Nine BVI Athletes Win 1 Gold and
Nine athletes from the British Virgin Islands competed at the NACAC U18 & U23 Championships in Apizaco, Mexico, and returned home with one gold and two silver medals, the British Virgin Islands Athletics Association (BVIAA) and VINO report. T'Keiya Smith captured gold in the U18 high jump, while Jah'kyla Morton and Andre Smikle each won silver in their U23 events; several other team members reached finals and posted strong championship performances ahead of a busy summer of competition.
Nine athletes from the British Virgin Islands formed part of a 12-member BVIAA delegation to the NACAC U18 & U23 Athletics Championships held at the Una Nueva Historia Sports Complex Stadium in Apizaco, Mexico. The team, confirmed by the BVIAA before the meet, included coaches and support staff such as coach Jennifer King-Grate, team manager Stephanie Russ Penn, and physiotherapist Courtny Bascombe.
Before the championships, BVIAA President Steve Augustine expressed confidence, saying he expected strong performances from a group “known for delivering under pressure.” That expectation was borne out on the field as the contingent returned with tangible results, according to reports from Virgin Islands News Online (VINO).
The headline result came from T'Keiya Smith, who leapt to first place in the U18 high jump with a clearance of 1.64 metres to claim gold, VINO reported. In the U23 high jump Jah'kyla Morton earned silver with a best of 1.69 metres, while Andre Smikle collected silver in the U23 hammer throw with a mark of 47.80 metres and also finished sixth in the U23 discus with a throw of 46.94 metres.
Other BVI athletes produced notable performances across sprint and middle-distance events. In the U18 100 metres, M'Kenzii Crabbe, Ty'Rique Charles and Tiondre Frett all advanced to the finals, with Crabbe finishing eighth overall and Charles seventh overall. Charles also placed fifth overall in the U18 200 metres, while Mario Carter reached the semifinals of the U23 200 metres but did not advance to the final, VINO noted.
Jahshani Farrington ran to a seventh-place finish in the U23 800 metres, and Othniel Gillings finished ninth in the U18 high jump. While not every competitor reached the podium, the BVIAA and local coverage highlighted the depth of performances and the value of international competition for the territory’s developing athletes.
President Augustine praised the team’s efforts amid difficult conditions, telling VINO that the medals “bring a tangible confirmation that all their hard work throughout the athletic year is worth it” and commending each athlete for a valiant effort despite unfavourable weather. The BVIAA delegation returned to the Virgin Islands on Monday, July 13, 2026.
With the NACAC meet concluded, the territory now turns its attention to a busy international summer: the CAC Games in the Dominican Republic and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow from July 23 to August 8, 2026, where several of these athletes may again represent the territory. Residents are encouraged to follow the BVIAA’s official channels and VINO for full results, photographs and updates as the team progresses through upcoming competitions.
The association reiterated its gratitude for community support as the young athletes continue to gain valuable experience on the regional and global stage.
Primary source: VINO