With Track Closure Imminent BVIAA Begins Stretch Run

The track at the A. O. Shirley Recreation Grounds is expected to be taken up on mid June and the BVIAA has planned its Johnny Hassan Relays as its season ending meet on June 5: PHOTO: Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

APRIL 29--Facing the closure of the track at the A. O. Shirley Recreation Grounds for repairs in mid June, the BVI Athletics Association will have its final three home meets of the season, staring with the Premier Dental Youth Championships on May 8-9.

The championships--which also celebrate the IAAF World Athletics Day--have been rescheduled from May 1-2, to accommodate the BVI vs Curacao North American Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) South Cup Zone League play.

The Premier Dental Youth Championships targets U15 athletes throughout the territory. The top 20-24 athletes from the Inter Primary Schools A and B Division Championships as well as the U15 from the Elmore Stoutt High School Inter-House Championships in each discipline, have been invited and will face off starting at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 8. The second session will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 9.

The event will also showcase the Kids Athletics Program.

Several athletes will be seeing regional competitions in Antigua and Barbuda, Curacao, Barbados and Atlanta, before the next event on May 30, the CAC Age Group trials. The multi-events championship for 11-12 and 13-14 athletes, will see eight being selected for the July 18-19 CAC Age Group Championships in Trinidad and Tobago.

The final home meet of the season before the track is taken up and replaced, will be the June 5 Johnny Hassan Relays.

Upcoming International competitions include: IAAF World Youth Championships, July 15-19, Cali, Colombia; Pan Am Games, Toronto, Canada, July 20-26; Pan Am Jr. Championships, July 28-Aug 1, Edmonton, Canada; NACAC Sr. Championships, San Jose, Costa Rica, Aug 6-8; IAAF World Championships, Beijing, China, Aug 22-30 and Commonwealth Youth Games, Apia, Samoa, Sept 7-9.