Last Year's Twilight Meet attracted huge numbers of Fans and packed the A.O. Shirley Ground to the rafters and beyond. Photo: VINO/File

Tahesia Harrigan-Scott will head a whole host of female stars, both internationally and regionally as well as the local athletes, many of whom will be featuring at Carifta 2014. Photo: VINO/File

The Crowds were on the feet for much of the 2013 Meet and are promised an even more exciting night for the 2014 version. Photo: VINO/File

Fans of all ages came in force for 2013 to witness many exciting and action packed races full of big names and future stars. Photo: VINO/File

Kim Collins is perhaps the largest name on the Card for 2014 and is a huge supporter of the Event, acting as a spokesman around the World. Photo: VINO/File

Back in October 2013 the members of the Twilight Association, Steve Augustine, Willis Todman and Rosalind Leonard (not in photo) presented a cheque for $13,000 to the BVIAA , fulfilling its aim to give back to the sport. Photo: VINO/File

Following the huge success of the first Meet, the organizers have been suggesting that this year’s version was going to be even bigger and more action packed and with some big name stars already confirmed, they are well on their way to filling that promise.

Lavern Jones, USVI, 100m, Michelle Aye, from Trinidad and Tobago, 100m, Chris Brown, Bahamas, 400m Indoor Silver medalist, Jeremy Wariner, past world and Olympic champion, Shaunae Miller, Bahamas a 400m Finalist at the recent Indoor Championships Gee Black and Tamari Henry USVI, 400m Olympic and World Championships finalist.

Of course the marquee athletes are also back in the form of Kim Collins and Tahesia Harrigan as well as other Local Athletes such as Karene King, Chantel Malone and Ashley Kelly, who should be performing competitively in front of their “Home” crowd for the first time since the 2013 Twilight Meet.

Part of the aim of the Twilight Meet Association, apart from putting on a World Class Event in the VI, is to put back into the Sport to aid its Development Programmes.

Apart from being able to witness the Young Athletes that have been in those programmes and will be performing at Carifta, this year’s Twilight Meet will be the best occasion to not only see them run, but also to celebrate their achievements at Carifta 2014.

The Organisers have dropped the Leeward’s Youth Championship from the programme, but have come up with an even more exciting programme to showcase the Territory’s youngsters.

As Willis Todman explained, “We are not doing the Leeward’s youths, but while we are at Carifta we will be talking to coaches and the other countries to get the best juniors coming in. It will be more exciting than Carifta, because we will be hand picking the runners and it will be a good warm up for the World Junior Championships being held in Eugene, Oregon.”

Amongst the VI youngsters competing in what would be a 100m showdown could be Nelda Huggins, who the Jamaicans are already describing as a clear and present danger for Carifta 2014, L’Tsha Fahie, Judine Lacey, Zakariah Frett and Kala Penn amongst others.

Twilight’s involvement in helping develop the Sport doesn’t stop just on the Track either as back in October 2013 Steve Augustine handed over a donation to the BVI Amateur Athletic Association (BVIAA) on behalf of the Association, which also includes Rosalind Leonard.

The money, approximately $13,000, represented funds raised through the inaugural Twilight Track Meet staged back on June 1, 2013 year and was proof that although some said it couldn't be done and some said no one would come, the organising team pulled it off and the fans came in their thousands.

Todman, who is also the Treasurer of the BVIAA commented at the time "This was our number one goal; to hold the Twilight Meet and raise funds to help finance a lot of programmes here in the BVI. We have to put money back into the sport to help build the success so not only did we set up the Twilight Meet to entertain, but also raise funds to help the Clubs and the Association to travel, compete and continue being successful."

The buzz about the 2013 edition is still echoing around the world and the build up to 2014 is gathering pace as Todman noted “People are still talking about the Meet and the 2014 event will prove even bigger. When our team went to the World’s in Russia they were talking about the Twilight Meet and a lot of those world class athletes now want to come to the BVI and compete."

Whatever your preference, be it international star, local elite athlete or upcoming youngster with a bright future, the lure of the Twilight Meet should have the A.O. Shirley Ground packed to capacity and a cascade of noise as the athletes come down the home straight and once again the Twilight Track Meet Association lifts the bar on VI sports events.