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HomeNewsLocal sportsVI Athletes Competing at AAU Junior Olympics in Texas, July 31-Aug. 7

VI Athletes Competing at AAU Junior Olympics in Texas, July 31-Aug. 7

Virgin Islanders attending the Junior Olympics: (L-R) Rahyim George, V’Manie Rochester, Raynier Charlery, Cecil Hector, V’Andre Rochester and Verne Rochester

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.

Virgin Islanders at Junior Olympics: (L-R) Mikaela Smith, Ariana Edgar, Akyra Joseph, Jordan Vaughn, Michelle Smith, Makari Matthew, Joshua TeWinkle, Michael Dizon-Bumann and Malique Smith

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

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