It is often said that age is just a number, and rising sprint sensation Adaejah Hodge agrees it is indeed just that.

For Hodge, achieving the biggest milestone of her career –an Olympic Games appearance –at 18 years old is merely a testament to her extraordinary talent and determination.

Hodge, who is set to represent the British Virgin Islands in the 200 metres, will be the youngest athlete to contest the event at the upcoming Paris Olympic Games, marking another historic moment in her burgeoning career.

The diminutive sprinter, who won the 100m and 200m at her National Championships, will join seasoned 400m hurdles campaigner Kyron McMaster, sprinter Rikkoi Brathwaite, and Sailing representative Thad Lettsome in flying the BVI flag.

“Making the Olympic team is huge for me considering it has been a dream of mine since I started my track and field career, and I believe it is another testament to all the hard work and dedication I’ve put into my training,” Hodge told SportsMax.TV.

“Achieving this at this point in my career has given me the confidence for future championships and world events. I’m always excited to represent the British Virgin Islands on the world stage and I’m ready to give it my all,” she added.

Though it will be her first time at the global multi-sport showpiece, Hodge is no stranger to world class competition, as she contested the women’s 200m semi-finals at last year’s World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Having savoured that experience, Hodge, is not only ready to shine brightly on the Olympic stage, but more importantly, prove that with hard work, faith, and unwavering support, anything is possible.

“I’ve enjoyed many highs this season, and again this (Olympic Games achievement) is just another that illustrates the level of talent and ability that I have, and there were also the tough times when I endured a metatarsal stress fracture. During that injury, I learned how resilient and determined I can be once I have a goal and the right support group,” said Hodge, who has personal best times of 11.11s and 22.33s for the 100m and 200m.

“It is this determined mentality that I have maintained for the Olympic Games, I am studying the field (some of the top athletes I will go up against) and most importantly trusting in God. I know He has been faithful throughout this entire season and that He has a great plan for me. But while trusting in God’s plan, I also know I have to put in the work physically by giving 110% in every workout and making sure my rest is on a champion level status,” she shared.

Hodge’s passion for running was evident from a young age, as she was captivated by the sport and spent countless hours honing her skills. Her natural talent was soon recognized, and she began to compete in regional events.

In fact, at the Carifta Games in 2022, she won gold in the 100m, 200m and the long jump to cop the coveted Austin Sealy Award, and since then, has quickly risen through the ranks. That same year in 2022, she was named Georgia High Schools Association Track and Field Athlete of the Year, following outstanding performances for Montverde Academy.

“I was introduced to track and field from a very young age. During my preschool days we had an annual event where we would do many events and that’s where I fell in love with the sport. From that moment forward, my career grew because of my love for challenges and earning new achievements in this sport,” she explained.

“It can be hard for many people to be in my shoes, but with the level of love and dedication I have for this sport it isn’t hard for me. Although training is sometimes tough, I enjoy those gruelling sessions because it’s allowing me to grow and become the person I aspire to be,” Hodge, who currently attends University of Georgia, noted.

While her growth in the sport mainly due to her exceptional ability, Hodge was quick to point out that nothing she has achieved to date would be possible without the immense sacrifice and unwavering support from her mother.

“My mom has been my rock and my biggest motivation to push beyond the challenges because I’ve seen the sacrifices she has made for me. She’s opened many doors for me to ensure I had every opportunity to pursue my dreams and inspired me to take chances that may have been scary at the time. So I want to make her proud and show her that all her sacrifices were worth it,” the bubbly athlete reasoned.

Despite her youth, Hodge exudes confidence and maturity beyond her years, and so her determination and focus on giving her best performance at the Paris Games comes as no surprise.

After all, Hodge is well aware that carries with her the hopes of BVI and the inspiration of aspiring young athletes everywhere.

 “I have no nerves going into Paris because I’ve been on the World stage prior to these games and, like I said before, this is all a part of God’s plan. Of course I will probably get some butterflies in the check in area but it’s nothing too stressful,” she declared. 

“I just want to continue to grow in this sport and make my country proud. But more than that, I want to continue to make history to inspire the younger generations to pursue their dreams, no matter how big they may seem,” Hodge ended.

NB: The Paris Olympic Games scheduled for July 26 to August 11, will be live on SportsMax and the SportsMax App.

Rising sprint sensation Adaejah Hodge is set to make history as the youngest female athlete to compete in the women’s 200m at the Olympic Games, after she was named to the British Virgin Islands team to the upcoming multi-sport showpiece in Paris.

