The V.I. Track & Field Federation results from the All-Comers Track and Field Meet No. 2 held on Saturday, Jan. 14, at the St. Croix Educational Track indicate that the future of track and field is bright. While the meet was open to all athletes of all ages, most of the competitors, who represented their school and/or club, were 17 and under. They competed in the 800m, 100m and 400m, the shot put, the javelin and the long jump and an exhibition 200m.
A few athletes had outstanding performances, including 13-year-old Nia Jack of St. Mary’s School, and the Hounds and Foxes Track Club (HFTC). She had the fastest 100m time of the day 12.12 as she took first place in the under-17 100m; she also took first place in the 400m in 60.47; she also won the long jump with a leap of 4.60. Britney Sage of the St. Croix Educational Complex High School (ECHS) and St. Croix Track Club (SCTC) finished second in the under-17 100m with a time of 12.88. Stephanie Rhoden of Manor School took first place in the open 100m with a time of 12.17 and the 400m in 58.82. Maisha Martin ECHS showed promise in the under-17 400m with a second place time of 62.68. Nine-year-old Mikaela Smith took first in the under-13 800m in 2:46.
For the boys, Zaire Knight a senior at ECHS took first in the 100m in 11.07 and first in the 200m in very good time of 21.96. Malcolm Martin of ECHS ran very well to take first in the open 400m in 51.26. Malique Smith of ECHS/SCTC had a breakthrough performance in the 400m and took first in under-17 400m in 54.80; he also won the 800m in 2:18. Nyhne Daniel of St. Patrick School/HFTC also impressed with his 56.66 for second place.
Performances in these meets among others will help determine the V.I. National CARIFTA Team consisting of eligible athletes from the Virgin Islands which will travel to Bermuda on Easter weekend.
Complete results of the All-Comers Track and Field Meet can be found on: http://virginislandstrackandfield.org and www.eteamz.com/stxtc/
