Athletics Association plans high-calibre meet in BVI for next year

President of the BVI Athletics Association Steve Augustine said he is working on hosting a high-level track and field meet here in the BVI next year so everyone in the territory can experience Kyron McMaster competing in person.

Speaking at a brief welcome-home ceremony for McMaster on Friday, Augustine aired his plans in front of McMaster, his family and dignitaries that came to support the two-time Commonwealth and North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) 400-metre hurdles champion.

“I want to put the challenge out there to Kyron and I want to make sure he follows through, as a matter of fact, with some of it, I’ve already gotten his commitment, but I’m going to put it out there to make sure that he does indeed follow through. Now Kyron, it is lovely watching you on television, running and winning. But guess what? As President of the Association, the BVI Athletics Association, I feel that it is our responsibility to ensure that the home crowd here on Tortola could see you run live,” Augustine said.

“So, I mentioned this to you before. I’m not going to jump the gun entirely but to speak just a little bit on our behalf – President [Ephraim] Penn and I, we’ve been having some discussions about hosting a high-calibre meet here on island next year. I’ll speak to you more about it while you’re here. But the aim and hope and objective are that everyone else in the public gets a fair chance to see our champion coming to compete at a high level on home soil,” he added.

In addition, Augustine noted McMaster will be the guest speaker at the Athletes Gala later in December of this year. He noted the function is a fundraiser for the BVI Athletics Association and it helps to support athletes in preparation for major tournaments.

“I think it’s worthwhile for all of us to know the life that Kyron lives because what Kyron does on a daily basis is unknown to a majority of people here in the Virgin Islands. So, we’re gonna get a fair chance to understand from Kyron what that is all about,” Augustine added