‘Use athletics to better your future’, local CARIFTA athletes told

Ahead of the 49th staging of the CARIFTA Games being held this coming weekend, President of the BVI Athletics Association (BVIAA) Steve Augustine is urging members of contingency who will represent the territory at the three-day event to use athletics as a means to a better future.

Speaking at a press conference for the delegation last week Friday, Augustine noted that back in 2019, he referred to a team that competed at the CARIFTA Games in 2011 and most of the squad had “connected the dots”. He said a local sprinter, Shakoy Stevens, got an athletic scholarship to study overseas through his participation in the games.

“He competed at the CARIFTA Games [and] he got a scholarship to attend a university in Kansas. Between then and now he did send me an image of his graduation pictures. So, the dot I am connecting is that there is another facet to it all. It is not just going to college, but it is graduating and completing college,” Augustine said.

“He is in a position today where he is better able to maintain his lifestyle and live. We just connected, competing locally, going to the CARIFTA Games, earning a scholarship and graduating. That is four incredible dots,” the BVIAA president continued.

Augustine told the athletes they are in the same position as athletes from previous year groups and those athletes were able to connect the dots when things were more difficult for BVI Athletics.

“Things were not as uninformed then as now in these nice puma gears that we have. When we had fewer coaches and they were able to connect those dots. Imagine what you guys can do when you have more available to you,” Augustine said.

“We have more coaches on the field, we had a rubberised track then and now, we have more trained coaches, so the education level of our coaches continues to increase, and we have more opportunity to travel. In my years, when we travelled on the BVI CARIFTA teams it would probably be two or three athletes and that takes a toll on you because you are not only a small country you are a small team,” he continued.

The president encouraged the athletes to try and connect the very same dots while in Jamaica where this year’s games are being held. He noted they are able to carry on the strong tradition that BVI athletics has continued to develop over the years.

“Whether it is becoming a professional athlete or getting an education out of athletes — whichever of the two or both — if that is your drive, go after it because guess what? You guys are in full control of your destiny,” Augustine said.

The BVIAA President also acknowledged that several people in the squad are already connecting the dots and he is encouraging more people to follow their lead.

The Virgin Islands is expected to send 32 athletes to compete in Jamaica at the CARIFTA Games in a myriad of events. There are 15 boys and 17 girls on the team. This year’s team represents the single largest contingency of athletes to ever represent the BVI at CARIFTA.