Virgin Islands sprinter Beyonce A. Defreitas delivered a historic performance at the Central American and Caribbean Games, winning the territory’s first-ever medal in the women’s 200 metres. Photo: Facebook

Beyonce DeFreitas will run in the Women’s 200m finals at the 25th Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic later this afternoon, August 6, 2026. Photo: BVIAA

The 2026 CAC Games is taking place in Santo Domingo, Dominica Republic from July 24 to August 8, 2026. Photo: Internet Source

Defreitas captured the silver medal after completing a calculated race in 23.36 seconds, securing her place among the VI’s most successful athletes on the CAC Games stage.

Her achievement marks the first time that a Virgin Islands athlete has won a 200-metre medal at the Games. The accomplishment also makes Defreitas the 10th medalist in Team VI’s history at the regional competition. 

With composure and determination, Defreitas executed her race strategy from the start, maintaining her position among the leading competitors before crossing the finish line in second place.

The historic silver medal adds another significant chapter to the VI’s athletics legacy and highlights Defreitas’ emergence as one of the territory’s leading sprint talents.

See previous article published August 6, 2026

Beyonce A. Defreitas will run in the Women’s 200m finals at the 25th Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, later this afternoon, August 6, 2026.

Defreitas ran a Season's Best of 22.82 seconds in the semifinal, a time that secured her second place and an automatic spot in today’s finals. 

Speaking to media personnel following her run, the 2026 Commonwealth Games semi-finalist in the 200m, said she wanted to ensure she finished in the top 2 in the semis, adding, “I did that.”

“I put together a pretty good race, so it’s just to really push it in the finals now…it was one of my goals to make it to the finals, finish the season strong, I’m glad that I made it, now it’s time to look for a medal.”

Back to 22 seconds following injury

Defreitas has been pushing to clock 22 seconds in the 200m following an injury early in the season that she said set her back a bit. “It’s been a long season trying to get back to that 22, so to know that I’m here again [it] feels great.”

To medal at her second CAC Games, she said it would take everything she has and promised to do just that this evening. 

This race, she added, will “probably be the last one” for her this season if nothing else comes up. 

Defreitas was also a finalist at the 2023 CAC Games in El Salvador.