Buccaneers test young roster against deep field at Embry-Riddle Running Elements Classic

Daytona Beach, Florida, April 4, 2026 – The University of the Virgin Islands men's track and field team sent five of its six rostered athletes into a 23-team field on April 3 & 4  at the Embry-Riddle Running Elements Classic in Daytona Beach, Florida, using the meet as another step in its outdoor buildup against a group that included several NCAA Division I programs. The Buccaneers did not contend for a team win in the meet, but the day produced a series of notable individual efforts, including multiple collegiate debuts and improved sprint times.

Day 1
Senior Ahsan Ambo competed in three events on the day and supplied the team's top all-around showing. After making his collegiate debut last weekend at the Nova Southeastern Shark Invitational, Ambo returned to the 100 and 200 meters and lowered both of his times. He ran the 100 in 11.35 seconds, an improvement from 11.67, then posted a 23.33 in the 200 after clocking 23.78 in his previous outing. He also made his first appearance in the javelin, giving the Buccaneers a dual-athlete presence across both track and field events.

The javelin throw event also marked the collegiate debuts of freshmen Zahir Mbengue and Lance Latare. In a large field, the Buccaneers placed three throwers in the event, with Ambo finishing 28th at 30.59 meters, Mbengue 29th at 28.07 meters, and Latare 30th at 18.60 meters. For a roster still gaining experience, having three relatively inexperienced athletes compete identified this event as one of the program's focal points for future development.

Sophomore Gabriel Elcock added steady sprint results for the Buccaneers. Elcock matched his previous 100-meter time with another 11.56 and trimmed his 200 mark to 23.79, showing incremental progress as the outdoor season continues. His repeatability in the 100 and slight drop in the 200 gave UVI another encouraging result in a meet that tested the roster against deeper competition.

Day 2
Senior sprinter V'andre Rochester was the sole representative of the team on Day 2, concluding the Running Elements Classic for the Buccaneers. Rochester secured third place in his heat, clocking a time of 54.54 in the 400m race, improving his season best from the previous 55.10.

For UVI, the most important takeaways came in development, with newcomers logging first collegiate performances and returning sprinters sharpening times ahead of the championship portion of the season.

Next up for the Buccaneers is the 2026 Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Shreveport, Louisiana, where the gains from the Buccaneers' two previous stops will serve as a tune-up for the team's final test.