Local athlete lands sports scholarship in US

Local quarter-miler Shaniyah Caul has received a full four-year athletic scholarship to Fairleigh Dickinson University in the United States.

The youngster, who trains with Raw Skillz Track Club, is the first athlete from the club to attain such an achievement, the BVI Athletics Association said in a media release on Thursday.

Caul attributes her accomplishment to a strict training regimen as well as support from her club and family.

“I want to thank my coach, Coach Redz for sticking with me through the tough journey because seeing me for hours, six days a week, one has to be mentally strong. I thank him for not giving up on me and always supporting me because I couldn’t have done it without him,” she said.

“I also want to thank my parents and families for sticking with me through this process and making things possible. And to all my supporters, I want to say thank you,” Caul added.

Gia Malone triples

Meanwhile, more goods came from athletic sensation Xiomara ‘Gia’ Malone of Fast Lane Track Club who is now a triple qualifier for the CARIFTA Games.

She recently qualified for the national Long Jump team by leaping to a distance of 5.27 metres in the event.

This surpasses the BVI’s current CARIFTA qualifying standard of 5.25 metres in the Long Jump.

The triple-discipline athlete has already qualified to represent the BVI in women’s 100-metre hurdles and the High Jump.

Other local qualifiers who will represent the BVI at this year’s CARIFTA Games are strongman Djimon Gumbs, Javelin thrower Akira Phillip, 200-metre sprinter Beyonce Defreitas, quarter-miler Akrisa Eristee, and long-jumper Arianna Hayde.

The CARIFTA Games will be held from March 30 to April 2 in The Bahamas