Over a half-dozen V.I. college student athletes have either begun their indoor track and field season or are anticipating doing so soon. They represent the next generation of V.I. track and field Olympians.
Nia Jack (No. 3), a freshman at Alabama State University, graduate of St. Croix Educational Complex High School, member of the St. Croix Track Club and Pan Am Youth 100m champion, is leading the way for freshman as she opened her collegiate career with a personal best of 7.54 in the 60 meters in the prelim of the BSC Panther Invitational Icebreaker in Birmingham, Ala., it was her first indoor race. She finished second in the finals in 7.56.
Myia Dorsey, a freshman at Purdue University, started her indoor season with 300 meter and 4 x 400 meter races at the Hoosier Open in Bloomington, Ind. Both Jack and Dorsey qualified for and participated in the IAAF World Junior Indoor Championships in Poland this summer.
Rodney Griffin, a freshman at the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, a graduate of the St. Croix Educational Complex High School and a member of the St. Croix Track Club, is recovering from a hernia that has delayed his college indoor debut.
Alexshandro Rodrequez, a senior at Fairleigh Dickinson University and graduate of the St. Croix Central High School, opened his indoor seasons with victories in the FDU Knight Indoor Classic 600m in 1:23.02 and the 4 x 800m relay in 8:23.06; he took second in the Fordham Christmas Classic 1000m in 2:36.31.
Malique Smith, a sophomore at University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, is recovering from a calf injury sustained in an auto accident. He has not competed indoors this season.
Fred Dorsey, a junior at the University of Kentucky and fifth place finisher in the NACAC under 23 long jump, started his indoor season with a 7.39m long jump for second place in the Hoosier Open, and he ran a leg on the 4 x 400m relay for third place. (He and his sister Myia competed for the first time in the same meet as collegiate student/athletes).
Kala King, Alile Browne and Karen Dascent, all juniors at Viterbo University, graduates of the St. Croix Educational Complex High School and members of the St. Croix Track Club, anticipate improving their indoor performances.
Janella John and Shervil Luke are at Benedict College and competed in cross-country, and John, a red shirt senior at Benedict, are all pointing toward the outdoor season. They are graduates of Charlotte Amalie High School.
Kohan Eugene and Omari Wade, student/athletes at the University of the Virgin Islands – St. Thomas, are training for the outdoor season as there is no indoor track and field in the V.I.
Avery Joseph, a sophomore at Central Michigan, is a javelin thrower (a non-indoor event) and is training for the outdoor season.
Tabarie Henry (400m), Muhammad Halim (triple jump, long jump) and Ninfa Barnard (800m), have unofficially announced their retirements from competition.
