Rikkoi Brathwaite delivered a podium finish for the British Virgin Islands on Thursday, securing bronze in the men’s 100 meters at the 5th North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Senior Championships.
Competing from lane seven, Brathwaite crossed the line in 10.15 seconds, aided by a slight tailwind (+0.4). He had advanced to the final with a time of 10.27.
Long jumper Chantel Malone came within centimeters of joining Brathwaite on the podium. Her leap of 6.60 meters (21 feet, 8 inches) left her just 0.04 shy of the bronze medal mark. In the throws, Djimon Gumbs turned in a strong showing, placing fifth in the shot put with 18.87 meters (61 feet, 11 inches) and sixth in the discus at 56.44 meters (185 feet, 2 inches).
On the track, hurdler Deya Erickson clocked 13.46 in the 110-meter hurdles but missed advancement, finishing ninth overall. Joshua Hill’s 47.76 in the 400 meters ranked 17th, while sprinter Beyoncé DeFreitas posted 11.44 in the women’s 100 meters, placing 11th.
The championships, held August 13–17, brought together top regional athletes. According to the BVI Athletics Association, the territory had initially planned to send 17 athletes, but collegiate schedules and seasonal considerations reduced the final team to seven.
Still, officials said the competition provided invaluable exposure. “The NACAC Championships is a great regional opportunity for athletes to get the exposure they need before taking the next steps,” said BVI Athletics Association President Steve Augustine, who expressed confidence in the squad’s ability to contend at the highest level.
