Four BVI Athletes at Pan Am Championships
The British Virgin Islands sent a four-athlete squad to the inaugural Pan American Athletics Championships in Medellín where Djimon L. Gumbs placed fourth in the shot put and other team members posted competitive showings. Following Medellín, the BVIAA has named a 14-athlete contingent to compete at the ANOECS Track & Field Championship in St Kitts from July 4–6, with the team expected to arrive on July 2, according to VINO.
The British Virgin Islands were represented by a four-athlete squad at the first-ever Pan American Athletics Championships held at the Alfonso Galvis Duque Stadium in Medellín, Colombia. The team arrived on Wednesday, June 24 ahead of competition that ran from Friday, June 26 through Sunday, June 28; the championships featured 407 senior athletes from 27 nations and included combined events, track and field, and race walking (BVIAA, event reports).
Team BVI’s standout performance in Medellín came from shot putter Djimon L. Gumbs, who threw a season-best 18.93 metres on his fifth attempt to place fourth in a tightly contested final. Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) published Gumbs’ series as 17.37, 18.11, 18.72, 18.82, 18.93 and 18.88 metres for the day.
Brathwaite also competed on Day 1, running in Heat 2 of the men’s 100 metres and finishing third in 10.41 seconds, a time that, VINO reported, was not fast enough to advance amid the strong Pan Am field. On Saturday, Team BVI’s women closed out the championships with competitive showings: Beyoncé A.
DeFreitas placed sixth in the 200m final in 23.21 seconds, while Deya Y. Erickson finished seventh in the 100m hurdles in 13.41 seconds, per VINO coverage. BVIAA President Steve Augustine praised the quartet as top-flight competitors, citing national records and regional podium results that gave the association confidence heading into the championships.
The Pan Am meet also carried extra stakes: gold medallists in individual events earned automatic qualification for the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, offering valuable exposure and development opportunities for athletes across the hemisphere. Building on the experience in Medellín, the BVIAA and the BVI Olympic Committee have now named a larger team for the upcoming ANOECS Athletics Championship in St Kitts, held July 4–6.
VINO reports 14 athletes will represent the Virgin Islands: Females — Deya Y. Erickson (100mH), Trevia Gumbs (Shot Put), Tynelle Gumbs (Shot Put) and Jah'Kyla Morton (High Jump); Males — Rikkoi A.R. Croal (100m, 4x100m), Wanyae Belle (200m, 4x100m), J’Den Jackson (200m, 4x100m), Adriano Gumbs (400m), Joshua Hill (400m), Jahshani Farrington (800m), Djimon L.
Gumbs (Shot Put), Diamante Gumbs (Shot Put) and Khybah Dawson (Long Jump). Coaches Burt Dorsett and Jonel Lacy, along with physiotherapist Dr. Shenique Erickson, complete the travelling party. VINO also noted that the team is expected to arrive in St Kitts on Thursday, July 2, ahead of competition at the Kim Collins Stadium.
BVIAA President Augustine told VINO the squad is "going into this Championship hot and heavy" and said the partnership between Pan American Sports and the Eastern Caribbean, which is providing funding toward accommodation, meals and ground transport, is a strong boost for regional sport development.
Local leaders and officials say strong performances in Medellín and competitive showings at ANOECS can open doors to additional funding, selection opportunities and inspiration for young athletes across the Virgin Islands. The BVIAA praised its athletes following Medellín and urged supporters to follow live results through official channels as the season continues.
Primary source: VINO