Friday, December 18, 2020

#SCOTLAND’S Football Association partnered with the Union of European Football Association’s (UEFA) outreach programme to aide the development of the local game in the Bahamas.

#By way of the UEFA assist programme, the Scottish FA donated $40,000 to the Bahamas Football Association following the devastation of Hurricane Dorian in September 2019.

#According to UEFA, the donation is intended “to help the Bahamas FA rebuild its footballing infrastructure.”

#UEFA’s assist programme partners with its member federations to aide the global development of the sport through shared information and best practice guidelines. The programme has supported over 200 development projects in approximately 60 countries.

#UEFA assist is geared toward building capacity, developing youth football, strengthening infrastructure and supporting UEFA member associations.

#“The Scottish FA is delighted to provide assistance to the Bahamas FA in any way it can to ensure football is able to flourish across the country. We hope our support will not only help provide vital resources to the game but also forge a long-lasting partnership that will promote, foster and develop the game at all levels,” Scottish FA’s head of football development Andy Gould said to UEFA. com.

#“We recognise that our coaches in Scotland are central to providing high-quality activity and establishing a positive culture for our players, and we look forward to sharing how we have achieved this with the Bahamas FA and assisting them in developing their own coach education framework.”

#The funds were earmarked for equipment and the Scottish FA will also look to play a role in coaching development. Other areas of development will include strategic and operational management, retaining both coaches and players, and youth development.

#“We are very grateful and appreciative for the help and support we have received from the Scottish FA to help develop the game in our country,” BFA President Anton Sealey told UEFA.com.

#“Hurricane Dorian was obviously a setback for football in our country, but with the help of the Scottish FA, who are providing us with high-quality coaches and allowing us to obtain much-needed equipment, this can help us to move forward. I hope that our newly formed partnership will continue to develop over the coming years.”

f Friday, December 18, 2020

#THE Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited (GBPA), along with the Grand Bahama Power Company (GBPC) and iElite Sports Academy based out of Nassau, Bahamas, is pleased to be among the sponsors of the upcoming New Balance Future Stars Series (NBFSS) 2020 World Combine international baseball tournament, taking place at the Emera Caribbean Baseball Park in Grand Bahama later this week.

#The event will bring youth baseball players to Grand Bahama together from the Dominican Republic, Columbia, Canada, the United States and The Bahamas from December 17 to 21, 2020.

#“The World Combine tournament is an annual global event that attracts skilled youth athletes from around the world,” said Philcher Grant, Director Group Corporate Affairs and Government Relations at GBPA. “We worked with iElite Sports Academy to have Grand Bahama host this much-anticipated tournament. Of course, with the ongoing pandemic COVID- 19, 2020 is a year like no other, and the health and safety of all involved is paramount. To that end, the event will be closed to the general public. Only players, parents, organisers, facility workers and the media will be permitted to be in attendance during tournament games.”

#The event presents a vital opportunity for many of Grand Bahama’s businesses who continue to be challenged by the devastating impacts of Hurricane Dorian compounded by the effects of the COVID-19 Emergency Order.

#Local hotels, transportation providers, restaurants and tour operators have an opportunity to take advantage of the influx of players and families who will bring an anticipated $1 million to the island’s economy. Due to GBPC’s efforts to restore the Baseball Park, which was severely impacted by Dorian, the island has a world-class facility to host the tournament.

#“Many of our tourism-related businesses including Pelican Bay Hotel and Taino Beach Resort, the Car Rental Association, H Forbes Charter Services and others will benefit from this much-needed trade on our island,” added Ms Grant.

#“We expect that food and beverage providers and retailers of all kinds will see increased business during the five-day tournament. It’s our most significant opportunity since the pandemic hit for our economy to begin to turn around.”

#Jeremy Booth, organiser of the 2020 World Combine Tournament, is pleased to be able to bring the event to Grand Bahama. “We are extremely excited to hold this long-awaited event in The Bahamas. We’re thankful for the group efforts to make it happen and are excited to take this step forward together,” Mr Booth stated.

#“In addition, I am looking forward to exploring the possibility of building a long term relationship in Grand Bahama, as the island’s geographical location is ideal for tournament organisers and participants alike.”

#“Today’s youth, including the many participating in this week’s tournament in Grand Bahama, are tomorrow’s leaders,” commented Geron Sands, president and co-founder of iElite Sports Academy. “The event provides an opportunity to reach two of this year’s key goals – to give children a sporting and development opportunity that they otherwise may not have, and to support the growth of baseball in The Bahamas.”

