From left: BVIAA President Steve Augustine, Anthony S. McMaster, Kyron McMaster and coach Xavier 'Dag' Samuels. Photo: BVIAA

IAAF World Junior Bronze Medalist Kyron McMaster (left) signing the Letter of Intent to attend University of Florida. Photo: BVIAA

IAAF World U20 400m Hurdles Bronze medalist, Kyron McMaster (right) at the medal ceremony on July 23, 2016. Photo: webtvhd.com

Kyron McMaster (centre) during the semi-final of the Men's 400m Hurdles at the IAAF World U20 Championships in Poland. Photo: watchathletics.com

Mr McMaster will pursue a Business Management Degree while furthering his athletic career at the University of Florida beginning August 2017.

At the brief ceremony, BVI Athletics Association (BVIAA) President Steve Augustine, during his remarks, mentioned McMaster’s great accomplishments as an athlete who works really hard on the track by putting in the time and effort, most specifically his bronze medal at the IAAF World Jr Championship earlier this year in Bydgoszcz, Poland. He further commented: “Kyron has the potential to make it on the world stage and we expect to see that happen along with him attaining his degree; two goes hand in hand.”

Mr Anthony S. McMaster, the father of Kyron McMaster expressed: “He was born to run, since he started at 4, he never stopped, he stuck with it.”

The signing is a great opportunity and exciting one for his son and their family and Mr McMaster made mention of coach Mr Xavier 'Dag' Samuels being instrumental in his son’s achievement.

Mr McMaster further encouraged his son to keep focused and said, “While it is your legs that allowed you to reach this stage of your life, you must also allow your brain to do what it needs to do, education will take you through life.”

Florida University ‘can get me to that level’

In Kyron McMaster’s remarks, he expressed how happy and excited he is to be attending the University of Florida. “I feel that Florida can get me to that level where I can become an Olympic Champion and a world record holder.”

He was offered placement from approximately 7 other major universities but felt that the University of Florida is the best option to further develop him in hurdles.

In closing remarks, Coach Xavier 'Dag' Samuels related how very proud he was of his athlete. “It took 24 years to get an athlete to the University of Florida and I hope there will be more BVI athletes in the future,” he said.

Mr Samuels stated that Kyron McMaster always wanted to go the University of Florida despite also visiting Clemson and LSU. Coach Samuels further commented that the staff of the University of Florida while looking at Kyron at the World Jr Championships in Poland, concluded that Kyron can be the next world record holder in the hurdles because of his rhythm and his cadence with the hurdles.

Coach Dag is confident and stated, “We will have a national champion that is a world record holder in the British Virgin Islands within the next 2 to 3 years.”