The 18-year-old, who won the women’s 100m and 200m at the BVI’s Championships, was included in a four-member team, which includes 40mm hurdles stalwart Kyron McMaster, sprinter Rikkoi Brathwaite, and Sailing representative Thad Lettsome.

While it will be her first Olympic Games appearance, Hodge is no stranger to the proverbial big league competitions, as she competed at last year’s World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, where she made the women’s 200m semi-finals.

Hodge’s Olympic appearance will not only mark a significant personal milestone, but more importantly, shines light on the promising future of young BVI athletes, who she will no doubt inspire.

Meanwhile, McMaster, 27, a seasoned campaigner in the 400m hurdles, will be hoping to repeat his silver medal-winning feat from last year’s World Championships, while Brathwaite and Lettsome are also poised to give good accounts of themselves in making BVI proud.

That said, the BVI Olympic committee expressed confidence in their team, as it pointed to the dedication and hard work of each athlete to represent the island nation at the elite level.

Caribbean athletes experienced a mix of success and challenges on the opening day of the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland on Friday.

Jamaican sprinter Ackeem Blake showcased his speed in the 60-metre dash, winning his heat in 6.55. Although he stands as the third-fastest in the world this year at 6.45, Blake is fifth-fastest heading into the semi-finals. Notably, gold-medal favorite Christian Coleman dominated the heats with a remarkable run of 6.49.

Mario Burke of Barbados is also through to the semi-final round after he finished second to Coleman in 6.58. Also through is Rikkoi Brathwaite of the British Virgin Islands, who ran a season-best 6.62 for fourth-place in Coleman’s heat.

Coleman’s compatriot, Noah Lyles, who is also in contention for the gold medal won his heat in 6.57.

The 60m semi-finals and finals are set for later on Friday.

Rusheen McDonald, also from Jamaica, delivered a lifetime best performance in the 400m, clocking an impressive 46.25. He finished second in his heat behind the Czech Republic’s Matej Krsek (46.07), securing his place in the next round.

Trinidad and Tobago's defending champion Jereem Richards faced a close call in the 400m, finishing fourth in his heat with a time of 47.04. However, Richards secured a spot in the next round ahead of the USA’s Jacory Patterson, credited with a similar time.

In the women's events, Stacey-Ann Williams from Jamaica advanced in the 400m, clocking 52.16. Williams entered the competition with a season best of 51.86 and secured a spot as one of the fastest losers after finishing fourth in her heat, won by Netherlands’ Lieke Laver in 51.31.

Despite these successes, the challenges were evident. Charokee Young faced disappointment in the 400m, finishing third in her heat with a time of 53.06. Shalysa Wray of the Cayman Islands and Yanique Haye-Smith of the Turks and Caicos produced season-best performances but will take no further part in the competition.

In the 800m, Natoya Goule Toppin advanced to the semi-final round with a second-place finish in her heat, clocking 2:00.83. She opened her season in a competitive field, with Ethiopia’s Habitam Alemu winning the heat in 2:00.50.

In the shot put final, Danielle Thomas Dodd threw a season-best 19.12m, earning sixth place. Canada’s Sarah Mitton claimed gold with a throw of 20.22m, followed by Germany’s Yemisi Ogunleye with a lifetime best of 20.19m for the silver medal. The USA’s Chase Jackson (nee’ Ealey) secured the bronze with a throw of 19.67m.

Teenage phenom Adaejah Hodge and two-time Commonwealth Games champion Kyron McMaster are among three athletes selected by the British Virgin Islands Athletics Association to compete at the 2023 World Athletics Championships set to get underway in Budapest, Hungary this coming weekend.

Sprinter Rikkoi Brathwaite is the other athlete set to represent the BVI at the championships where an estimated 2100 athletes from across the globe will go for gold and glory.

Hodge, who turned 17 in March, will be making her debut at the championships in the 200m where she will likely face the biggest tests of her fledgling career in the form of reigning world champion Shericka Jackson, world leader Gabby Thomas and St Lucia’s Julien Alfred.

McMaster is a two-time Commonwealth Games champion, who ran an incredibly fast national record of 47.08 to finish fourth at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. His season-best time of 47.26 is ranked fourth in the world this year. He will take to the track to face the likes of World and Olympic champion Karsten Warholm, the world record holder, the USA’s Rai Benjamin and Brazil’s Alison dos Santos, the 2022 world champion.

Brathwaite, who set a new national record of 10.09s in early August, gets things started for the BVI in the 100m on August 20, when he takes on reigning champion Fred Kerley, Noah Lyles, Ferdinand Omanyala and Zharnel Hughes in the blue-ribbon sprint.

