Michelle Smith won three medals during last year’s CARIFTA games in Jamaica; silver in the 100m Hurdles, and gold in the 800m and 400m Hurdles, establishing an Under 17 CARIFTA record for the latter event, with a time of 58.61s.
Eight young athletes have been selected to represent the U.S. Virgin Islands at the 50th CARIFTA Track & Field Championships, taking place in the Bahamas from April 8-10 this year.
Michelle Smith will compete in the 400m hurdles and the 800m in the female Under 20 category, while Nicola Peters will run the 100m and 200m in that same category. Raynier Charlery will run 100m and 200m in the male Under 20 category, while Jaden Stapelton will join Charlery in the 200m Under 20. Also in that category, Michael Dizon-Bumann will run the 800m and the 1500m races, while Omari Bennett will run 110m Hurdles and compete in the Octathlon - a feat of strength and endurance comprising 100m, 400m, 1500m, High Jump, Long Jump, Shot Put, Javelin Throw, and 100m events.
In the female Open category, Akyra Joseph will compete in the Heptathlon, a seven-event gauntlet which consists of the 200m, 800m, 100m Hurdles, Shot Put, High Jump, Long Jump and Javelin Throw. Sofia Swindell will participate in the 100m, 200m, 100m Hurdles, and Triple Jump in the Under 17 female category.
Smith won three medals during last year’s CARIFTA games in Jamaica; silver in the 100m Hurdles, and gold in the 800m and 400m Hurdles, establishing an Under 17 CARIFTA record for the latter event, with a time of 58.61s.
Smith and Bennett have all notched first place finishes in events at recent collegiate track meets.
Funding for the 2023 CARIFTA athletes was provided via competition grants from the Virgin Islands Olympic Committee and the Virgin Islands Track and Field Federation.
