The 2026 Adrian Durant Virgin Islands National Championships, held on June 20 at the St. Croix Educational Complex Track, delivered a showcase of elite talent, rising youth stars, and two spectacular National Records that electrified the home crowd.
With standout performances across sprints, hurdles, middle‑distance, field events, and relays, the meet reaffirmed the depth and promise of Virgin Islands track and field.
The VI National Team stormed to a new National Record in the Mixed 4X400m Relay of 3:30.84, rewriting the Virgin Islands all‑time list.
This historic relay featured four of the territory’s most accomplished athletes: Malique Smith, Saraiah Walkes, Omar Simpson, Michelle Smith. St. Croix Track Club finished in second place with Jah’Quan Creque, Juvantia Hurst, Juvante Hurst and Faith Eatmon. In third place finished Champion Track Club with Kemori Francis, Janelle Hodge, Reuben Boniface, and J’Niah Jackson.
The St. Croix Track Club squad also delivered a record‑breaking performance, clocking 47.89 to set a new National Record in the mixed 4×100m relay.
The quartet: Faith Eatmon, Charlise Morris, Juvante Hurst, Jah’Quan Creque
All under age 17, also established a new Virgin Islands Youth Record, marking one of the most promising relay units in the territory’s history. The A Squad for Champion Track Club finished in second with Joeltica Rogers, Marcia Isha Bastien, Joshua George and Kennedy Coggins. In third place finished Champion Track Club’s B team with Amelia Santana, Oluwasheyi Celaire, Ajoni Stapleton and Rooney Boniface.
Fresh off her NCAA success, Michelle Smith cruised to victory in the 400m hurdles, winning in 57.42 for St. Croix Track Club. Her performance was the fastest of the day and set the tone for the meet.
In the men’s edition 400m Hurdles, Malique Smith captured the title in 54.45, completing a hurdles sweep for the Smith siblings and contributing to the mixed 4×400m national record later in the meet .
Another NCAA standout, Saraiah Walkes, dominated the women’s 400m with a commanding 54.00 victory, following this up with running the second leg in the record‑setting mixed 4×400m team, and the first leg in the winning 4X100m female relay team.
Speedster Omar Simpson powered to a 21.28 win in the men’s 200m, the fastest sprint performance of the day and a key leg in the national‑record mixed 4×400m relay.
Champion Track Club’s Joeltica Rogers delivered one of the meet’s strongest all‑around sprint showings, winning both the:
- 100m in 12.38
- 200m in 24.86
Joeltica also helped her Champion Track Club with securing a 2nd place in both the mixed 4X400m relay, the mixed 4X100m relay and the female 4X100m relay.
Rising star Sofia Swindell won the women’s 100m hurdles in 14.56 despite a strong headwind of –2.9 m/s, showcasing impressive technical skill and speed.
In the men’s 400m, Juvante Hurst produced a breakthrough performance, claiming the national title in a personal‑best 50.92.
The 1500m and 800m events highlighted the territory’s endurance talent:
- Mikey Dizon‑Bumann won both the 1500m (4:10.87) and 800m (2:02.34) for Jolly Rogers Running Club.
- Mikaela Smith dominated the women’s 800m in 2:16.26, continuing her strong season and adding to the Smith family’s medal haul.
- Bridget Klein finished first in the 1500m with a 5:39.44
Field Event Standouts
- Charlise Morris – St. Croix Track Club, won the women’s high jump at 1.40m and contributed to the youth national record 4×100m team.
- Rajon Charles – St. Croix Track Club, in his very first high jump competition cleared 1.85m to win the men’s high jump.
- Kahlan Beaupierre – St. Croix Track Club, threw 38.36m to win the men’s javelin.
- Shacoy Emanuel – Champion Track Club, won the Shot Put with a personal best of 9.54 meters.
- Anna Simon – Jolly Rogers Running Club, claimed victories in both the women’s javelin (8.62m) and shot put (5.54m).
The 2026 Adrian Durant Virgin Islands National Championships showcased the perfect blend of elite collegiate athletes returning home, established national team members, and a new generation of youth talent breaking records on the national stage.
With two National Records, including a youth national record, and dominant performances across all disciplines, the meet underscored the Virgin Islands’ growing presence in regional and international track and field.
Although the championship proudly bears his name, Adrian Durant was unable to attend the 2026 edition of the Adrian Durant Virgin Islands National Championships in person. As the Head Coach of Cornell University, Durant was in the United Kingdom leading Cornell and the University of Pennsylvania in the historic Transatlantic Series, a long‑standing track and field competition against the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.
