The tremendous success at the 49th Carifta Games in Kingston, Jamaica, is only another step on the pathway for the British Virgin Islands towards putting their athletes on the podium at the pinnacle of the sport.
At the Games that concluded last week, the BVI enjoyed their best-ever medal haul with four gold, two silver and a bronze medal surpassing their medal tallies from 2012 when they won five. Their medal haul saw them finish third in the standings behind Jamaica with 92 medals, 45 of them gold and the Bahamas 17. What was instructive was that BVI had the same number of gold medals, four, as their neighbours from the Bahamas.
Three of those medals were won by the imperious 16-year-old Adaejah Hodge, who the U17 100m, 200m and Long Jump to come away with the coveted Austin Sealy Award as the most outstanding athlete of the three-day meet.
But according to Steve Augustine, President of the BVI Athletics Association (BVIAA), the best is yet to come and is not too far away.
“What’s next for the BVIs, it’s back to the drawing board and putting in the work. We have a long list of local, regional and international competitions remaining,” he said. “While we are there, we haven’t officially arrived until we make the Olympic podium, we fell just short of this with two fourth-place finishes at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. This year, we are, of course, eyeing World U20, the Commonwealth Games and World Championships at which I am certain we will again show up.”
Augustine’s confidence stems from his belief in the BVI’s strong grassroots programme that has consistently produced world-class talents from their population of just over 30,000 inhabitants.
“The BVIs formula for success at the Carifta Games speaks of a preparation process that has taken training and mental preparation processes to a higher level, a level that is more in keeping with our competitive Caribbean counterparts,” he reveals.
“Our local club system has resulted in on-island competition whereby our athletes are pushed, much more than before, to perform at higher levels for victories. We monitor regional performances, we are well-advised by statisticians such as Rey O’Neal, and we are aware of where we need to be performance-wise if we are to be competitive.
“Our coaches are trained and certified, our athletes are hungry and they all aspire to be the next Kyron McMaster, Chantel Malone, Tahesia Harrigan Scott, Eldred Henry and now the next Adaejah Hodge.”
Hodge, he believes, will inspire a new generation of stars given what she has managed to accomplish at the 49th staging of the Games founded in 1972 by Sealy, who was on hand to present the award to her in front of an appreciative crowd.
“Yes, this will certainly happen but I must say our people naturally gravitate to athletics and despite all the struggles we may face as a growing territory, we have never had a numbers problem in athletics,” Augustine said.
“Support from the BVI Olympic Committee, World Athletics, our government, our fan base and with sponsors such as Puma onboard, we have been able to annually attract scores of athletes into our club system.
“The level of performance that Adaejah exhibited at the Carifta Games is a reality that our people have become accustomed to over the years. Adaejah has been performing at the top of her age group for years. She’s remained world ranked as a junior and she has continued to dominate at the US high school level. Adaejah was originally scheduled to make her Carifta debut at the 2020 Carifta Games and then the 2021 Carifta Games but for obvious reasons, those intentions had to be put aside. As it relates to our young ones, they are certainly inspired by Adaejah. It’s been this way for years and perhaps more so now.”
Augustine is confident that in the years to come, what unfolded in Kingston in mid-April will be more the norm than the exception.
“As it relates to other talents, the truth is there is only a handful of athletes on this year’s team that won’t be back next year and as it relates to those in the pipeline, we have a handful of gifted athletes that I know will represent the BVI well and will prove that they are indeed the next Adaejah Hodge, Kyron McMaster, Chantel Malone, Eldred Henry and Tahesia Harrigan-Scott.
“The storybook on BVI Athletics is far from finished.”
Leighton Levy is a journalist with 28 years’ experience covering crime, entertainment, and sports. He joined the staff at SportsMax.TV as a content editor two years ago and is enjoying the experience of developing sports content and new ideas. At SportsMax.tv he is pursuing his true passion - sports.
Sugar Boyz defeat BVI to stay on top in CONCACAF Nations League
The St. Kitts and Nevis Senior Men’s National team, known as the Sugar Boyz, solidified their position at the top of League C in the CONCACAF Nations League with a 3-1 victory over the British Virgin Islands (BVI) on Wednesday, October 9, at Warner Park.
Playing in front of a large home crowd, the Sugar Boyz took control early in the match. In the 25th minute, Malique Roberts opened the scoring with a powerful header, putting the hosts in the lead. Twelve minutes later, the advantage was doubled when Gvaune Amory unleashed a thunderous strike that rippled the back of the net, sending the crowd into a frenzy as the Sugar Boyz went into halftime with a commanding 2-0 lead.
BVI started the second half with renewed determination, pulling a goal back early on. However, despite their efforts, the Sugar Boyz put the game out of reach towards the end of the match, thanks to an own goal from BVI’s Ikyah Williams, sealing a 3-1 victory for the home side.
After the match, assistant coach Austin "Dico" Huggins praised the team for securing all three points but emphasized that there is still room for improvement. “We worked hard on possession, keeping the ball, and not making unnecessary turnovers. We have to be more patient. Today we saw them trying to pass the ball around, but we still need more movement going forward, breaking the lines, and attacking the goal,” Huggins said.
