APRIL 28—Eventually, someone will come along and break Tynelle Gumbs’ National Records.
But no one would have the opportunity to erase the fact that she has become the territory’s first female athlete to throw both the Javelin and Discus over 30m (100’) respectively, thus becoming the only member of this exclusive 30/30 club.
Her efforts lead the line up to collect Sol National Record Breakers awards during the 4th BVI Athletics Association Athletes Awards Recognition Gala later this year.
During the 41st Carifta Games in Bermuda, Gumbs, who had already thrown the 600g Javelin 36.74m then the newly implemented 500g 41.46m to strike gold, brought her Discus into the 30m club when she heaved the platter 30.66m. In the process, she became the second woman to throw the Discus over 30m eclipsing Taheriah Lewis’ previous national mark of 30.09m.
Gumbs came into the season with bests of 25.90m in the Javelin and 28.83m in the Discus.
This year, Gumbs has benefitted from the coaching of National Record holder Omar Jones in the Javelin and National Record Holder and 2008 Beijing Olympian, Eric “Shaq” Matthias in the Discus.
Gumbs’ Javelin Thrown and Discus Throw marks—which were also National Youth, National Jr. National Scholastic and overall National Records—were among four established at the Carifta Games, and 11 so far this year by six different athletes.
Gumbs’ sister Trevia has taken her 4Kg Shot Put mark from 9.83m to 11.59m and tossed the 3Kg iron ball out to 13.47m during the Carifta Games.
Brandon Andrew—a 2009 CAC Age Group Championships bronze medal hurdler—returned to the event in during his Heptathlon debut and took down Alliston ‘Al’ Potter’s 2003 110m Hurdles mark of 17.07 seconds when he ran 15.93. A day later in the U20 Boys event, he sliced the mark to 15.60.
In the Heptathlon, he put a 3782 score on the board in the first time contesting the 7-discipline 2-day event.
Others that have snatched National Jr. Records include: J’Maal Alexander in the 100 and 200m with marks of 10.56 and 21.68 seconds respectively.
Lakeisha “Mimi” Warner, began a three event record spree over a 10 day span, when she ran the 800m in 2 minutes, 13.80 seconds, for National Youth and National Scholastic marks.
She then followed up by taking down Darwn Peters and Chantal Scatliffe’s 3000 and 1500m National Record marks, with times of 10:53.1 and 4:50.50 respectively.
Hurdling new comer Jonel Lacey, cleared the 300m barriers faster than anyone, when she ran 44.29 seconds.
Any athlete establishing an Indoor or Outdoor National Record that stands at season’s end, qualifies for a Sol National Record Breakers Award.