#Other sponsors of the NBFSS 2020 World Combine international baseball tournament include Cable Bahamas, Sanitation Services and B&B Galaxy. The event will be livestreamed on ZNS.

RADSHAD DAVIS

FRANCO MILLER JR

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#RADSHAD Davis had the better individual performance and his FIU Panthers got back into the win column with a dominant performance against Franco Miller Jr and the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles.

#Davis scored 12 of his 16 points in the first half and also added eight rebounds while Miller went scoreless in 13 minutes off the bench in the Panthers’ 85-69 win over the Eagles last night in Ft Myers, Florida.

#With the victory, FIU moves to 5-1 this season, while the loss dropped FGCU to 3-2 on the year.

#After cancelled games against Jacksonville State (December 6) and North Florida (December 10), the Panthers suffered their first loss of the season, 80-77 to North Florida on December 12. The Panthers started the contest shooting 43.9% from the floor and 38.1% from beyond the arc while holding FGCU to shooting 31.4% from the field and just 28.6% from three.

#Davis is having a standout redshirt senior season averaging 14 points and a team leading 7.5 rebounds per game. He is shooting 49% from the floor, 39 from three-point range and a perfect 10-10 from the line. It was Miller’s first scoreless game of the season and in his first year with the programme, the redshirt sophomore guard is averaging 6.4 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.

#In his season low total of minutes played this season, Eagles head coach Michael Fly said the entire team struggled on the night.

#“I’m disappointed in our effort tonight to be frank,” Fry said.

#“We talked about not having a let down. I don’t think we had a sense of urgency tonight which is counter to how we’ve been playing. We’re certainly frustrated by how we played but there is the positive that we have a quick turnaround with practice tomorrow and another game Friday night.” The loss began a five-game home stand for the Eagles which continues with matchups against Webber International, Georgia Southern and North Alabama.

#HARBOUR Island native Lashann Higgs had another big game on Saturday, but it wasn’t enough to garner another victory for her Embutidos Pajariel Bembibre in the Spanish Women’s Professional Basketball League.

#On Saturday night, Higgs stayed red hot on the offensive end, matching game high honours with 22 points as Embutidos Pajariel Bembibre suffered a 69-58 loss to the IDK Euskotren at home in their José Antonio Gasca arena.

#In 35 minutes on the court, Higgs shot 8-for-20 or 40 percent from the field, was 2-for-3 (66.7 percent) from behind the three-point line and didn’t attempt a free throw. She also pulled down two rebounds with an assist and a steal, while committing one foul.

#“I felt as if I played well although I missed some shots that I would normally make,” said Higgs, who has turned out to be the team’s top performer in just her freshman season, averaging 15.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.

#“It’s a learning process. I just have to keep improving each game.”

#The University of Texas Longhorns stellar guard, who rebounded from a near career-ending injury in her junior year, is among the top 10 in scoring in the Spanish League.

#The 25-year-old who stands 5-feet, nine-inches, attributes her success so far to her “mindset and being confident in the work that I put in, realising as much as I can the blessings God gave me and that helps.”

#Embutidos Pajariel Bembibre opened the game on a 6-0 run and extended it to 24-12 at the end of the first quarter. They continued to apply the pressure as they managed to surge ahead 40-24 at the half. The second half was a different story for Embutidos Pajariel Bembibre, who is on a three-game losing streak as they remain in 15th place in the league standings with a 2-13 record.

#“We lost by 12. We started off very well, but couldn’t get going in the second half,” Higgs said. “We didn’t try to be consistent with the energy and aggressiveness.”

#IDK Euskotren rallied to start the third on a run that cut their deficit to 46-41 and drew within one, 50-49, going into the fourth quarter.

#That is when IDK Euskotren took full control of the game and once they went ahead, they never looked back as Embutidos Pajariel Bembibre seemed to have run out of gas down the stretch.

#“The first half we were both intense as well as focused and really locked in with the game plan,” Higgs stressed. “But in the second half, we lost focus.

#“I was disappointed (in the loss), but it’s something my teammates or myself can do well on. Have to keep it moving.”

#Embutidos Pajariel Bembibre will be back in action on Tuesday against Lointek Gernika before they close out the year on Sunday, December 27 when they play Spar Gran Canaria.

Monday, December 21, 2020

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#SEVEN athletes attained the qualifying standards for the CARIFTA Games at the Blue Chip Athletics Throwers Meet on Saturday as competitive track and field returned at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

#It was the first meet held since sports came to a halt in March during day one of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s National Track and Field Championships at the adjacent TAR National Stadium.