Both Hodge and McMaster will begin competition on August 23.

Coach Ralston Henry and the physiotherapist Martin Wilson, a UK national with close ties to Team BVIs will accompany the athletes to Budapest.

Brianna Lyston and Rikkoi Brathwaite secured second place finishes in their respective 60m races at the Louisiana State University (LSU) Twilight at the Carl Maddox Fieldhouse on Friday.

Lyston, the 18-year-old Jamaican LSU freshman and 2022 World Under-20 200m Champion, followed up her personal best 7.29 performance at the Tyson Invitational on February 10 with a 7.30 effort for second.

The race was won by Lyston’s LSU teammate and Nigerian Commonwealth Games 200m silver medallist Favor Ofili who ran 7.18 while Symone Mason of Tiger Olympians was third in 7.39.

The British Virgin Islands’ Brathwaite, formerly of Indiana University and now representing the Garden State Track Club, ran 6.63 in the men’s equivalent. The race was won by LSU’s Godson Oghenebrume in 6.58 while his LSU teammate Da’Marcus Fleming was third in 6.70.

Brathwaite, 23, was a finalist at the NACAC Championships in Freeport last year, running 10.20 for fifth.

In the field, Bahamian Northwestern State sophomore Carnitra Mackey threw a personal best 14.06m to win the women’s shot out ahead of teammate Deanmonique Granville (13.15m) and McNeese State’s Jaslyn Russell (13.04m).

Brathwaite’s countryman, Northwestern State junior Djimon Gumbs, was second in the men’s equivalent with a best throw of 17.93m. LSU’s Chilean Olympian Claudio Romero threw 18.06m for the win while McNeese State’s Marcus Francis was well behind in third with 15.02m.

Double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah led all qualifiers to the semi-finals of the 100m as Athletics action got underway at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on Tuesday.

The World Championship 100m bronze medallist from Eugene ran an easy 10.99 to win heat two and advance.

Antigua & Barbuda’s Joella Lloyd was next up, finishing third in heat three in 11.42 to advance. In heat four, Guyana’s Jasmine Abrams almost perfectly matched Lloyd, running 11.42 for third to advance.

Trinidad & Tobago’s Michelle Lee-Ahye and the Bahamas’ Tynia Gaither ran 11.14 and 11.19, respectively, to finish first and second in heat five and progress.

Jamaica’s Natalliah Whyte ran 11.31 to win heat six and advance while St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred (11.24) and Jamaica’s Remona Burchell (11.46) were the top two finishers in the seventh and final heat.

On the Men’s side, Nadale Buntin of St. Kitts & Nevis will be in the semis after finishing third in the first heat with a season’s best 10.37.

Rikkoi Brathwaite of the British Virgin Islands finished second in heat three in 10.42 to advance.

Next up was Jamaican 2014 Commonwealth Games 100m champion Kemar Bailey-Cole who ran 10.15 to finish second in heat four to progress.

Heat six saw Trinidad & Tobago’s Kion Benjamin produce 10.34 for second to move on while Jamaica’s Conroy Jones (10.28) and Trinidad & Tobago’s Eric Harrison Jr (10.37) both advanced from the eighth heat.

The tenth and final heat saw three Caribbean men advance. Trinidad & Tobago's Jerod Elcock won the heat in 10.26 while Guyana's Emmanuel Archibald (10.28) and St. Lucia's Stephan Charles (10.29) finished second and third, respectively.

Jamaican World Championship finalist Natoya Goule is now a Commonwealth Games finalist as well after running 1:58.39 to advance to the final as the fastest qualifier.

In the field, Jamaica’s Danniel Thomas-Dodd and Lloydricia Cameron both advanced to the final of the Women’s shot put after throws of 18.42m and 16.61m, respectively. Thomas-Dodd’s distance was the farthest in qualifying.

The Caribbean will be well represented in the final of the Men’s long jump as The Bahamas’ Laquan Nairn (7.90m), Jamaica’s Shawn-D Thompson (7.85m), Guyana’s Emmanuel Archibald (7.83m), Dominica’s Tristan James (7.65m) and Trinidad & Tobago’s Anduelle Wright (7.58m) will all be present.

Jamaica’s Traves Smikle (64.90m) and Roje Stona (58.35m) will both be in the final of the Men’s discus throw alongside Grenada’s Josh Boateng (56.51m).

Camperdown High School made good on the promise they showed in the heats on Friday to win the Championship of America High School boys 4x100m title, as action came to a close at the 2022 Penn relays at Franklin Field in Philadelphia on Saturday.

