Sports
BVI athlete Kimberly Smith bags silver in indoor long jump
Kimberly Smith (first from right) celebrates her silver medal.
By MERRICK ANDREWS and CATHY RICHARDS, JTV News Editors
(JTV News) — Another British Virgin Islands (BVI) athlete shone at an indoor track and field meet in the United States of America (USA) this weekend.
Kimberly Smith, representing Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, USA, placed second in the women’s long jump final — achieving a personal best and losing the gold by a mere two centimeters — at the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Indoor Track & Field Championships in Pittsburg, Kansas on Saturday, the second day of the three-day meet.
Her silver-medal-winning performance of 5.88 meters or 19 feet and 3.5 inches occurred on her second attempt. She had other efforts of 5.69m (first attempt), 5.45m (third attempt), 5.77m (fourth attempt), 5.74m (fifth attempt), and 5.56m (sixth and final attempt).
Kimberly Smith on the run up in the women’s long jump final for Washburn University
Kimberly Smith in full flight for Washburn University in the women’s long jump.
Smith, a freshman at Washburn, lost the gold by narrowly as the winner, Kayla Goodwin, a sophomore at Central Missouri, recorded 5.90m (19′ 4.25″) on her fifth attempt — also a personal-best performance. She had other results of 5.69m, 5.86m, 5.67m, 5.76m, and 5.89m, in that order.
From third to fifth place also earned personal bests: Third place went to Auna Childress, a sophomore at Pittsburg St. with 5.85m (19′ 2.25″); fourth place went to Luisarys Toledo, a sophomore at NW Missouri, with 5.80m (19′ 0.25″) and fifth place went to freshman Makayla Watson of Pittsburg St, 5.74m (18′ 10″).
Beyonce Defreitas
The other BVI athlete who shone over the weekend is University of Central Florida (UCF) senior Beyonce Defreitas, who won gold and bronze in the women’s 200 meters and 60 meters, respectively, at the Feb. 24-25 American Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships held in Birmingham, Alabama.
Defreitas clocked 23.34 to win the 200m final after producing the second-fastest time, 23.73, in the preliminaries.
The former Elmore Stoutt High School student went on to take third place overall and the bronze in the women’s 60m final in 7.36 seconds.
She entered the final with the fastest time of 7.34.
Her UCF teammate won the final in 7.29.
British Virgin Islands athlete Beyonce Defreitas represents University of Central Florida
After an eight-year hiatus, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) Swimming Federation returned to the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Swimming Championships with a six-member team at the 32nd annual event held from November 8–10 at the Shrewsbury Aquatic Center in St. Vincent & the Grenadines. This marked BVI’s first appearance since 2016, following setbacks from Hurricane Irma in 2017 that impacted athletic infrastructure and development programs.
Representing the BVI were Jai Potter (15-17), Kyla Potter (11-12), Arun Bissoondutt (9-10), Naya Bissoondutt (8 & Under), Skyler Steer (8 & Under), and William Vergel (8 & Under). Under the guidance of Coach Elsworth Phillip, the young athletes held their own against teams from 11 other territories including reigning champions Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, and host nation St. Vincent & the Grenadines.
A standout performance was delivered by Kyla Potter, who claimed a silver medal in the 11-12 Girls 50m Butterfly with a time of 32.16, just 0.5 seconds shy of the gold. This impressive finish highlighted her potential among the region’s top young swimmers. Additionally, Kyla placed 4th in the 100m Butterfly, 6th in the 50m Breaststroke, and achieved competitive rankings across other events.
run Bissoondutt earned 9th place finishes in the 9-10 Boys 50m Backstroke and 100m Freestyle, while Skyler Steer placed in the top 10 in multiple events for the 8 & Under Girls, including an 8th place finish in the 25m Backstroke. William Vergel, competing in the 8 & Under Boys, placed 10th in the 25m Freestyle. Additionally, the team’s 10 & Under mixed 200m Freestyle relay, featuring Arun, Naya, Skyler, and William, secured a respectable 5th place.
At the conclusion of the championships, Antigua and Barbuda claimed their third consecutive OECS title with 1,419 points, followed by Grenada with 1,301.5 points and St. Vincent and the Grenadines with 1,102 points. The BVI finished in 7th place overall, earning 37 points, and celebrated this opportunity to renew its presence in regional swimming after years of rebuilding efforts.
Coach Phillip praised the athletes for their dedication, stating, “Our swimmers have demonstrated commendable focus and resilience. Kyla’s silver medal is a significant achievement and reflects the promising direction of our program.”
The election took place on Friday, 18 October, during the ANOCES General Assembly at the luxurious Sandals Beaches Resort in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. Penn’s years of dedicated service to the Olympic movement, coupled with his strong leadership vision, played a significant role in his election.
Penn’s appointment heralds a renewed emphasis on regional collaboration within the Olympic framework. Upon accepting the role, he shared his aspirations for the organisation:
“I am honoured to serve as President of ANOCES, and I look forward to working closely with my colleagues in the Eastern Caribbean to advance sports development, support our athletes, and further promote the Olympic ideals,” Penn remarked. “Together, we will build a stronger and more unified sports community in the region.”
Under Penn’s leadership, the British Virgin Islands has seen transformative growth in both grassroots and elite sports, particularly in track and field, where the region has consistently outperformed on the international stage.
Penn will be joined by a team of experienced sports administrators. Dominica’s Billy Doctrove, a prominent figure in Caribbean sports and President of the Dominica NOC, has been elected Vice President of ANOCES. Additional key appointments include:
- Keith Joseph (St Vincent and the Grenadines) – General Secretary
- Glenville Jeffers (St Kitts and Nevis) – Treasurer
- Cliff Williams (Antigua and Barbuda) – Committee Member
With this experienced leadership, ANOCES is poised to continue strengthening the Olympic movement and supporting athletes across the Eastern Caribbean.
The ANOCES team has a packed agenda, with their next meeting scheduled in Panama City, Panama, from 12 to 14 November 2024. This gathering will coincide with the Centennial Celebration of Centro Caribe Sport (CCS), formerly the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organisation (CACSO).
The summit in Panama City will offer ANOCES members a platform to discuss strategic priorities for the future. “This is a pivotal time for our region as we chart a path toward greater inclusivity and innovation in sports development,” said Billy Doctrove, the newly elected Vice President.
Sports administrators across the region have expressed optimism about the new leadership. “Ephraim Penn has consistently shown a remarkable ability to unite people and achieve ambitious goals,” commented Keith Joseph, General Secretary of ANOCES. “His vision and commitment will be crucial as we face the challenges and opportunities ahead.”
Jermaine Henry, a celebrated coach with Alpha Fitness VI, earned his PRO bodybuilding card on Saturday, November 9, in The Bahamas. This new PRO status transforms Jermaine from a competitive contender into a professional, unlocking potential avenues for endorsements and international partnerships.
His track record includes a 6th-place finish at the renowned Joe Weider’s Olympia Amateur Bodybuilding Competition held on December 14, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Competing among over 400 athletes, he showcased his talent and dedication, elevating the Virgin Islands’ presence in the bodybuilding world.
Congratulations to Jermaine and the Alpha Fitness team!
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