The third annual induction ceremony in St. Thomas Virgin Islands was
held on September 20, 2003 and inducted the following athletes:
Neville G. Hodge (Track & Field)
Mr. Hodge was born in St. Kitts and grew up in St. Thomas, US Virgin
Islands. Neville Hodge started his luxurious track career at Morgan
State University in 1976 as part of dominating track and field program.
During his track years, he was recognized as one of the premiere
sprinters in the country. He has produced a time of 10.10 in the 100
meters and 20.43 in the 200 meters, which is the school’s record
today.
However, he didn’t stop there. In 1984, 1988 and 1992, he
represented the US Virgin Islands at the Olympic games. He is an
eight-time NCAA All American, and is the current World Record Holder in
the 100 meters for Masters’ Track & Field age 45 and over.
Mr. Hodge is not just a track coach he is also an educator. He has a
Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and a Master of Science in
Sports Administration. He has also coached three Olympians, a two-time
MEAC Coach in 1992, & 1994, and he owns two MEAC titles.
During his tenure, he has developed fourteen Olympians, ten NCAA
qualifiers, ten NCAA All Americans, forty-five MEAC Champions, four MEAC
Record Holders, and five Most Valuable Athletes.
He is presently the Head Track & Field Coach at Morgan State
University. During his spare time, he volunteers to develop young
athletes from the Baltimore area and spends valuable time with his
family. He resides in Baltimore Maryland.
Dr. Floya Hyacinth (Track & Field)
Dr. Flora Hyacinth, a 3-time Olympian, war born on the island of St.
Lucia on March 10, 1966. In 1982, she migrated to St. Croix, Virgin
Islands where she joined her mother and siblings. Her athletic career
began two years later in 1984 under the tutelage of Coach Cipriani
Phillips. Coach Phillips, amazed by her talent, invited her to join his
track team. In 1985, Dr. Hyacinth traveled to the Florida relays where
she competed against collegiate and high school athletes. She broke the
high school record in the 300m hurdles and won the high school long
jump.
She also won her heat in the college division 400m hurdles and placed
third overall on the collegiate level while still a high student. As a
result, Dr. Hyacinth received offers for full athletic scholarships from
numerous colleges and universities. She chose the University of Alabama.
In 1986, while still a freshman, she became an NCAA All-American Long
Jumper and was also a member of the University of Alabama’s first ever
Track & Field NCAA Championship Team. That summer she participated
at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Santiago, Dominican
Republic.
It was at these games that she showcased her true talent when she
became the first member of the Virgin Islands Track & Field Team to
win a Gold medal in any international competition. Dr. Hyacinth won the
400m hurdles in route to establishing a new games record and surprising
the Cubans (the perennial favorites to win the competition). She also
placed 3rd in the long jump.
During her sophomore year at Alabama, she established World and
Collegiate Record in the Triple Jump and became the first woman to
triple jump over 45 in an event she only competed in for one year.
During her collegiate career, she won numerous awards including 13
times NCAA All-American; 4 times SEC Female athletes of the year and 4
times Commissioners’ Trophy Recipient (awarded to the top scorer in
the SEC Championships).
After graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics, she returned
to St. Croix where she taught French for 4 years while continuing her
training and competition. In 1993, she made the decision to concentrate
on her athletic career and relocated to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In 1996,
she placed 12th at the Atlanta Olympics and concluded her athletic
career at the 2000 Sidney Olympics.
In 1999, Dr. Hyacinth enrolled as full-time student at Texas
Chiropractic College. In April 2003, she completed her Doctorate of
Chiropractic and graduated cum laude and Omega Phi Honors Society. Dr.
Hyacinth resides in San Diego California.
