BVI to send largest team of athletes to 49th CARIFTA Games

With the 49th staging of the CARIFTA Games expected to get underway in Kingston, Jamaica next week Saturday, the Virgin Islands will send its largest delegation of athletes to compete.

The delegation is made up of 32 athletes with 17 females and 15 males. Twenty-nine of the athletes are based locally while three of them are based overseas.

Akrisa Eriste and Jaleel Croal, both at their final CARIFTA Games, were named female and male captains, respectively.

The girls’ Under-17 team consists of Savianna Joseph, Adaejah Hodge [overseas based], Dikya Thomas, Karliyah Morton, Jah’Kyla Morton. A’Sia McMaster and Vinesha John.

The boys’ Under-17 team comprises Johari Lacey, Johnathan Lynch, J’Den Jackson, Gabriel Cline (overseas based) and Dimistri Varlack (overseas based).

The girls’ Under-20 (U20) team is made up of Palesa Caesar, Kaelyaah Liburd, Kenyatta Grate, Akrisa Eristee, Amia Todman, Ariyah Smith, A’Keela McMaster, Jordanne Thomas, DiaMonae Thomas, Jahtivya Williams and Ashleigh Penn.

The Under-20 boys are Orlando Douglas, Jaleel Croal, Jelani Croal, Mychael Claxton, Wanyae Belle, J’Mari Duhaney, Andre Smikle, Khybah Dawson, Jahshani Farrington and M’Khori Crabbe.

The Virgin Islands athletes are expected to compete in the 100 and 200 metres U17 and U20 for both boys and girls, the U17 girls 400 metres, both boys and girls U20 400 metres, as well as the U17 and U-20 boys 800 metres.

Athletes will also compete in the U17 and U20 girls 100-metre hurdles, U20 boys 400-metre hurdles, U17 girls heptathlon, U20 boys octathalon, U17 and U20 boys and girls 4×100-metre relay and the 4×400 metres relay for both boys and girls in the U17 and U20 categories.

Athletes from the delegation will also compete in the field events. The Virgin Islands has representation in the U17 girls long jump, both boys and girls U20 long jump, U17 girls shot put, both U20 boys and girls shot put, U17 girls discus and both U20 boys and girls discus as well as the U17 boys’ and girls’ high jump.

The team will be joined by team manager AnnaBelle Skelton-Malone, coaches- Ericca Frederick, Erwin Telemaque, Carl Barrett, Rapahel Jack, Eric Matthias and Burt Dorsett, assistant managers- Kisheba Sprauve and Tonya Hodge as well as executive members of the BVI Athletic Association Steve Augustine, Ralston Henry and Willis Todman.