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HomeNewsLocal sportsVITFF Bulletin: Michelle Smith Sets New V.I. National Record

VITFF Bulletin: Michelle Smith Sets New V.I. National Record

Michelle Smith

Virgin Islands National Team member and VI Sports Ambassador Michelle Smith broke her own Virgin Islands National record in the 400m hurdles by running a 56.66! Smith competed in the 400m hurdles at the Corky/Crofoot Shootout in Lubbock, Texas, on April 29. The 16-year-old set the V.I. record in the 400m hurdles last year while competing in the World Athletics Under-20 Championships.

She holds two Virgin Islands National Records, the 800m, which she set in March of this year, and the 400m hurdles.

With her 400m hurdles time of 56.66, Michelle Smith is now ranked No. 1 in the World for Under-18 and No. 1 in the USA for all high schoolers.

400m Hurdles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOb_kvvWvOs

Malique Smith (Submitted photo)

Virgin Islands Track and Field Team member Malique Smith opened up his outdoor track and field season in Jacksonville, Fla., at the East Coast Relays on April 28. Malique won his heat in the 400m hurdles with a personal record of 51.72.

400m Hurdles Malique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKmQ8F3mgqA

Omari Bennett

Virgin Islands Track and Field Team member Omari Bennett, a senior at Hammond High School in Columbia, S.C., competed in the SCISA Region 1-3A Championship Meet. Bennett finished first in the triple jump with a jump of 41 feet 8.5 inches; he placed 3rd in the long jump with a jump of 20 feet and 2 inches; he finished 1st in the 110m hurdles with a time of 14.87.

Bennett will compete next in the SCISA Track and Field Championships – Division I in Charleston, South Carolina, on May 6.

Nicola Peters

Virgin Islands Track and Field Team member Nicola Peters, a junior at Sparkman High School, competed in the 7A Section 4 – Scottsboro 2023 Regional Championship. Peters qualified for the Alabama State Championship in the 100m, 200m and 4 X 100m relay.

In the 100m prelim, she ran a 12.44, which qualified her for the final where she finished 2nd with a time of 12.26. In the 200m, she ran a 25.49 to qualify for the finals. Peters followed that performance up with a personal record of 25.07 finishing 2nd in the final. Her 200m time ranked her top 10 in Alabama.

Peters also helped her 4 X 100m relay team to a first-place finish with a time of 47.39.

Upcoming meets for the Virgin Islands Track and Field Federation:

May 19 and 20 – The North American Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Age group qualifier, for the Under-15 and Under-13 age groups, at the St. Croix Educational Complex track on St. Croix, V.I.

June 17 – the Olympic Day run on St. Thomas at the Eudora Kean High School track and on St. Croix at the St. Croix Educational track at 4 p.m. on both islands.

July 9 and 10 – The Flora Hyacinth Virgin Islands National Track and Field Championships at the St. Croix Educational Complex Track on St. Croix, V.I.

In order to participate in the NACAC qualifier or the V.I. National Championship, the athlete must be registered with the V.I. Track and Field Federation.

https://vitrackandfield.com/registration/

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