Rikkoi Brathwaite established a new British Virgin Islands (BVI) National Record in the men’s 100-meter event at the 2024 Holloway Pro Classic on Friday.
Competing against a strong field of 16 seasoned athletes, Brathwaite’s performance in the semi-finals marked a significant milestone in his sprinting career.
After a brief delay due to a false start, the athletes settled in for a second attempt. Running out of lane 4 in heat 2, Brathwaite was quick out of the blocks, leading the race up until the final 10 meters. It was at this crucial juncture that Emmanuel Matadi of Liberia surged ahead to clinch the victory, finishing with a time of 9.98 seconds. Brathwaite followed closely, clocking a remarkable 10.00 seconds, which set a new BVI National Record.
Despite the narrow defeat in his heat, Brathwaite’s time secured him second place in the heat and third overall in the semi-finals, demonstrating his competitive edge and consistency against a world-class lineup.
In the finals, Brathwaite faced a tougher challenge. He completed the race in 10.20 seconds, placing seventh. Post-race, Brathwaite mentioned experiencing discomfort in his calf muscle, which he attributed to a prolonged warmup session.
Brathwaite’s previous national record of 10.03 seconds, set on April 21, 2024, in Clermont, Florida, stood until his exceptional performance at Gainesville. His continuous improvement and record-breaking run reflect his dedication and form as he prepares for the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
He is among four athletes selected to represent the BVI in Paris, alongside Adaejah Hodge (200-meters) Kyron McMaster (400-meter hurdles) and Thad Lettsome (laser sailing).