The 2026 Virgin Islands (VI) Carifta 53 Team left for Grenada on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, ahead of the games. Photo: BVIAA

Some of the Virgin Islands Carifta 53 Team. Photo: BVIAA

The team, comprising 27 athletes, will take part in the games scheduled for April 4 to 6, 2026, at the Kirani James Stadium in St George’s, Grenada, joining other youth athletes from across the Caribbean as they showcase their athletic talents during the games being held under the theme ‘Passion Drives Performance’. 

Athlete's Workshop 2026

Before they left, the athletes participated in an Athlete’s Workshop to help them prepare with non-physical, emotionally balanced, motivational memos to help bring their physical training full circle.

Presenting at the workshop were former D1 Sprinter Dr Albert Thompkins, Mr Rhennie Phipps, Mr Dean ‘The Sportsman’ Greenaway, Dr Harlan Vanterpool, and Mrs Stephanie Russ-Penn. 

They presented on various topics from emotion and mental well-being of the team, to safeguarding policies and procedures, motivational pitches, anti-doping training, and Carifta Games policies and procedures. 

Team VI

The 27 athletes who will represent the Virgin Islands according to category are as follows: 

U-17 Girls: M’Kenzii Crabbe (100/200/4x1), Macayla Logan (100/4x1), Kaeja Creque (400/4x1), Sam’ Asia Leonard (200/4x1), T’Keiya Smith (High Jump), Shanai Morgan (4x1)

U-17 Boys: Ty-Rique Charles (100/200), Bryson Walters (High Jump), Caedon Fraites (400), Audony Gangoo (200/4x1), Ethan James (100/4x100), Shamahni Scatliffe (4x1)

U-20 Girls: Taryn Augustine (100/200/4x1), Shannia Johnson (200/4x1), Deneil Clarke (400/4x1), Jah’Kyla Morton (High Jump), Cristal Daly (Long Jump/4x1), Shyra Stoutt (Long Jump/4x1), Jameila Chambers (100/4x1)

U-20 Boys: J’Den Jackson (100/200/4x1), Mario Carter (200/400/4x1), Othniel Gillings (High Jump/ 4x1), Tiondre Frett (4x1), Paul Hewlett (Dec), Jaheem Lennard-Joseph (100/4X1), Latriel Williams (4X1), Shaumal Donovan (4X1)

The delegation also includes Team Officials Tarika Moses (Team Manager), Annabelle Skelton-Malone (Head Coach), Erwin S. Telemaque (Coach), Winston Potter (Coach), and Rhennie O. Phipps (Safeguarding Officer). 

VI resident and local Official Rosalind Leonard-Fahie has been selected by the NACAC to referee the games, while Dezarre Woodley will officiate the pole vault event in Grenada

Members of the BVIAA Board, Hon Sharie B. de Castro (AL), Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports; and Director of Youth Affairs and Sports, Debra D. Hodge, round off the VI’s delegation.