76.7 F
Charlotte Amalie
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsLocal sportsTrack and Field Virgin Islanders Compete State-Side and Internationally

Track and Field Virgin Islanders Compete State-Side and Internationally

Malique Smith

Virgin Islands Track and Field Team member Malique Smith continued his outdoor track and field season at the NACAC New Life Invitational in Freeport, Bahamas, on May 13. Smith placed 5th in the final of the 400m hurdles with a personal record of 51.31. This performance moved him up in the Central American and Caribbean Ranking to 18th place.

Smith’s next race will be in Nashville, Tenn., in the Music City Track Carnival on June 3 and June 4.

Sofia Swindell (Submitted photo)

Virgin Islands National Team member Sofia Swindell, a sophomore at Lawrenceville High School in New Jersey, competed in the Mid-Atlantic Prep League Championships on May 13 in Lawrenceville, N.J. She competed in the 100m, 100m hurdles, long jump and triple jump, winning three gold medals and a silver medal. In the prelims of the 100m, Swindell ran a 12.50 and followed that up with a first-place win and a personal record of 12.43 in the final.

Swindell won the 100m hurdles in a time of 14.84 and she won the triple jump with a personal record of 38 feet and 6.75 inches. She also finished 2nd in the long jump with a jump of 17 feet and 2 inches.

She will compete next at the Poreda Invite in Lawrenceville, N.J. on May 17.

Mikaela Smith

Virgin Islands Track and Field Team member Mikaela Smith, competing for Austin Peay State University, competed in the ASUN Outdoor Track and Field Championship in Jacksonville, Fla., from May 11 – 13.

She finished 9th in her heat of the 1500m with a time of 4:50.57 and 5th in her heat of the 800m in 2:16.16.

Rachel Conhoff

Virgin Islands Track and Field Team member Rachel Conhoff, a senior at Ursinus College, competed in the Centennial Conference Championships in Collegeville, Penn., from May 5 – 7.

She placed 2nd in the 1500m while setting a new Virgin Islands National Record with a time of 4:32.19.

Conhoff also helped her 4 * 800m relay team to a 2nd place finish and a new school record with a time of 9:19.24, which was 21 seconds faster than the old record from 2012.

She will compete next in the Widener Final Qualifier in Chester, Penn., on May 15.

Michelle Smith in 2022. (file photo)

Virgin Islands National Team member and VI Sports Ambassador Michelle Smith competed in the 400m hurdles at the Puma East Coast International Showcase on May 6. She finished 1st in the 400m hurdles in a time of 58.34.

Her next race will be in Nashville, Tenn., in the Music City Track Carnival on June 3 and June 4.

Omari Bennett

Virgin Islands Track and Field Team member Omari Bennett, a senior at Hammond High School in Columbia, S.C., competed in the SCISA Track and Field Championships – Division I, in Charleston, S.C., on May 6.

Bennett won the 110m hurdles in a time of 14.92; he finished 3rd in the triple jump with a jump of 41 feet and 5.5 inches; he placed 7th in the long jump with 20 feet and 1.5 inches.

Nicola Peters

Virgin Islands Track and Field Team member Nicola Peters, a Junior at Sparkman High, competed in the AHSAA State Track and Field 4A-7A in Gulf Shores, Ala., on May 4-6, 2023. Nicola finished 3rd in her prelim of the 100m while running a wind-aided seasonal best of 12.17. In the 200m, Peters finished 8th overall with a time of 25.53.

************************

Upcoming meets for the Virgin Islands Track and Field Federation:

May 19 and 20 – The North American Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Age group qualifier, for the Under 15 and Under 13 age groups, at the St. Croix Educational Complex track on St. Croix, V.I. Time: May 19 at 4 p.m. and May 20 at 8 a.m.

June 17 – the Olympic Day run on St. Thomas at the Eudora Kean High School track and on St. Croix at the St. Croix Educational track at 4 p.m. on both islands.

July 9 and July 10 – The Flora Hyacinth Virgin Islands National Track and Field Championships at the St. Croix Educational Complex Track on St. Croix, V.I.

In order to participate in the NACAC qualifier or the VI National Championship, an athlete must be registered with the V.I. Track and Field Federation.

https://vitrackandfield.com/registration/

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.