The Fab Five, Ashley Kelly, Karene King, Chantel Malone, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott and Dominique Wattley, will be hoping to dazzle the crowd during tonights Twilight Meet on the A.O. Shirley Ground. Photo credit: Charlie E. Jackson/VINIO

Ashley Kelly took over interviewing duties after her final practices were over with great aplomb. Photo credit: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Much of the Girls last practice session was taken up with Baton exchanges ahead of what promises to be an electrifying 4 x 100m Relay race. Photo credit: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Kelly and Chantel Malone make it look so easy, but all the athletes mentioned a mixture of pressure and relaxation being home whilst not wanting to let down the "home" fans". Photo credit: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Dominique Maloney (in blue) said that Family support was a very important factor in helping athletes achieve their goals. Photo credit: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Led by Tahesia Harrigan-Scott, the girls who have been showcasing their blossoming talents overseas will finally be performing in front of their home crowd in the Twilight Meet, the first of its kind to be hosted in the BVI, which also features professional athletes from around the globe and doubles as the Leeward’s Youth Invitational.

In alphabetical order to avoid being fixed with the steely stare of determination to succeed which is a hallmark of a focused athlete, the quartet who will be joining Harrigan-Scott in stirring the emotions and passion of the home crowd are Ashley Kelly, Chantel Malone, Dominique Maloney and Karene King.

Each has made the trek home to perform in front of family, friends and fans for the first time since at least 2010 and each has admitted to a mixture of emotions as they were interviewed exclusively for Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) by their team mate Ashley Kelly.

Kelly took over the microphone and plans to pursue a career in sports broadcasting whilst of course continuing her career as a pro athlete.

When Kelly asked what they felt about the Meet, they responded positively that it was a fantastic idea and opportunity for the future development of the Sport in the Territory with Harrigan-Scott particularly adamant “This will be great for our youths” she stated “there is so much young talent in the Territory just now and this will give them something to look forward to and inspire them to want to compete in it in the future.”

The success of the Meet is very important, said King, who has been described by her coach as one of the best persons he has ever coached and also one of the hardest; “Your first appearance is your best appearance” she said “if it goes off well it will open the door for better things to happen and it can lead the way to more of the same sort of Meets”

“We just can’t expect our athletes to go off and become something” said Malone “it’s better to have this kind of environment and atmosphere from young so when they do go abroad they have some experience and then have a better of idea of what they can achieve”

The girls though, did admit to a certain amount of pressure on performing on home soil “it’s a bitter sweet pill really” said King “it's both pressure and relaxing, you don’t want to let down your home fans” she said, “ but at least if we don’t perform at our best, we know the home fans have our backs, so it's relaxing!” she added.

Malone, who only recently graduated from College in Texas and took up Professional Athletics, found the transition from being part of a team to being by herself a challenge at first. “It was difficult at the beginning, but it became better for me as an individual to train alone, although when it comes to the hard work a training partner is nice.”

Surprisingly though, she feels performing at home, “is kind of pressurizing, with the weight of expectation, but being home adds a calming influence.”

All of the girls are used to the lonely road towards success, but they all agreed that whilst they were happy in the current set up, the support of family was very important. Malone described it as the best support there is. “I think family support is the best support. Fans as a whole have different opinions. One day they are for you, but the next they might be against you, but family is always there.”

“It’s very important” said King “fans sometimes have a lack of knowledge of what’s really going on. They don’t know what we go through, but Family has a better understanding”

Dominique Wattley added that having Family support is also a motivation.

Whilst the Twilight Invitational Meet/ Leeward’s Youth Invitational will be hoping for a lot more than just family support, co-organiser, Willis Toddman, was also busy at the track working with the girls on some 4 x 100m relay drills which he described as one of the potential highlights of the Meet “the prize money got some top quality athletes here so that’s a highlight for them. They are happy now they have all seen the Mondo Track and know how fast it can be” he said, “the relay races will be part of a great show, the Canadian Team is here to try and qualify for the Worlds and of course our team beat St Kitts back in 2010.”

Tickets are still available and on sale right through the day and during the Meet itself. They are only $10. “People are encouraged to come out on time, but if you are a little late tickets will still be available,” confirmed Toddman.

The fans are also encouraged to bring flags, horns, klaxons and according to Toddman, even the kitchen sink! Anything that makes a noise! “One thing we don’t want is to be outplayed by the Jamaicans and the Bajans. This is our home and we need to make the most noise”

One thing for sure is that come rain or shine, tonight the A.O. Shirley Mondo track will be on fire and if the stellar array of athletic stars isn’t enough attraction then watch out for Tahesia Harrigan-Scott who mentioned in her interview with Kelly that if she wins the 100 the crowd can expect a rendition of the Haarlem Shake!