Track Sensations Smith and Swindell Lead Virgin Islands to Glory

Virgin Islands sports ambassador Michelle Smith has set a new national record for the 400m hurdles at the 18th Carolina Spring Break Classic in Carolina, Puerto Rico, on March 17.

The high school senior from Montverde Academy triumphed with a time of 56.06 seconds, also establishing a meet record and securing her position as the fifth all-time high school athlete in the United States for this event. This remarkable achievement ranks her as the top athlete in the U20 category worldwide. Smith is slated to represent the Virgin Islands in both the 400m hurdles and the 800m at the CARIFTA Games, to be held in Grenada from March 30 to April 1, 2024.

Sofia Swindell, a junior at Lawrenceville School and a member of the Virgin Islands Track and Field Team, showcased her talent at the Spring Invitational at IMG 2024 in Bradenton, FL, on March 16. Swindell clinched first place in the 200m race with a personal best of 23.85 seconds and topped the 100m hurdles with a time of 14.26 seconds. She also secured third place in the triple jump with a leap of 11.12m. Swindell has earned her place to represent the Virgin Islands in these three events at the upcoming CARIFTA Games.