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UPDATE: ‘Winning gold is a big deal’- Chantel E. Malone

- Malone leaps to VI’s 1st Pan Am Games medal in 36 years
Long Jumper Chantel Ellen Malone, centre, buried the field on her first attempt, to win the Virgin Islands (VI) first Pan Am Games medal in its 36-year history, on the opening day of track and field in Estadio Nacional, in Lima, Peru on August 6, 2019. Photo: Todd VanSickle
Chantel E. Malone in full flight at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru on August 6, 2019. Photo: Todd VanSickle
Chantel E. Malone in full flight at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru on August 6, 2019. Photo: Todd VanSickle
Long Jumper Chantel E. Malone has won gold at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. Photo: Facebook
Long Jumper Chantel E. Malone has won gold at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. Photo: Facebook
Chantel E. Malone leapt 6.68m ( 21’-11” ) facing a -0.3 m/s to win gold at the Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru. Photo: Facebook
Chantel E. Malone leapt 6.68m ( 21’-11” ) facing a -0.3 m/s to win gold at the Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru. Photo: Facebook
By Dean H. Greenaway

LIMA, Peru, SA—Four years after a medal slipped from her grasp in the final round of competition in Toronto, Canada, Long Jumper Chantel Ellen Malone buried the field on her first attempt, to win the Virgin Islands (VI) first Pan Am Games medal in its 36-year history, on the opening day of track and field in Estadio Nacional, in Lima, Peru on August 6, 2019.

Malone, No 14 on the 2019 IAAF list and the No 3 listed jumper in the Americas, sailed through the chilled air, then cut the sand at 6.68m (21’11”), a mark none of her 13 pursuers would surpass.

The USA’s Keturah Orji would come closest at 6.66m for silver while Jamaica’s Tissanna Hickling earned bronze with 6.59m.

‘Amazing’

“This is amazing,” Malone said. “We know how the season started with a great bang and then I hand an injury, been up and down, with performances and trying to figure things out. And, to come here and come out with the gold, that means everything to me.”

She said after her opening jump, in her mind she wanted to go further but as it got colder and colder—with temperatures dipping to 59 degrees—it became harder.

Malone explained that her thought process heading into the competition was not to focus on what happened in the past or anyone else.

“Coach and I were talking and he said ‘you need to be a Dog from the get go and let people chase you and you don’t chase them,’” she pointed out. “Normally, I would do good as I progress, but honestly, I just went out there, trusted the process and tried to execute and that’s the result that came.”

Malone said she’s happy with her performance which she hopes will inspire other young athletes.

‘Winning Gold is a big deal’

“Winning gold is a big deal,” she said. “It lets the world know that the BVI is there. We’re small, but we have a lot of talent and I’m just happy to be an ambassador for my country.”

After jumping a world leading 6.90m at the time then getting a hamstring injury, her coach, Olympic and World Championships gold medalist Dwight Phillips, said he was grateful Malone was able to come out victorious. He said they had been working on hitting the World Championships standard of 6.75m on the first jump an improvement she has been making.

“The conditions were quite cold, not the best conditions, but she has been able to come out victorious,” said Phillip, an Olympic champion Long Jumper and four times IAAF World champion.

“I have my first medalist in the Pan Am Games and I’m grateful for that,” he said. “It’s more rewarding coaching someone to a gold than actually winning the gold medal myself.”

BVI Olympic Committee President Ephraim E. Penn, said he knew that VI has the caliber of athletes to win a Pan Am title, but didn’t know who’d do it first.

“Chantel came through in flying colors,” he said. “Looks like every time we win our first medal, it has to be a gold,” he said referring to the Central American and Commonwealth Games. “I know everyone at home is proud of this moment—this is a special moment for the BVI. We’re making major breakthroughs after our first Commonwealth and Pan Am Games medals and next year, maybe the first Olympic medal.”

Laser Sailing

Meanwhile, Thad A. Lettsome got in two more Laser races in Paracas yesterday, August 6, 2019 and continues today. He’s currently 19th overall in the fleet.

NOTE: Radio reports on CBN 90.9 FM, with Dean H. Greenaway aka ‘The Sportsman’, are aired  9.00 am, 2.00 pm and 9.00 pm, through Sunday, with a 9 am wrap up on Monday.

See previous story published August 6, 2019

Chantel E. Malone strikes gold @ 2019 Pan Am Games

Long Jumper Chantel E. Malone has struck the Virgin Islands first ever Pan Am Games gold medal at the 2019 Games in Lima, Peru.

Malone leapt 6.68m ( 21’-11” ) facing a -0.3 m/s to win the event.

According to the BVI Athletics Association, Malone becomes the VI's first medal winner, in any event, at the PanAm Games since its Track and Field debut at the 1983 Games which was held in Venezuela.

Also medalling were athletes from the United States of America and Jamaica, respectively.

More details to follow.

9 Responses to “UPDATE: ‘Winning gold is a big deal’- Chantel E. Malone”

  • Be VI! (06/08/2019, 21:09) Like (35) Dislike (0) Reply
    So very proud of this young lady! WE HERE!!
  • facts (07/08/2019, 00:22) Like (3) Dislike (30) Reply
    Only when the vip is in office our people shine
    • Truth Sayer (07/08/2019, 08:35) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Fqacts. Please stop being so petty. , ,This country has person shine under every Government. Remember Kyron McMaster? He shined under NDP.
    • Quiet Storm (07/08/2019, 09:44) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Facts, “Only when VIP is in office our people shine.” What kind of fact is this, alternative facts? This is pure nonsense. Did Chantel just blossomed since 2/25/19? No. Talk sense. There are some serious factual national issues that needs to be addressed but the fa..t you yapping I saw not of them. The Facts Police needs to take away IPad, smart phone, tablet, desktop or laptop.......etc before you hurt yourself and others. Are you one of those good to great graduates. I beks for you wake me from my hibernation.
    • @facts (07/08/2019, 12:12) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      Stop being pitty and do t take away from Chantel major accomplishment for herself and our country. Further more her fave won CAC gold under the NDP so now that government change I hope the bar is risen and give her all the pump and circumstances that is so well deserving. Congrats Chantel we are all super proud of you.
  • Strength to Strength (07/08/2019, 08:47) Like (19) Dislike (1) Reply
    Well done Ms. Malone!!!
  • Only the BVI (07/08/2019, 09:09) Like (21) Dislike (5) Reply
    The BVI is the only place that always wait until their own hit gold by themselves before they embrace them. If we use to fully endorse our athletes they will be stronger and better. Let’s be real BVI. Support your team like how the rest of the world support theirs
    • Strupps! (08/08/2019, 13:47) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      You must have had to dug deep to come up with something negative on this story. STRUPPS!!!!
  • BVI2theW (07/08/2019, 11:52) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    Wonderful news, BVI to the world


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