The Nassau GuardianSend an emailJune 17, 2022 250 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

After seeing their four-game win streak snapped last Friday against the Chicago Sky, the Connecticut Sun scored a season-high 105 points in hopes of starting another winning streak on Wednesday. Bahamian Jonquel ‘JJ’ Jones dropped in 15 points to help her team take down the Atlanta Dream, 105-92, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Jones almost got a double-double as she was able to grab nine boards. Her 15 points came after she was held to a season-low seven points against the Sky despite grabbing a season-high 14 rebounds.

The win kept the Sun in second place in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Standings with an 11-4 win/loss record. They sit one and a half games behind the league-leading Las Vegas Aces who are 12-2 on the season.

The Sun shot 14-for-26 from distance, shooting 53.8 percent, and it was tough for the Dream to overcome that.

Grand Bahama native Jones shot 6-for-13 from the field. She was able to knock down three shots from deep in five attempts. The center dished out two assists and swatted two shots away. She scored at least 15 points for the eighth time this season.

The Sun came out the gate playing strong as they went up 17-11 after the first five minutes of the game. Jones’ first bucket came at the 8:42 mark when she made a layup. Her next two made shots came from deep. The last one came with 3:09 left in the first quarter to put her team up 25-14.

At the end of the first quarter, the Sun led comfortably, 31-22.

The lead grew even more in the second quarter as the Sun kept dominating the Dream. Jones did not get on the scoreboard in that quarter, but her teammates helped the Sun extend their lead with a 27-19 second quarter advantage. At the half, the Sun led 58-41.

Sun’s Head Coach Curt Miller kept his starters in the game for much of the third quarter. The Bahamian scored seven points in that quarter before taking the night off with 3:30 left in the third. The Sun outscored the Dream in that quarter 25-17 to go into the fourth quarter with an insurmountable 83-56 lead.

The Sun shot the ball at a blistering 51.9 percent clip for the game while holding the Dream to 46.1 percent from the field.

In the 15 games she has played in, Jones is averaging 15 points per game while grabbing 8.7 rebounds per game. Both are down from her Most Valuable Player (MVP) season numbers in 2021 but her team is winning. She is averaging 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. She has been more efficient from the field, from deep and at the charity stripe to start the season. Jones is shooting 53 percent from the field, 40.7 percent from deep and 83.3 percent from the free throw line.

The Sun will return to action tonight when they host the Seattle Storm at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville. The fourth-placed Storm, according to the standings, will bring its 9-4 record to Uncasville, Connecticut, for a 7 p.m. tip-off against the Sun.

https://thenassauguardian.com/jones-flirts-with-double-double-as-sun-wins/

Sports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailJune 17, 2022 272 1 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Bahamas Basketball Federation (BBF) recently announced its coaching staff for junior boys and girls teams representing The Bahamas this summer in international play.

The boys will be playing at the Centrobasket Under-15 (U15) Boys Championship in Gurabo, Puerto Rico, June 18-22, 2022. They will be playing at the Fernando ‘Rube’ Hernandez Coliseum.

The head coach for that team is Quentin Hall. He will be assisted by Kevin Clarke and Denykco Bowles. The team manager is Delva Francis. George Burrows is the team doctor. The director of basketball operations is Latoya Silver. Rounding out the staff is Stephen Brown as the head of delegation.

“As a federation we are extremely proud of the hard work and commitment of our coaching staff who sacrifice their time and lend their expertise to support our various teams,” expressed BBF President Eugene Horton.

The girls will be playing at the Centrobasket Under-15 (U15) Girls Championship, also set for Gurabo, Puerto Rico, from June 26-30, 2022.

The Head Coach is Varel Davis. Assisting her on the bench will be Anton Francis and Shakira Farrington. Taronya Wildgoose is the team manager. The athletic trainer is Sasha Johnson. Silver is the director of basketball operations and is also the head of delegation.

Horton spoke about the benefits of the sport of basketball.

“We believe that the game of basketball connects people and builds community while changing the lives of talented men and women who deserve exposure on international courts,” Horton said.

