St. Croix Track Club Brings Home 13 Medals, Including 5 Gold, in Historic Showing at AAJI Championships

In a powerful display of talent, discipline, and athleticism, 13 athletes from the St. Croix Track Club competed in the Association of Youth/Junior Athletics (AAJI) Championships Finals Track & Field event held on May 10 in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Ranging in age from 14 to 22, this marks the largest number of qualifiers from the St. Croix Track Club in the history of the championships, according to the V.I. Track and Field Association.

Facing stiff regional competition, the team not only delivered personal bests but returned to the Virgin Islands with 13 medals—5 gold, 4 silver, and 4 bronze—a remarkable achievement that reflects their growing presence in the Caribbean track and field community.

Among the standout performances was Safiya Prasad, who dominated the 400m hurdles, taking gold in her age group (14/15) with a time of 68.61 seconds. Barely 45 minutes later, she returned to the track and claimed another gold in the 800m with a time of 2:26.83, underscoring her stamina and determination.

Juvante’ Hurst also delivered an electrifying performance in the 200m, surging from fourth place to first in the final 90 meters to win gold with a time of 23.35 seconds. While faster than the existing record of 24.57, the time will not be officially recognized due to an illegal windspeed of +2.8 m/s. He also secured silver in the 400m, clocking in at 53.66 seconds, demonstrating his sprinting versatility.

In the high jump, Isaiah Benjamin thrilled spectators with a gold-medal finish, clearing 1.80 meters and outlasting tough competition in the 16/17 age group. Meanwhile, Faith Eatmon continued the medal streak, winning gold in the 400m (60.29 seconds) and silver in the 200m (26.73 seconds) in the 14/15 category.