Tahesia Harrigan outsprints the field in the 100 meters during her season debut at the A.O Shirley Grounds on Saturday

Harrigan out sprinted Puerto Rico’s Celiangely Morales and Jennifer Gutierrez on her way to a new All Comers meet record time which surpassed St. Kitts’ Valma Bass’ 1996 of mark of 11.7.

“It was fun competing at home. I really did appreciate the support. I did have some problems with my race that I thought wasn’t good other than that I am glad to be running without any pain,” Harrigan told the StandPoint after a victory jog in front of dozens of spectators.

The sprint sensation is expected to travel next week to Europe to compete in Switzerland and Ireland in two of six competitions leading up to the Olympics.

“I was looking to run about 11:02, but I am still optimistic and positive about what’s going to come in the season because I still have to do a lot of speed training work and with more races to come, I will improve,” Harrigan vowed.

Harrigan said she is likely to tweak her race strategy based on her performance last Saturday.

“I don’t think my drive was that good, I felt good in the middle, but towards the end, I feel I need to work on that. I was probably over rotated because I found myself decelerating a little faster than I should have, but once I work on it, it should be good,” Harrigan stated.

Expressing surprise at the turnout for the meet, Harrigan is well aware that the entire Territory will be cheering her when she takes to the track in China during the summer games.

“You have to stay in tuned with your self. I would like to be on the podium, I do think I have a great chance of making the final and once you take yourself out of the race, its what it is,” Harrigan said.

The BVI Invitational also saw a number of other meet records established. Puerto Rico’s 4 x 100 meter relay quartet of Fena Alvarez, Yavid Zackey, Luis Lopez and Amador, erased the BVI quartet of Steve Augustine, Keita Cline, Aliston Potter and Dion Crabbe’s 2002 time of 41.67, by running 41.10.

Kirani James, a Grenadian 15-year-old who won the World Youth Championships 400 meters silver medal last year, demolished St. Thomas’ Neville Hodge’s 26-year old meet record of 47.7 seconds with a season’s best of 46.85.

And the BVI’s Eric Mathias added 11 feet on to his six year old Discus Throw mark of 159’8" with a toss of 170’3.”

“It wasn’t the best of the year, but from the way I started off. I definitely need some more work,” said Mathias, who is pursuing a Masters at Boise State University.

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