The boys are set to open play tomorrow at 5:45 p.m. against Guyana.

https://thenassauguardian.com/bbf-announces-junior-boys-and-girls-coaching-staff/

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailJune 17, 2022 351 1 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Over 80 golfers are expected to compete at the Bahamas National Amateur Golf Championships next week.

Once again, RF Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Limited (RF) will be the title sponsor of the event, partnering with the Bahamas Golf Federation (BGF). The winners will go on to represent The Bahamas on national teams.

“RF has a long standing commitment to the BGF as the official governing body for golf in The Bahamas,” noted RF Area Vice President of Operations Jackie Cleare. “Golf, like many individual sports, not only helps develop mental toughness, and strengthens problem-solving abilities, but playing in tournaments such as this provides youth players with an opportunity to travel if they win and gain international exposure.”

The championships will encompass both junior and senior players for a four-day tournament across the Ocean Club, Lyford Cay, Albany and Royal Blue golf courses. The tournament is scheduled for June 20-23, 2022.

“We’re looking forward to four days of good sportsmanship and hopefully clear skies,” commented BGF President Lynford Miller. “The BGF is grateful for our corporate sponsors, such as RF, without whom we couldn’t participate in the international tournaments and would struggle to support our local talented golfers.”

Registration for the nationals will begin at 8 a.m. at the Ocean Club Golf Course on Monday. Players will have staggered tee times. For more information on the golf nationals, interested persons are asked to please visit the BGF website at bahamasgolffederation.com.

https://thenassauguardian.com/rf-bank-trust-returns-as-golf-nationals-title-sponsor/

Sports

Oaktree comes on board as title sponsor; Fidelity to be gold partner

Sheldon LongleySend an emailJune 16, 2022 306 4 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

With the advent of a youth component at the nationals for the first time, the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) is set to stage its largest athletics national championships ever, taking place in nine days’ time at Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium.

The 2022 BAAA National Youth, Junior and Senior Championships, under the title sponsorship of Oaktree Medical Center, will be held June 24 and 25 at the national stadium. A relay carnival, giving Bahamian relay teams, and other teams from around the region, an opportunity to qualify for the World Athletics (WA) Outdoor Championships, will take place the following day.

The BAAA nationals get underway at 9 a.m. on the two days of the meet, and the relay carnival is set to start at 2 p.m. that Sunday.

Close to 600 athletes, Bahamians and visitors are expected to compete during the weekend.

The BAAA welcomed two sponsors during the official launch of the event yesterday – title sponsor Oaktree Medical and gold partner Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) Ltd.

“We are looking forward to welcoming everyone to the greatest show on Earth, June 24-26,” said BAAA President Drumeco Archer. “This is an event for the entire family – a family reunion. We welcome our international guests who will compete with a view of qualifying for the word championships and, for the first time, we have included a youth component to our national program, thereby giving recognition to our growing sprouts who will one day become the face of athletics in The Bahamas. We have gone three years with not having the primary schools track and field championships, so we recognized that it was imperative for us to provide a replacement to ensure the protection of our program and the advancement of the youth. We will have the same focus in staging a nationwide talent search and athlete development program in advance of the CARIFTA Games on our home soil next year. We have to think along the lines of being in tune with the long-term sustainable goals of the federation and, with that in mind, we have to encompass the youth.”

As for the elite athletes, Archer said that it’s imperative that they compete. It’s mandatory for national team selection – particularly for the world championships and the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Championships this summer.

The world championships is set for July 15-24 in what is known as Track Town, USA – Eugene, Oregon in the United States. The fourth edition of the NACAC Championships is set for August 19-21 at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

“The senior athletes always say they look forward to enjoying the support of the Bahamian fans and, once again, we have an opportunity to not just see our heroes, who we usually see just on television, in living color, at our nationals, but we also feel that we are stronger than ever,” said Archer. “We’re more talented than we have ever been and that is with the collective effort of the athletes, coaches, fans, the government of The Bahamas, corporate partners and all of the stakeholders in making our success a reality.

