Tahesia Harrigan-Scott (left), who has begun the 2013 season in fine form, will face off against the USVI's Laverne Jones-Ferette (right) in the 100m at the BVI Twilight Meet. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO. Jones-Ferette, who is the USVI's 100m record holder, last raced against Harrigan-Scott in Daegu, but it will be the first time the two will meet on home soil. Photo: Supplied

Kim Collins will be running in the Virgin Islands for the first time in 19 years at the Twilight Meet, which will feature many other professional Athletes. Photo: Supplied

Laverne Jones-Ferrette of the USVI and the VI's Tahesia Harrigan-Scott, who have run 11.07 and 11.13 respectively, will face the starter at the A.O. Shirley Recreation Grounds in what’s expected to be one of the meet’s highlights.

Jones-Ferrette, who received her early education at St. Croix Educational Complex before attending Barton County Community College and graduating from Oklahoma University, has never raced in the Virgin Islands as a collegian or a professional. Harrigan-Scott, who’s been competing as a professional athlete since 2006, last ran on home soil in the last edition of the BVI Invitational in 2010.

Their historic 100m showdown-dubbed 'Battle of the Virgin Islands top female sprinters,’ will see both sprinters matching up for the first time since the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships 60m final in Doha.

“We are delighted to present The BVI Twilight Invitational, a high level competition featuring an excellent mix of professional athletes from throughout the region,” BVI Twilight Association Chairman Steve Augustine stated. “The interest in this meet has been phenomenal and it shows that we have made the right decision in bringing high level athletes to our shores and becoming the newest host of professional competition in the Caribbean.” 

Keen competition is also expected in the men’s race. St. Kitts and Nevis' 2003 IAAF World Champion Kim Collins will be returning to compete in the British Virgin Islands for the first time in 19 years. Collins will run alongside fellow Kittitian Antoine Adams who was part of their 4x100m relay bronze medal team at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, South Korea. Trinidad and Tobago’s Aaron Armstrong will also be in the mix.

With the level of competitors, every All Comers Track record is expected to fall, including that of reigning 400m Olympic champion Kirani James, when he ran 46.85 as a 16 year old in 2008.

“It will be an exciting day for track and field in the BVI and the committee is working relentlessly to put the finishing touches in place,” Augustine said. “The mission of this meet is to raise the profile of athletics in the British Virgin Islands by hosting a world-class invitational track and field meet that allows our best home-based, collegiate and professional athletes to compete against their regional peers with the advantage of having a home crowd.”

Athletes from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, Jamaica, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, USA, Trinidad and Tobago and host country British Virgin Islands, have confirmed their participation.