#The throwers meet preceded the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ Odd Distance Track Meet, dubbed “Track is Back,” at the TAR National Stadium on Saturday as well.

#In the discus, Calea Jackson, who is in boarding school in the United States, threw 37.34 metres or 122-feet, 6-inches to surpass the under-17 girls’ standard of 36.88 (121-0). She was joined by Tarajh Hudson in the under-20 boys’ division as his winning toss of 53.66m (176-0) went above the standard of 52.13m (171-0).

#The other five qualifying performances came in the javelin. Collegian Rhema Otabor, home from her first semester as a freshman at Florida International, won the under-20 girls event with a heave of 47.15m (154-8), well over the standard of 38.39m (125- 11). Camitra Mackey also did the standard in the under-20 girls division with her second place mark of 38.53m (126-5).

#Kamera Strachan threw 34.47m (113-1) to go over the Under-17 girls’ standard of 34.39m (112-10), but she is too young to be eligible to compete at the games.

#Kaden Cartwright did 51.38m (168-7) for the under-17 boys’ standard of 50.65m (166-2) and Keyshawn Strachan, competing in the under-20 boys division, won with 64.45m (211-5) to surpass the standard of 60.94m (199-11).

#Blue Chip coach and meet director Corrington Maycock said there was a lot of excitement and a very impressive performance with seven qualifiers from the throwers in one meet.

#He called it highly successful.

#“We still had them practicing, although we had to obey the COVID-19 rules and laws,” Maycock said. “We were able to do so much with the kids. We worked a lot on their techniques and it paid off.”

#As of today, Maycock said his athletes will begin their weightlifting training in the gym so that they can get stronger as they prepare for 2021.

#“I expect better performances as we look forward to next year,” Maycock said. “For those athletes who haven’t qualified as yet, we hope that by February or March, they will have done the standards.”

#Maycock, however, said there is a possibility because of COVID-19 that the CARIFTA Games could be pushed back from the Easter holiday weekend in Bermuda to probably July. If it does, Maycock said the throwers will have more time to qualify, but the problem will be ensuring that they get into the various meets in order to achieve their goal.

#As for Saturday’s meet, Maycock said they did the necessary temperature checks and ensured that the throwers did their hand sanitising and social distance.

#“It worked out pretty well,” he said.

#“Everybody wore their masks, including the throwers. They only took it off when they threw. Once they finished, they put them on. “I think the BAAA did a good job adhering to the safety measures (put in place by the Ministry of Health and the Competent Authority).

#“It went pretty well and pretty smooth. We didn’t have any hiccups.”

Tuesday, January 12, 2020

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#JAMAL Wilson, who missed the opportunity to compete at the IAAF World Championships last year, is on the road to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the 2016 Olympic Games.

#Over the weekend at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium, Wilson led the list of outstanding performances at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ Odd Distance Track and Field Meet when he won the men’s high jump with a personal best leap of 2.30 metres or 7-feet, 6 1/2-inches.

#Wilson, 27, surpassed the automatic qualifying mark of 2.29m (7-6). He is hoping to be one of the high jumpers who are eligible to compete for the Bahamas when the IAAF publishes the final list of qualifiers on July 12. In the process, Wilson also went above his previous best of 2.28m (7-5 3/4) that he posted at the same track in 2013.

#The meet, which kicked off the BAAA’s 2016 season, saw athletes compete in different events on the track and from shorter distances in the jumps and in standing up positions in the throwing events. Wilson, representing RC Athletics and coached by Ronald Cartwright, easily won over his nearest rival Blayre Fernander, 19, who did 2.05m (6-8 3/4).

#In the marquee event of the day, rising star Steven Gardiner, who established a new men’s national record in winning the men’s 400 metres at the BAAA National Championships, surged to victory in the 300 metres, clocking 32.64 seconds to hold off Ramon Miller, who did 33.36 for second. Andretti Bain was also expected to participate in the race but didn’t.

#Among the multiple performers at the meet were Doneisha Anderson, who was a triple threat, winning the under-18 girls’ 150m (18.51) and 300m (40.29) as well as the high jump with 1.68m and was joined by Tiffany Hanna, who did the same, sweeping all three throwing events in the open division by taking the shot put with 11.84m (38-10 1/4); discus with 33.65m (110-4) and the javelin with 17.40m (57-1).

