A motorcade is being held as part of the recognition ceremony for the Virgin Islands first ever Pan American Games medalist, Chantel E. Malone.
The motorcade is proceeding from Queen Elizabeth II Park to Central Administration Complex where the official ceremony will commence at 4:30pm, today, October 11, 2019.
The recognition ceremony is a collaboration between the Government of
the Virgin Islands and the BVI Olympic Committee (BVIOC). Among the elected officials part of the motorcade are Sports Minister Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), Minister for Transportation, Works and Utilities, Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5) and Deputy Speaker, Hon Neville A. Smith (AL).
Giving their support to Malone in the motorcade are top athletes such as Kyron A. McMaster, Eldred Henry and Ashley N. Kelly. Retired sprinter Tahesia G. Harrigan-Scott is also participating.
Malone, the highest ranked Caribbean Long Jumper, leapt 6.68m (21’11”), a mark none of her 13 pursuers would surpass in the final of the Women’s Long Jump at the Estadio Nacional in Lima, Peru on August 6, 2019.
The USA’s Keturah Orji would come closest at 6.66m for silver while Jamaica’s Tissanna Hickling earned bronze with 6.59m.
According to the BVI Athletics Association (BVIAA), Malone became the VI's first medal winner, in any event, at the PanAm Games since its Track and Field debut at the 1983 Games which was held in Venezuela.
Earlier this year, Malone recorded a World Leading jump of 6.90m at the 3rd Annual Torrin Lawrence Memorial in Athens, Georgia.
The mark was also a Personal Best and new VI and OECS record.
Malone last competed at the recent IAAF World Championship Games in Doha, Qatar and has set her sights on improved performance at the Tokyo Olympics next year.