9 athletes from 3 sports have been selected to represent the British Virgin Islands in the upcoming 24th Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in San Salvador, El Salvador from June 23 – July 8, 2023.
The BVI Olympic Committee (BVIOC) confirmed the athletes in a media release on Wednesday.
The 9 athletes include: Laser Sailor, Thad Lettsome; Archer, Ritseeniyah Georges; Track Athletes, Rikkoi Brathwaite, Beyonce Defreitas, Deya Erikson and Jaleel Croal; and Field Athletes, Olympian Eldred Henry, Djimon Gumbs and Diamante Gumbs.
Georges will compete in the Women’s Compound Individual starting Sunday, July 2 at 9:00 a.m. at the Polígono de Tiro con Arco Ciudad Merliot.
Speaking of the Games, BVIOC President Ephraim Penn said it is seen as an important qualifying and ranking opportunity for athletes from all sports.
He also highlighted some of the historic feats of this year’s Games, adding that he anticipates tough competition from the other athletes.
“It will be the first time that archery will be represented at these Games and the second time for sailing since 1993 in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Athletics has seen representation since the VI’s first participation in the CACs in 1982 and has included softball, squash, triathlon and cycling. This historic achievement for archery is a promising trajectory for the development of different sports in the Territory and brings to fruition one of the BVIOC’s missions for this quadrennial to have more sports compete at major Games,” Penn stated.
The BVIOC also provided details on the other events that will be taking place.
“Lettsome, competing in the ILCA 7 men’s single person dinghy event, is the first of the VI’s team to compete when the sailing events start on Saturday, June 24 at Lake Ilpongo. Lettsome is also selected to be the flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony on Friday, June 23,” the BVIOC stated.
As it relates to the event for the track athletes, the release said Brathwaite and Defreitas will compete in the 100m semi-finals on July, 3, at 5:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. respectively, while Erikson will take part in the 100m hurdles semi-finals starting at 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4. On the following day, Croal will compete in the 200m semi-finals starting at 5:00 p.m. and Defreitas will return to contest the 200m semi-finals starting at 5:30 p.m.
The all-men field athletes of Henry and twins Djimon and Diamante will compete in the shot put final on Monday, July 3 starting at 5:25 p.m. and Djimon and Diamante will return to compete in the discus final on Wednesday, July 5 starting at 6:55 p.m.
In addition to the athletes, the full BVI delegation will also include Chef de Mission Gloria Fahie, President Penn, Erwin “Redz” Telemaque (athletics coach), Winnette Lawrence (archery coach), Xavier Buxo (archery technician), Chris Watters (sailing coach) and Chester James (Physiotherapist).
The VI will be one of 37 countries represented at the CAC Games. The games, under the auspices of Centro Caribe Sports, will feature 57 disciplines in 37 sports taking place over 16 days.