#Charisma Taylor led a field of double winners in the under-28 60m hurdles in 8.77 and the long jump with 4.72m. Darvinique Dean did her feat in the under-10 80m (12.32) and 150m (24.07); Sarah Hepburn in the under-12 80m (11.17) and 150m (21.04); Anthaya Charlton in under-14 300m (44.23) and long jump (4.32m or 14-2 1/4); Megan Moss in the under-26 girls 150m (18.92) and 300m (40.27) and Mica Evans in the open 150m in 18.44 and the 300m in 41.42.

#Tamara Myers, in her post-collegiate appearance, opened up with a victory in the open triple jump with a leap of 12.58m (41-3 1/4).

#On the men’s side, Branson Rolle picked up where he left off last year by producing his hat trick by taking the under-16 150m in 16.73, the 300m in 34.92 and the javelin with 49.80m (163-4).

#Edward Kemp picked up a pair of victories in the open division in the shot put with 11.63m (38-2) and the discus with 34.56m (113-4). Trent Ford doubled up in the under-10 boys’ 80m in 12.02 and the 150m in 22.73; Meleek Pierre duplicated the feat in the under-14 boys’ 80m in 10.26 and the 150m in 20.13.

#Lavardo Smith had the fastest time in the open men’s 150 in 16.20.

#The meet was also the first for the new administration led by Rosamunde Carey, who ousted Mike Sands as president in November during the BAAA annual general meeting and election of officers.

AN athlete competes in the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ first track and field meet – held on Saturday at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium – since the coronavirus pandemic broke out in March. Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

Monday, December 21, 2020

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#Under the theme: “Track is Back,” the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations hosted its first track and field meet since the coronavirus pandemic broke out in March.

#The BAAA, in closing out what has been a dramatic year of postponements and cancellations of various local and international sporting events, staged the Odd Distance Track and Field Meet at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium on Saturday.

#“We’ve been planning for the COVID-19 environment since the lockdown and we recognised very early that certain things had to be in place,” said BAAA president Drumeco Archer. “We’ve been in communication with the Competent Authority, giving them the assurance that we could do this and we could do this well.”

#Archer said the meet on Saturday was proof that they could host a safe and successful meet, so he was very happy with the outcome, considering that the athletes performed at a very high level.

#“I think what we know we have to look at is that our competition will have to be in a non-spectator environment and so we will have to absorb all of the expenses,” he said.

#“At the end of the day, I think we will have to wrap our heads around how we can deliver a safe meet for our athletes in readiness for regional and international competition.”

#With all indications that the CARIFTA Games might have to be pushed back from the Easter holiday weekend until the summer in Bermuda, Archer said they will have to concentrate on finding more meets for their athletes to sustain their training programme.

#Just before the Odd Distance Meet took place, the Blue Chip Athletics Club hosted a Throwers Meet at the original TAR Stadium where seven athletes attained the qualifying standards for CARIFTA.

#However, one of the athletes is only 13 years old and is not eligible for the games as athletes must be 15 years or older in order to participate.

#There were no qualifying standards for CARIFTA or any other international meets attained at the Odd Distance Meet, but for the most part, most athletes were just delighted to be competing again.

#Hurry Murray’s Breyana Kemp was one of them. She easily won both the girls’ under-17 600 metre race in one minute and 45.40 seconds over 4D Stallions’ Aliyah Brown, who did 1:51.69 and Red- Line’s Sara Williams, who was third in 1:54.67. Kemp, a 15-year-old 11th grader at St Augustine’s College, also captured the 1,000m in 3:21.27 with Ezthia Maycock of Red-Line second in 3:30.01 and Leahja Williamson of Fast Forward third in 3:45.75.

#“It’s good to be back. We’ve been out since March. No competition, so competing today was a good thing,” Kemp said. “Next year, I want to run my personal best in all my races and qualify for the national teams.”

#In winning his heat of the boys’ under-17 600m in 1:29.09, but placing third overall, T-Bird Flyers’ Amando Poitier too was thrilled to be back on the track. “I feel good. I came out here to participate and to do my best,” the 16-year-old Doris Johnson Senior High 12th grader said. “I felt very good. It was good to get back on the track.”

#Tyler Miller of Bahamas Speed Dynamics was the overall winner in 1:27.48, followed by Dion Major of T-Bird in 1:28.82.

#While the focus was on the younger athletes, some of the senior and elite athletes also competed.

#The open women’s long and triple jumps saw collegian Charisma Taylor surge to victory in both events, while placing second in the 150m.

#In the triple jump, Taylor, representing Leap of Faith, cleared 12.81m (42-0 1/2) for the victory over team-mate Tamara Myers, who did 12.70m (41-8).

