BVI’s Khybah Dawson signs historic deal with Texas University

BVI long jump athlete, Khybah Dawson. (Photo by Cleave Farrington)

Khybah Dawson — a former student of the Elmore Stoutt High School — is the latest BVIslander to make a historic move on the international stage.

According to Caribbean news outlet Track Alerts, the long jumper has officially joined the Texas A&M Aggies, signing a Letter of Intent to compete in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) starting with the 2024-25 season.

With this deal, Dawson became the first male athlete from the BVI to participate in the SEC, a conference renowned for displaying athletic prowess at the collegiate level.

This is great news for BVI’s track and field community, which has been making strides on the regional and international stage through athletes like Kyron McMaster, sprinting prodigy Adaejah Hodge, and others.

Dawson has been making leaps as a jumper. He earned a silver medal in the boys’ under-17 long jump event at the 2019 Carifta Games. And while competing at the USA Junior College Championships in 2023, he achieved a personal best jump distance of 7.84 m. With this leap, he finished the championship as the runner-up .

Dawson’s deal with Texas A&M Aggies comes just days after Adaejah Hodge signed with the University of Georgia.

“Together, Dawson and Hodge represent a historic moment. It’s the second time male and female athletes from the BVI will be competing in the same Division I conference, signaling a rising tide of talent from the region,” Track Alerts said.

Dawson, Adaejah, McMaster and D’Moi Hodge are among the new BVI athletes who are making impressive moves in their disciplines, giving fresh hope to many who call the Virgin Islands home.

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