Fresh off establishing a 400-metre national scholastic record last year and being the only male athlete to qualify for the eighth IAAF World Youth Championships, Kyron McMaster made his 400-metre intermediate hurdles debut and established a National Youth Record at the BVI Athletics Association’s first development meet of the season last Friday.
Mr. McMaster of Fast Lane Track Club, a 2013 Carifta Games 200- and 400- metre finalist, ran the under-18 boys race in 56.31 seconds to pick up another record in the process. He becomes just the fourth Virgin Islands athlete to have ever broken the 60-second barrier in the event, which has not attracted many athletes.
Sprint Tech Track Club’s L’Tisha “Lea” Fahie dropped the fastest 100 metre time of the night in the U-18 Girls Division when she stopped the clock at 12.16 seconds — a new personal best in the event that had a +0.6 wind reading. She lowered her best from 12.24” to end her season during last year’s Leeward Islands Junior Invitational.
Her teammate Taylor Hill, who led off last year’s IAAF World Youth Championships Medley Relay silver medalist squad, ran 12.20” to win the under-20 girls 100 metres, while Fast Lane’s Shaquoy Stephens won the 100 metres with a time of 10.92 seconds run.
St. Thomas’ Ateniah Roacher of the Cheetahs Track Club overpowered early leader Akeem Bradshaw from Top Notch Track Club to win the U-18 Boys 800 metres in 2 minutes and 4.52 seconds. Mr. Bradshaw turned in his fastest season debut in 2:09.32.’ His teammate Tarique “Tweety” Moses began his season with a 2:02.75’ time in the open race.
Field Events
The day’s competition opened when event newcomer Niaylia Smith of Fast Lane, twice recorded Triple Jump leaps of 10.76 metres in the U-20 Girls Division for tenth on the all-time list.
Top Notch Track Club’s Trevia Gumbs, last year’s Carifta Games silver medalist and IAAF World Youth Championships qualifier, had a heave of 12.90 metres in the shot put, in a duel with her twin sister Tynelle, a javelin thrower, who reached 11.93 metres.
Eldred Henry, whose fourth place finish at the 2013 Pan Am Junior Championships was the best finish ever by one of the territory’s athletes, opened the season with a toss of 14.70 metres.
The third development meet is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Friday at the A. O. Shirley Recreation Grounds. The event will focus on Under-9 and Open male and female divisions. Track events will include: 60, 150, 200 metres and the 100-metre hurdles. Field events: discus throw, high jump long jump and shot put. Running events start at 6 p.m.
Athlete registration is $2 and Admission is $3.
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