#Taylor also captured the long jump with a leap of 5.59m (18-4 1/4) with fellow collegian Andira Ferguson placing second with 5.20m (17-0 3/4) and college bound high school sensation Anthaya Charlton coming in third with 5.20m (17-0 3/4) as well.

#“On the whole, I think I did very well,” Taylor said. “It’s still early. It’s December, but I feel I’m in a good position for the season.

#“There’s still some things I need to work on, but it was a good meet. I still have some things to work on.”

#In August, Taylor returned to college and was training in preparation for competing at both the NCAA indoor and outdoor nationals, if they are contested, and going on to represent the country at the postponed 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan in July, 2021 in the 100m hurdles and the triple jump.

#“The hurdles have been going really good. My technique has gotten better, my approach has also gotten better, so I’m just looking forward to seeing how well I can do it at that event,” she noted.

#Myers, based here at home after graduating from college, said she was trying out a new technique and it turned out to be an indication of where she’s at in her training.

#“It could have been better, but considering all that has happened, I’m pleased,” Myers said. “I’m in good shape, I’m eating healthy, I’m training hard, so I feel awesome. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”

#Myers said she was looking forward to competing at the World Athletics’ World Indoor Championships, but that meet has been postponed due to COVID-19.

#“We will see if we can get into some meets before the outdoor season,” said Myers, whose goal is to make the Olympic team as well. “If not, we will wait outdoors and go for it.”

#Ferguson, currently at Fresno State in California, said she too was delighted to be home and competing.

#“It was good to get my feet wet for the outdoor season,” she said. “It was good to see where I’m at. I spotted the few things that I did wrong, so I know what I have to correct.”

#As for next year, the 22-year-old Ferguson said she is planning to see whatever senior meet she can qualify for, but there’s no major priority.

#Meanwhile, Charlton, who has already secured an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Kentucky next year, won the open women’s 150m in 18.25 with Taylor showing her versatility coming in second in 18.61. Laila Cleare of Fast Forward was third in 18.67.

#Home after graduating from the University of Nebraska in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in construction management and now working with his family plumbing/construction company, Kaiwan Culmer said it was good to compete in another Odd Distance Track Meet.

#Culmer, competing for Leap Of Faith, won the men’s triple jump with 15.26m (50-0 3/4). Keianno Rolle of the University of the Bahamas, was the only other competitor, placing second with 14.15m (46-5 1/4).

#“Instead of the full runway, we had to use an approach of 49 feet, which is not much,” Culmer said. “My usual approach is 131 feet, so it’s a significant amount of steps that I was losing out.

#“Other than that , I jumped 15.26 (50-0 3/4), which is pretty good. When I was in school, I did 14.9 (48-10 3/4) with 12 steps and in this meet, I had eight steps so that performance was pretty good.”

#The goal for Culmer next year is to qualify for the Olympics.

#“That’s the only thing I’m shooting for,” said Culmer, who celebrated his 24th birthday on October 25. “That’s the only reason why I’m out here.”

#Some of the other outstanding performances from the Odd Distance Meet came from some of the younger athletes, including the following:

#Daveigh Farrington on Hurry Murray, winner of the girls under-11 80m in 12.10 and Taree Forbs of Boost Athletics won the 150m in 33.49.

#Travis Rolle of the Bahamas Speed Dynamics in the under-11 boys 80m in 11.49 and Michael Ford of Spirit of Excellence in the 150m in 22.18.

#His team-mate Shekinah Johnson took the girls under-13 80m in 10.59 and she doubled up in the 150m in 19.76, while Darvinique Dean of the 4D Stallions emerged as the champion of the 300m in 43.13.

#In the under-13 boys division, Rolinny Labranche of the Star Trackers won the 80m in 10.45 and Tyler Frazier of the Red-Line won both the 150m in 18.32 and the 300m in 40.61.

#The girls under-15 division saw Nya Wright of Red-Line clinch the title in the 150m in 19.39; Malynte Clarke of Bahamas Speed Dynamics won the 300m in 42.26; Katia Archer of the Star Trackers took the 600m in 1:50.10 and Kristi Ford of Spirit of Excellence won the 1,000m in 3:28.15.

#On the under-15 boys side, Tumani Skinner of Red-Line captured the 150m in 17.29; Philip Gray of DTSP Wolfpack won the 300m in 37.57 and Breck Kemp of Hurry Murray won the 600m in 1:45.71 and the 1,000m in 3:06.97.

#D’Angelo Collie of Red- Line won the long jump with 5.37m; Zion Evans of Xtreme Athletic took the shot put with 11.18m; Berkley Findley of Quick Step won the javelin with 11.19m.