Virgin Islands track and field athletes delivered standout performances recently, setting records and making history in competitions across the United States.
Michelle Smith’s Record-Breaking Run
Michelle Smith, a freshman at the University of Georgia, showcased her remarkable talent at the Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas. In the 400 meters, she set a new Virgin Islands National Under-20 record with a time of 53.06 seconds, securing the sixth spot in the University of Georgia’s track and field history. Her performance also places her second in the world for the Under-20 category.
Smith further contributed to her team’s success by running the second leg of the 4×400 meters relay, clocking an impressive split of 52.40 seconds. Her efforts helped the University of Georgia set a new school record with a time of 3:27.95, now the second-fastest time in the NCAA.
Click here to watch the 400m Section 4.
Malique Smith Continues Stellar Season
Malique Smith, a member of the Virgin Islands track and field team, continued his outstanding season at the 2025 Legends of Alachua County Invitational in Gainesville, Florida. Competing in the 600-meter event, Smith secured first place with an impressive time of 1:19.41, just a hundredth of a second slower than his previous week’s performance. His time was just 0.7 seconds shy of the Virgin Islands record of 1:18.73, held by the renowned Tabarie Henry.
Click here to watch the 4x400m relay.
Sofia Swindell’s Double Victory
Sofia Swindell, also representing the Virgin Islands Track and Field Team, delivered an exceptional performance at the Penn Relays Winter Showcase at the University of Pennsylvania’s Ott Center. Competing in the 60m Hurdles, she secured first place and set a new personal record, school record, and facility record with a time of 8.67. This ranks her 18th in the U.S. for the event and puts her just 0.02 seconds away from Michelle Smith’s Virgin Islands National Under-20 record of 8.65.
Swindell also excelled in the 200m, finishing in third place with a time of 24.41 seconds, further proving her versatility on the track. Looking ahead, she is set to compete at the prestigious Millrose Games on Feb. 8 at The Armory in New York City. She will participate in the 300m and the invitational 4x400m relay, aiming to continue her streak of outstanding performances.
Upcoming Events in the Virgin Islands
The Interscholastic Track and Field Series will continue on St. Croix Thursday, Feb 6. Middle school and high school athletes will kick off the competition at 4 p.m. at the St. Croix Educational Track and Field Facility. The excitement continues the next day, Friday, Feb. 7, when elementary school athletes take to the track at the same time and location.
All VI athletes should register with the Virgin Islands Track and Field Federation. Registration can be done online at the Federation’s website: Registration – Virgin Islands Track and Field Federation
