Trevia Gumbs, left, Sol Jr. Female AOY; Karene King, Sol Sr. Female AOY; Khandle Herbert, subbing for her cousin Khari Herbert Jr. Sol Jr. Male AOY; Deborah Benjamin, Sol Country Manager; Kala Penn, Sol Youth Female AOY and Koen Penn, Sol Youth Male AOY. PHOTO: Todd VanSickle
DECEMBR 30—Sprinter Karene King—who led the 100 and 200m rankings for the first time and had a consistent season despite narrowly missing the Olympic Games qualifying standard—was the BVI Athletics Association Sr. Female Athlete of the Year presented by Sol.
The association’s 4th Awards Gala was held on December 28 at the Moorings Mariner Inn, at with a variety of awards were doled out including Lifetime Achievement Awards to the track and field Olympians presented by Gatorade.
In the most competitive division which saw four in the running for the first time, Shot Putter Trevia Gumbs, walked away with the Sol Jr. Female Athlete of The Year award at the event that also recognized youth athletes.
Competing with her twin sister and Javelin Thrower Tynelle, as well as sprinter Nelda Huggins and half miler Lakeisha “Mimi” Warner for the award that wasn’t as clear cut as in the previous three years, Trevia’s performances during the season saw her winning U17 Carifta Games Silver, Leeward Islands Jr. Championships gold and CAC Jr. Championships silver.
Huggins won 100m silver in all three competitions, while Javelin Thrower Tynelle—who collected the BVI Athletics Foundation’s Most Improved Athlete award and became the territory’s first 30/30m thrower in both the Javelin and Discus Throw—bagged Carifta and Leeward Islands gold, and was fifth in the CAC Jr. Championships.
Warner snatched Carifta 800m bronze and Leeward Islands gold but did not compete in the CAC Championships. All four athletes set personal bests and with the exception of Huggins, established National Jr. records in their respective events.
Koen Penn was the Sol Youth Male Athlete of the Year, with his sister Kala Penn the female recipient. There was no award presented in the male division, which lacked quality performers for the third successive year.
Eric “Shaq” Matthias—a 2008 Beijing Olympian—who was also presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award along with his fellow Olympians—won the BVI Athletics Foundation’s 2012 Coach of the Year award for his work with the Gumbs sisters.
Veteran Zebalon McLean won the Blenheim Trust Road Racing Male Athlete of the Year Award with Nimande Oniash the female recipient. For his effort, McLean was also recognized by the BVI Athletics Foundation, as the overall Road Racing Athlete of the Year.
BVI Athletics Association 2012 awards recipients are as follows:
2012 Sol Athletes of The Year
Sol Youth Male Athlete of the Year—Koen Penn
Sol Youth Female Athlete of the Year—Kala Penn
Sol Jr. Male Athlete of the Year –Khari Herbert
Sol Jr. Female Athlete of the Year—Trevia Gumbs
Sol Sr. Female Athlete of the Year—Karene King
Most Outstanding Track & Field Performances
Most Outstanding Combined Events Female Athlete—Kala Penn
Most Outstanding Combined Events Male Athlete—Brandon Andrew
Most Outstanding Women’s Open Track Athlete—Karene King
Most Outstanding Men’s Open Field Athlete—Keron Stout
Most Outstanding Boys Under-20 Track Athlete—Khari Herbert
Most Outstanding Boys Under-20 Field Athlete—Eldred Henry
Most Outstanding Boys Under-17 Track Athlete—Kyron McMaster
Most Outstanding Girls Under-17 Track Athlete—Nelda Huggins
Most Outstanding Boys Under-17 Field Athlete—Kyron McMaster
Most Outstanding Girls Under-17 Field Athlete—Trevia Gumbs
Most Outstanding Boys Under-15 Track Athlete—Tahj Malone
