Virgin Islands athletes are competing at the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) Junior Olympics. There will be just over 10,000 athletes competing this year in various sports and events at the AAU Junior Olympics from July 31 through Aug. 7 in Humble, Texas.
The AAU started in 1888 and could see over 50 college coaches recruiting for their institution of higher learning. Throughout the summer, track and field athletes competed in their respective regions to claim one of the top six spots to qualify for the games in Humble.
This year is historic for the Virgin Islands as three track and field clubs combined to field a team to attend the AAU Junior Olympics for the very first time. The Virgin Islands Track & Field Federation (VITFF) brought together the Cheetah Track Club, St. Croix Track Club and Jolly Rogers Track Club to compete as a unified club: Team Virgin Islands. This unified club was sponsored largely by the Virgin Islands Olympic Committee (VIOC). Other sponsors include the parents and a few businesses.
Team Virgin Islands is made up of athletes from St. Thomas and St. Croix.
They include Akyra Joseph (Heptathlon, 400m), Ariana Edgar (Shot Put, Discus), Cecil Hector III (100m, 200m), Jordan Vaughn (Shot Put, Discus, Javelin), Joshua Tewinkle (200m Hurdles, Long Jump), Makari Matthew (100m, 200m, 400m), Michael Dizon-Bumann (800m, 1500m, 3000m), Michelle Smith (400m Hurdles, 800m), Rahyim George (100m, 200m), Raynier Charlery (100m, 200m), V’andre Rochester (200m) and V’manie Rochester (Shot Put).
The coaches/chaperones include Mikaela Smith, Michelle Dizon, Verne L. Rochester and Malique A. Smith.
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Schedule of Team Virgin Islands Athletes:
Saturday, July 31, 2021
11 a.m.
Pentathlon (Finals) — Akyra Joseph — 14G
Monday, August 2, 2021
8 a.m.
Long Jump (Pit 2) — Joshua Tewinkle — 14B
Shot Put (Rings 3 & 4) — V’Manie Rochester — 14B
10 a.m.
400m Hurdles (Semi-Final) — Michelle Smith — 15-16G
200m Hurdles (Semi-Final) — Joshua Tewinkle — 14B
12:30 p.m.
800m (Semi-Final) — Michelle Smith; Michael Dizon-Bumann — 15-16G; 17-18B
3:15 p.m.
200m (Quarter Final) — Rahyim George; Raynier Charlery; V’Andre Rochester; Cecil Hector III; Makari Matthew — 15-16B; 17-18B
Tuesday, August 3, 2021
8 a.m.
Discus — Ariana Edgar — 17-18G
1500m (Timed Final) — Michael Dizon-Bumann — 17-18B
11 a.m.
400m Hurdles (Final) — Michelle Smith — 15-16G
200m Hurdles (Final) — Joshua Tewinkle — 14B
11:30 a.m.
100m (Q Final) — Rahyim George; Raynier Charlery; Cecil Hector III; Makari Matthew — 15-16B; 17-18B
Wednesday, August 4, 2021
8 a.m.
Shot Put (Rings 1 & 2) — Jordan Vaughn — 17-18B
12 p.m.
Shot Put (Rings 1 & 2) — Ariana Edgar — 17-18G
1:15 p.m.
800m (Final) — Michelle Smith; Michael Dizon-Bumann — 15-16G; 17-18B
1:45 p.m.
200m (Semi-Final) — Rahyim George; Raynier Charlery; V’Andre Rochester; Cecil Hector III; Makari Matthew — 15-16B; 17-18B
Thursday, August 5, 2021
8 a.m.
Discus — Jordan Vaughn — 17-18B
12:30 p.m.
100m (Semi-Final) — Rahyim George; Raynier Charlery; Cecil Hector III; Makari Matthew — 15-16B; 17-18B
Friday, August 6, 2021
8 a.m.
Javelin — Jordan Vaughn — 17-18B
10:45 a.m.
200m (Final) — Rahyim George; Raynier Charlery; V’Andre Rochester; Cecil Hector III; Makari Matthew — 15-16B; 17-18B
3:15 p.m.
400m (Semi-Final) — Akyra Joseph; Makari Matthew — 14G
17-18B
Saturday, August 7, 2021
8 a.m.
3000m (Timed Final) — Michael Dizon-Bumann — 17-18B
1:15 p.m.
400m (Final.) — Akyra Joseph; Makari Matthew — 14G 17-18B
2:15 p.m.
100m (Final) — Rahyim George; Raynier Charlery; Cecil Hector III; Makari Matthew — 15-16B; 17-18B