Virgin Islands archer Winnette Lawrence has completed her first appearance at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, competing in the Women’s Individual Compound (50m) event at the 2026 games in Santo Domingo. Photo: Facebook

Virgin Islands Archer Winnette Lawrence was the flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony on July 24 in Santo Domingo. Photo: Facebook

Lawrence advanced from the Qualification Round, ranked 29th, but was eliminated in the Round of 1/16 after a 117–156 loss to sixth-ranked Mariana Rodriguez.

“Going into the competition, I felt quite faint-hearted in the extreme heat, but I stood and did the best that I could do,” Lawrence said. “I got through to the Elimination Round but scored low points as I realised that I was never on the target until I corrected it.”

2nd VI archer  to compete @ CAC games

Lawrence thanked the British Virgin Islands Olympic Committee (BVIOC) and the VI Archery Association for the opportunity to compete and for the honour of carrying the territory’s flag at the Opening Ceremony on July 24. She described the role as “an auspicious occasion that will go with me for the rest of my life.”

Lawrence is only the second archer from the VI to compete at the CAC games. Ritseeniyah Georges-Buxo became the first when she competed in the 2023 CAC Games in El Salvador.

The CAC Games are considered the starting point of international competition for athletes from the region who are seeking to represent their countries at the Olympic level. The CAC Games are designed to provide a step between sub-CAC region Games and the Pan American Games, which are held before the Summer Olympics. The next Pan American Games are slated to take place in Lima, Peru, July 23 – August 8, 2027.