in 11.50 and St. Kitts’ Virgin Hodge followed in 11.52.
Harrigan one of four women representing the territory in the games for the first time in 24 years, said it was a major accomplishment. “I’ve been working on it all year and I said I’d go out there, do my best and hopefully come up with the gold and it happened,” she said. “I was hoping for a little more push to get a run a personal best, or run a faster time, but I guess a win is a win and you got to be satisfied with what you got.”
The victory was by the largest margin ever at the games. Harrigan said she had been working on the last past of her race and it’s near perfection. “I just need to get back the first part of my race the way it used to be and I’m good. I’m ready to run.”
Sydney Cartwright who has coached Harrigan for the last five years, said the race has helped her to develop mentally. He said she was able to make corrections from the semifinals. “She showed great patience today,” he said. “It’s just result of her maturity now, where she’s able to take information, process it and put in forth in the next race and she did a good job of that.”
BVI Amateur Athletic Association president Ephraim Penn said it was a tremendous feat. “Just the margin of victory was total dominance,” he said. “It’s the first time a BVI woman has competed and do that, it’s just amazing. It’s just a special occasion for all the BVI that she has represented us all through the year and to finish off the season in such a dominant fashion, speaks well for the coaches and everyone that’s involved with her.”
Dion Crabbe who won the territory’s first medal in the last games, was sixth in the finals in 10.48 seconds. Coach Dag Samuels said while its only Crabbe’s first series of meets for the year, you can see confidence growing within as he prepares for the 200 meters.
Earlier in the day, veteran Keita Cline—competing in his final CAC Games—joined Harrigan and Crabbe as finalists, when he sliced the sand at 7.78 meters in his final attempt of the Long Jump qualifying rounds. He will be among the 12 participants competing in Friday night’s final. Cline’s finals berth marked the first time that the BVI have had three finalists in a major games.
Ralston “Grandfather” Henry’s second jump of 6.26 meters was his only legal attempt, placing him 15th among the 16 participants.
This morning, Crabbe will run the opening rounds of the 200 meters. The semifinals are scheduled for this evening. Jackel King will make her 200 meters debut during the evening session, where the best finishers will advance to Friday’s finals.
Discus Thrower Eric Mathias will make his games debut tonight as well. © Copyright 2007 BVI Olympic Committee |