Over 100 elementary school boys and girls, representing 14 public and private schools and track clubs, competed in the V.I. Elementary School Track and Field Championships held at the St. Croix Educational Complex High School track on Saturday morning, according to a press release issued Monday by the Virgin Islands Track and Field Federation (VITFF).
The atmosphere added excitement as Virgin Islands Olympic Committee President Angel Morales and visiting coaches Patrick Costagno and Olympic Gold Medalist Anthuan Maybank from the famous Tatnall School in Wilmington, Delaware, observed the emerging local track and field talent, and participated in the activities by presenting award medals to the winners, and chatting with coaches and parents. Maybank also wore his Olympic Gold Medal and autographed photographs for all the participants.
The day started with exhibition events in the 800m and 100m for open runners. The female 800m was one of the most exciting races of the day as Rachael Conoff of the St. Croix Track Club and Country Day School (2:33.0) edged Ashley Paddie (2:33.4) of Educational Complex High School and St. Croix Track Club (SCEC) and Deana Roumo (2:34.5) of SCEC and SCTC to win. Britney Sage (12.25) SCEC/SCTC won the 100m female race over Mya Jack 13.33) SCEC/SCTC, and Amanda Basierre (14.64) Hounds & Foxes Track Club.
In the boys open 100m, Malique Smith SCEC/SCTC stepped down to the distance and took first place with a time of 11.17; Kareem Jno-Finn SCEC/SCTC was second in 11.36, and Nyhne Daniel of Hounds and Foxes TC was third in 11.44.
The day belonged to dozens of little ones. They were divided into age-groups of under 9, 11 and 13-and-under and competed in distances from 80m to 800m.
Notes:
1] The V.I. Elementary Track and Field Championships is an Interscholastic Association event for V.I. public and private schools. The schools participate under the St. Croix Interscholastic Association and the St. Thomas-St. John Interscholastic Association (no schools from St. Thomas or St.John traveled to St. Croix to compete this year).
2] The following public schools competed: Pearl B. Larsen, Alexander Henderson, Claude O. Markoe, Eulalie Rivera, Juanita Guardine and Ricardo Richards.
3] The following private schools competed: Good Hope, Country Day, Good Shepard, St. Patrick and Free Will Baptist
4] The exhibition events were for open athletes from schools, clubs and unattached athletes. The following competed: Hounds and Foxes Track Club, St. Croix Track Club, St. Croix Central High School and St. Croix Educational Complex High School.
5] The V.I. Elementary Track and Field Championships were organized by The St. Croix Track Club and The Virgin Islands Pace Runners; they were running for the St. Croix Interscholastic Track and Field Association. They were sanctioned by the V.I. Track and Field Federation, and were hosted by the St. Croix Educational Complex High School. Awards were presented by Virgin Islands Olympic Committee President Angel Morales, Coach Costagno and Coach Maybank.
6] Visits by coaches Costagno and Maybank, who both are coaches at Tathnall School in Wilmington, Delaware, were made possible by Elizabeth Armstrong and the Buccaneer Hotel of St. Croix. Theresa Harper, secretary of the V.I. Triathlon Federation coordinated the visit of the coaches.
For information, contact the Virgin Islands Track and Field Federation at isv@mf.iaaf.org or logon to http://virginislandstrackandfield.org or call 643-2557.
