Virgin Islands Discuss thrower, Eric Mathias

Meanwhile sprinter Tahesia Harrigan, who is the first Virgin Islands athlete to make the “A” qualifying standard, will wing out of Miami , USA on August 3, some two weeks before getting set to contest the 100meters on August 16.

Despite swirling concerns about atmospheric conditions in and around the venue, Harrigan will carry the VI flag at the opening ceremony on August 8, but president of the BVI Olympic Committee, Rey O’Neal said he is hopeful that Harrigan will not be affected by the prevailing conditions.    

“A lot of the athletes are not going to the Olympics until late because of atmospheric conditions. We are hoping that this is of no consequence to us, something we have no control over,” O’Neal said during a breakfast press conference at Village Cay last Saturday. 

“Tahesia won an indoor medal at 60 meters at the world championships this year, she has 40 meters more to run in Beijing , but we are hoping for a good performance,” O’Neal stated.

Chief-de-Mission of the VI team, Dag Samuels will be accompanied by BVIOC vice president, John Lewis; BVIOC secretary general, Dean Greenaway; Territorial Representative at Large, Irene Penn O’Neal and Tahesia’s mom, Doris Christopher.

Also travelling with the team will be rising athletes, sprinter, Britney Wattley and yachter, Alec Anderson, both of whom will be participating in an Olympic youth camp. Harrigan is being coached by Willis “Chucky” Todman.

According to Samuels, Harrigan has overcome an early season injury and has competed in international races in Europe .

“We can see the times are dropping; there is still a little concern about her start, but I think by the time she gets to Beijing , she would be in a better position to compete,” Samuels alluded.

He said that this 7th Olympic Games the VI has participated in beginning from 1984, sets a number of benchmarks.

“It is the first time we are having a qualified female athlete. The competition for the track and field begins on August 16 and she begins on the 16…I know the BVI will be glued to their TVs to see her in two days of competition, because we are confident that she would make it to the finals and even feel a bit more proud that she can stand on the podium with one of the metals around her neck,” Samuels said.

Samuels who has been head coach of three previous Olympics, said he is thankful for the BVIOC for granting him the opportunity to head the VI delegation. He also alluded that for the first time the VI team will include a physiotherapist.

“Although the team is small with one athlete, I know that the other delegates, in Lewis as vice president and Greenaway as secreatry general will be hard at work. I hope by time the games is finished that we would have a lot of information, a lot of contacts so that the BVIOC can progress to the next level,” Samuels stated.

President of the BVI Amateur Athletics Association, Ephraim Penn said that he is pleased that athletics is being represented at this year’s games. 

“It is a pleasure for us to be represented in the upcoming Olympics and represented in a positive way…we are very excited and looking forward to a good performances. We would just like the Virgin Islands community to stay tuned,” Penn said.

In 1984 VI athletes participated in athletics and yachting, a trend that continued in 1996, when one yachtsman was among eight competitors. In 2000 in Sydney , the VI only fielded one male track and field athlete and in 2004 another male was the lone competitor on the track.

“There has been a fall off in terms of the number of senior competitors in yachting over the years and with people like Alec Anderson, who is going to the youth camp, we are beginning to see something that will lead to participation, not only at the Olympics, but the Central America and Caribbean Games. Track and field is not the only sport that has qualifying standard. We have not had anyone in yachting since 1996, but I feel fairly confident that in 2012, there will be someone from that sport in London ,’ O’Neal stated. 

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Show/Hide comments

Show/Hide comment form

Name

Email

Title

Comment

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment