UVI Track and Field Concludes Season at HBCUAC Championships
SHREVEPORT, Louisiana, April 12, 2025 – The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) Buccaneer men's and women's track and field teams concluded their 2024-2025 season at the Historically Black College and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Track and Field Championships held at the Lee Hedges Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Men's Team
On the first day of the Championships, Buccaneer senior athlete Shirmoy O'Garro and freshman Gabriel Elcock represented the Buccaneers in two events each.
O'Garro competed in the long jump, achieving a distance of 5.50 meters, placing him 14th overall. In the javelin throw, he recorded a toss of 31.91 meters, winning his flight. Despite his strong performance, he narrowly missed advancing to the finals, finishing 10th among 22 competitors.
Elcock participated in the 100 and 200-meter races, posting times of 11.72 and 24.28 seconds, respectively.
Mark Hayes-Ayala made an impressive debut at the track and field championships on the second day, showcasing his talent in three events: the men's 800m, 1500m, and 5000m races. As a freshman, Hayes-Ayala demonstrated his potential by finishing second in his heat in the 800m race with a time of 2:17.79. In the 1500m race, he recorded a time of 4:52.49. However, it was in the men's 5000m race where Hayes-Ayala truly shined, finishing 5th overall with a time of 20:13.29.
Women's Team
Freshman Ruby Brahene represented UVI as the sole Lady Buccaneer at the HBCUAC Track and Field Championships. During the first day of competition, Brahene showcased her skills by throwing the javelin, recording a distance of 16.62 meters.
On the following day, the determined freshman once again took to the field to compete in the women's shot put event. Brahene demonstrated her strength and technique, ultimately securing a 6th-place finish with a toss of 9.48 meters. She narrowly missed out on a top-five placement by a mere 0.05 meters.
Head Coach Dale Joseph expressed his satisfaction with the performance of his student athletes. "Despite the team being filled with inexperienced players, including three freshmen and a first-year senior, their performances impressed me. Each athlete showed improvement in their respective events as the season progressed and gave their best efforts during the conference championships. As we continue to rebuild, the athletes' displays truly demonstrate a bright future for UVI Track and Field."