The team of Rimando Thomas, Junior Harris, Jason Lewis, and Roshawn Clarke sped to 40.13 to narrowly finish ahead of Jamaica College (40.16) and St. Jago (40.17).

Kingston College were also winners on the day as the team of Amal Glasgow, Shaemar Uter, Emmanuel Rwotomiya and Marcinho Rose combined to run 3:09.52 to win the Championship of America High School boys 4x400m final ahead of Bullis School from Maryland (3:11.90) and St. Jago (3:12.09).

Jamaica College’s super 4x800m team was victorious in the Championship of America High School boys final.

Omarion Davis, Handal Roban, Kemarrio Bygrave, and J’Voughnn Blake combined to dominate the field in 7:28.38. Ridge High School from New Jersey ran 7:41.59 for second while West Springfield from Virginia ran 7:45.14.

In individual events, Jamaican Phillip Lemonious, competing for the University of Arkansas, won the College men’s 110m hurdles in 13.48 ahead of Jaheem Hayles of Syracuse (13.57) and Clemson’s Devon Brooks (13.62).

Rikkoi Brathwaite from the British Virgin Islands won the College men’s 100m in 10.28 competing for Indiana University. Ohio State’s Eric Harris was second with the same time, while Houston’s Edward Sumler IV was third in 10.30.

Jamaican Olympic 800m finalist Natoya Goule was second in the Olympic Development Women's Elite 600m in 1:24.09 behind reigning American Olympic 800m champion Athing Mu (1:22.75). The USA's Nia Akins ran 1:25.14 for third. Another Jamaican, Rajay Hamilton, ran 1:16.00 to finish second in the men's equivalent behind Ghana's Alex Amankwah (1:15.88).The USA's Kameron Jones was third in 1:16.47.

Jamaican 400m specialist Rusheen McDonald was second in the men's 300m in 32.69, narrowly losing out to Nigeria's Chidi Okezie who ran 32.68 to win. American Will London III ran 32.71 for third.

Former Olympic and World champion Omar McLeod ran 13.22 for second in the men's 110m hurdles. American Devon Allen ran a meet record 13.11 for victory while his countryman Jaylan McConico was third in 13.70.

Jamaica’s Roje Stona, competing for Clemson, was second in the College men’s discus with 65.11m. Virginia’s Claudio Romero was the winner with 67.11m and Army’s Jamir Gibson was third with 59.04m.

Another Jamaican, Romaine Beckford competing for the University of South Florida, jumped over 2.23m to win the College men’s high jump ahead of Ohio State’s Shaun Miller Jr (2.23m) and Princeton’s Jeff Hollis (2.17m).

Jamaica’s Britany Anderson and the Bahamas’ Devynne Charlton both advanced to the semi-finals of the Women’s 60m Hurdles at the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade on Saturday morning.

Charlton won the fifth heat in 8.02, while Anderson finished third in the sixth heat, in 8.10.

The region will be well represented in the semi-finals of the Men’s 60m as well. Mario Burke of Barbados and Jamaica’s Nigel Ellis both ran 6.64, a personal best for Ellis, to finish second and third in the second heat to advance.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Jerod Elcock finished second in heat five with 6.63 to progress, while heat six saw Guyana’s Travis Collins and Rikkoi Brathwaite of the British Virgin Islands run the same time (6.66) to finish as the top two.

The semi-finals and finals of both the Women’s 60m Hurdles and Men’s 60m are scheduled for later on Saturday.

Jamaica's Natoya Goule won her heat in 2:01.65 to advance in the Women’s 800m. The final is scheduled for Sunday.

Already blessed with the world-class talents of 400m hurdler Kyron McMaster and long jumper Chantel Malone, the British Virgin Islands seem to have found another potential global star.

When Rikkoi Brathwaite of Indiana University finished second in the 60m dash at the NCAA Division I Indoor Finals in Birmingham, Alabama on Saturday, he created history for the BVI in that no other athlete from those islands has ever finished higher in an event at the NCAA level.

It was a close finish between the winner, Jamaica’s Davonte Burnett of USC, who won in a personal best of 6.50 and Brathwaite, who is now the only BVI athlete to secure two medals (bronze and silver) at the NCAA Championships and the only male athlete to secure a podium finish at the NCAA level.

The time of 6.52 is also a lifetime best for the sprinter, a national indoor record for the BVI as well as a school record. Last season, Brathwaite won a bronze medal at the Division I 60m finals.

Next up for the Big 10, 60m champion is the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade where Brathwaite will be hoping to run even faster and probably bring home a medal for his island nation before returning to the USA for the NCAA Outdoor season.