Team captain Julani Archibald echoed the sentiment, happy with the win but acknowledging that the team did not perform to their full potential. “I think we didn't play to the best of our ability. We could have played much better since we were at home. But nonetheless, we got the three points, and that's the most important,” Archibald said.
On the opposing side, BVI’s head coach Christopher Kiwomya and captain Troy Caesar expressed disappointment, feeling that their team could have taken more from the game.
With the victory, the Sugar Boyz remain in prime position to advance from their group. Their final group stage match will be against the Cayman Islands on Tuesday, October 15, at Warner Park. The match kicks off at 3:30 PM, with free admission as part of the SKNFA’s efforts to give back to football fans.
“I don’t feel like I’ve made it yet”- Olympic champion Julien Alfred hungry for more success
Julien Alfred’s 2024 season was one for the books and the St. Lucian superstar is eyeing even more success going forward.
The 23-year-old began her first full season as a professional athlete with a six-race win streak in the indoor 60m, culminating with her first major global title at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland on March 2.
The 2023 Bowerman Award winner then embarked on a spectacular outdoor season which saw her become her country’s first ever Olympic medallist by winning 100m gold in Paris in a national record 10.72 in August before closing out her season by winning the 100m title at the Diamond League final in Brussels in 10.88 in September.
Alfred also won 200m silver at the Olympics in 22.08.
As a result of her exploits on the track, Alfred has been subject of an appropriate week of celebration by her home country St. Lucia since her return on September 24.
Alfred was greeted by a parade of fans upon her arrival to the island, September 27 was formally recognized by the St. Lucian Government as ‘Julien Alfred Day’ going forward, a mural celebrating her was painted at her alma mater Ciceron Primary School and she was named as a Tourism Ambassador for St. Lucia.
With all that being said, Alfred still feels like there is more work to do to solidify her legacy in the sport.
“I don’t feel like I’ve made it yet,” Alfred said on the latest episode of Out d Blocks on the SportsMax TV YouTube Channel.
“That alone keeps me pushing and going for more,” she added.
Most people with her accolades, even after just one year, would get comfortable and feel like they’ve already solidified themselves as a staple in their respective field but not Alfred.
“There are accolades that I still want in my life and my career. Yes, I accomplished an Olympic gold, World Indoors, Diamond League final winner but I don’t have accolades in the World Championships outdoors yet,” Alfred said.
“Even the 200m title at the Olympics. I feel like there’s still more I can chase and go after and just leave my legacy and pay tribute to all those who pour into me and give back to them in such a way,” she added.
After a grueling NCAA season, Alfred competed at the World Championships in Budapest in 2023. She got to the final of the 100m, finishing fifth in 10.93 before narrowly missing out on a medal in the 200m final, running 22.05 for fourth.
If her 2024 form is a precursor, Alfred could be in for a massive World Championships in Tokyo in 2025.
Barbados up to 77 medals at Huntsman World Senior Games in Utah
Patrons were treated to a dominant display from Barbados’ 61-member team at the 37th annual Huntsman Senior Games at the Greater Zion Stadium on the campus of Utah Tech University.
The Caribbean nation compiled 77 medals across two sports, athletics and cycling, from Tuesday to Friday.
In athletics, the squad of 33 managed 74 medals over three days of competition, with the women leading the table on 14506, nearly doubling Utah’s 7834 in second place, and the men a commendable ninth with 2424 points.
Ainsley Lovell alone had 13 of Barbados’ 40 gold medals, competing across multiple events in the women’s 70-74, 64+, and 70+ divisions. She won gold in the 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m, long jump, and standing long jump.
Jennifer Swanston-Jones seized victory in the women’s 65-69 50m, 100m, 200m, javelin throw, long jump, shot put, and triple jump. She also had silver in high jump and standing long jump.
Gloria Crookendale came out on top in the women’s 75-79 and 75+ 50m, the 75-79 100m, 70-79 200m, 75-79 200m, and 75-79 standing long jump. She was a bronze medallist in discus throw as well.
Kathy Harper-Hall, who has won over 100 medals since Barbados first competed at these games 21 years ago, added to her tally with gold in the women’s 85-89 and 80+ categories, taking the 100m, 200m, and standing long jump titles.
Janita Austin will return home with four gold medals, in the women’s 70-74 and 70-79 discus throw, the 70-74 and 70+ high Jump, and silver in the shot put, javelin throw, long jump, and standing long jump.
Wendy Barrow-Smith captured gold in the women’s 65-69 discus throw and standing long jump, silver in the shot put, silver in the 60-69 standing long jump, and silver in the 65-69 triple jump.
On the men’s side, Willaby Bourne was among the standouts. In the 75-79 class, he won the 400m, got silver in the 200m, and helped his team to silver in 4×100m. Atherley Burrowes was victorious in the men’s 65-69 200m and 400m.
The four-member cycling team enjoyed their moments of glory as well, with Alan Cadogan winning bronze in the hill climb and silver in the criterium, while Ronald Harding took bronze in the latter.
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