Most Outstanding Girls Under-15 Track Athlete—Kala Penn
Most Outstanding Boys Under-15 Field Athlete—Kadeon Potter
Most Outstanding Girls Under-15 Field Athlete—Kala Penn
Most Outstanding Boys Under 13 Field Athlete— Jelani Norman
Most Outstanding Girls Under 13 Field Athlete—Arianna Hayde
Most Outstanding Boys Under-13 Track Athlete—Rakeel Jack
Most Outstanding Girls Under-13 Track Athlete—Arianna Hayde
Most Outstanding Boys Under-11 Track Athlete—Koen Penn
Most Outstanding Girls Under-11 Track Athlete—Tashara Edwards
Most Outstanding Boys Under 11 Field Athlete—Koen Penn
Most Outstanding Girls Under 11 Field Athlete—Dominique Moses
Most Outstanding Girls Under 9 Field Athlete—Aryia Smith
Most Outstanding Girls Under 9 Track Athlete—Izariah Frett
Most Outstanding Boys Under 9 Field Athlete—Sha’el Lavacia
Most Outstanding Boys Under 9 Track Athlete—Sha’el Lavacia
Sol National Record Breakers
Karene King, 200 Meters 23.77 seconds, National Indoor Record, February 25, 2012, Flagstaff
Trevia Gumbs, Shot Put (3K) 14.75m, Youth National Record, July 1, 2012, San Salvador
Lakeisha “Mimi” Warner, 800 Meters, 2 minutes 10.92 seconds, National Youth Record, June 20, 2012, Road Town
Lakeisha “Mimi” Warner, 1500 Meters, 4 minutes 40.50 seconds National Record, March 20, 2012, Road Town
Lakeisha “Mimi” Warner, 3000 Meters 10 Minutes, 53.1 seconds, National Record, March 16, 2012, Road Town
Tynelle Gumbs, Javelin Throw (600g) 36.74m (120’2”) National Record, March 29, 2012, Road Town
J’Maal Alexander, 200 Meters, National Jr. Record, 21.62 seconds, June 2, 2012, Carolina
Khiri Herbert, 400 Meters National Youth Record, 47.98 seconds, May 31, 2012 Albuquerque
J’Maal Alexander, 100 Meters, 10.56 seconds, National Jr. Record, March 28, 2012, Road Town
Brandon Andrew, 110 Meters Hurdles, 14.90 seconds, National Jr. Record, July 1, 2012, San Salvador
Eldred Henry, Shot Put (4kg) 16.32 Meters (53’6¾”), National Jr. Record, June 29, San Salvador
Tynelle Gumbs, Discus Throw, 30.66m (100’6”) National Jr. Record, April 8, 2012, Devonshire
Brandon Andrew, Heptathlon: 3782 points, National Jr. Record, April 9, 2012 Devonshire,
4 x 100 Meters Relay 42.92 Seconds National Jr. Record: (Shaquoy Stephens, Khari Herbert, Brandon Andrew, Royce David), June 10, 2012, Road Town
4 x 400 Meters Relay 3 minutes 49.19 seconds, National Jr. Record: (Tarika Moses, Lakeisha Warner, Jonel Lacey, Taylor Hill), June 10, 2012, Road Town
4 x 400 Meters Relay 3 minutes 17.00 seconds, National Jr. Record: (Tarique Moses, Shaquoy Stephens, Kyron McMaster, Khari Herbert), June 10, 2012, Road Town
Lifetime Achievement Awards—Olympians
1984 Los Angeles: Lindel “Chef” Hodge, Guy “Toby” Hill, Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway and Jerry Molyneaux;
1988 Seoul: Lindel “Chef” Hodge and Willis “Chucky” Todman
1992 Barcelona: Karl “Dub” Scatliffe.
1996 Atlanta: Keita Cline, Ralston Varlack, Mario Todman, Willis “Chucky” Todman, Greg Rymer, Coralea Cline and Steve Augustine.
2000 Sydney: Keita Cline
2004 Athens: Dion Crabbe
2008 Beijing: Tahesia Harrigan and Eric “Shaq” Matthias
2012 London: Tahesia Harrigan-Scott and J’Maal Alexander
Blenheim Trust Road Racing Awards
Road Race Series: Men: 1st Zebalon McLean; 2nd Ravindra Sukhu; 3rd Maxford Pipe
Women: 1ST NiMade Oniasih; 2nd Philomena Robertson; 3rd Maria Mays
College Race Series Cross Country Awards
Open Men: Khiry Creque & Open Women— Lakeisha “Mimi” Warner and Tarika Moses
BVI Athletics Foundation Most improved Athlete
Tynelle Gumbs, Javelin Throw
BVI Athletics Foundation Coach of the Year
Eric “Shaq” Matthias