In an interview with Sportscaster, Curtis Morton, on Tuesday 13th March, star athlete from St. Kitts and Nevis, Virgil Hodge, made the sad pronouncement that she plans to retire from competitive athletics, in October of this year.
The outstanding athlete spoke of her introduction to athletics, which commenced with her natural tendency to run from home to the shop and back, despite the many warnings from her mom, about the possible dangers with traffic etc.
She later excelled during her primary school years and won a scholarship to the USA, where she completed her High school education.
While in High school in the USA, she excelled on the track, to the extent that she even beat American top athlete Allyson Felix, in an elite event. On leaving High School, NIKE wanted to sign her on but she opted to go on to university instead, where she continued to excel on the track.
She eventually went on to represent St. Kitts and Nevis at the Olympics and one of her major achievements was her placement of 9th in the semifinals of the 200 meters.
She is currently the national female champion in the 100 and 200 meters.
Her times are:
100 meters: 11.21
200 meters: 22.6
Having ruptured her calf, coming out of the blocks, in an event in 2016, she was unable to represent the federation in the Olympics that year and used 2017 as a year of rehabilitation.
She has every intention of running competitively during the course of this year but in the month of October there is a possibility that her USA school TCU, will induct her into its hall of fame and she plans to include her intention of retirement, in her response.
At present the beautiful track star is employed as the English teacher within the prison system in St. Kitts and Nevis and she is actually responsible for education within the prisons.
The versatile woman, is also a lead singer in a local band continues to enjoy life, on and off the track.
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