“We thank our title partner Oaktree Medical for coming on board with us, and we are equally thankful for our gold partner Fidelity which is a new and prolific partner demonstrating their commitment to our sport. It is this kind of support that bolsters the success of our federation and we are firmly in the position that this year’s nationals will be extra special because of it.”

Oaktree Medical Center Medical Director Dr. Don Deveaux said it was an honor and pleasure for them to come on board and be in partnership with the BAAA in the staging of the nationals. The title sponsorship of the event covers $25,000.

“We are a community and, when we see these events being hosted, we search out opportunities to be involved,” said Deveaux. “We have to give back, and it’s in the spirit of giving back that drives everything we do. We are a small nation with big people problems and if we could just come together as a community and show unity, we could go a long way. We want to be supportive as best as possible.”

Fidelity Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Gowon Bowe said on their end, it is very heartening to be a part of something that is positive.

“It starts in our schools and with our athletic ability. We don’t often enough emphasize the positive elements, even though we would be pulling for one athlete over the next but, ultimately, we all want Bahamian talent to go on to the world stage and excel. At Fidelity, we know that we are only as good as those persons around us and how we help them build. This is a new element for us as it relates to athletics, and for us, it’s an exciting time – to watch talent evolve and show support. We are a nation of 400,000 people who have won the Olympics time and time again on a per capita basis. If we could be a part of something that contributes toward that, we embrace it. In that respect, whenever there is an opportunity to support an event as a sponsor, we are going to be involved in youth development, ensuring that those elements that are good for us as a country are those elements that we are behind. So, we welcome the partnership and we look forward to being a part of athletic elements in the future.”

The registration deadline for the meet is this Friday at 9 p.m.

One of the meet organizers, who also serves as special events coordinator of the BAAA, Laura Pratt-Charlton, said they are anticipating that all of The Bahamas’ elite athletes will be in action. The meet is open to spectators.

“We are asking the public to come out and show their support for the athletes,” she said. “All of the elite athletes are expected to be here and they are going to put on a show. It’s going to be a family affair. There is going to be a kids corner, there will be giveaways and the kids will have an opportunity to have autograph sessions with the athletes. Also, a number of international athletes are registered, looking for an opportunity to qualify for the world championships. For the relay carnival on Sunday, that will get underway at 2 p.m. and it will feature Bahamian and international teams, and also members of corporate Bahamas, civil groups, law enforcement, the media and anyone who wants to take part. It’s going to be a festive time for all.”

So far, international athletes from Barbados, Bermuda, Grenada, Haiti and the Turks and Caicos Islands have registered to take part.

Once again, the meet will get underway at 9 a.m. on Friday and again at 9 a.m. on Saturday. The evening session for both days will start at 5 p.m. The relay carnival will start at 2 p.m. that Sunday.

https://thenassauguardian.com/baaa-launches-national-championships/

Simba FrenchSend an emailJune 16, 2022 213 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The final swim meet hosted by a local club this season is in the books and all the attention is now turned to the highly anticipated Bahamas Aquatics Federation’s National Swimming Championships set for July. Closing out the club-hosted meets this season was Mako Aquatics Club, hosting their second annual Oaktree Medical invitational at the Betty Kelly-Kenning National Swim Complex this past Saturday.

Swimmers were in action as they looked to improve on their season’s best and personal best times or try meet the qualifying standards for the nationals. Head Coach of Mako Aquatics Travano McPhee said he was pleased that other clubs supported the meet.

“The meet was successful. It was an excellent turnout by local swimmers,” said McPhee. “A lot of the younger swimmers who were given a last opportunity to qualify for nationals were able to do so.”

An outstanding swim came from Mako’s Isabella Munroe in the 8-and-under girls division. Munroe has been swimming strong all season, carting off high-point awards in the meets she swam in. At this meet, she scored 61 points, swimming in seven events. The eight-year-old won the 50 meters (m) and 200m freestyle races, the 50m butterfly, the 50m breaststroke and the 200m individual medley (IM). Her only second place finish of the meet came in the 50m backstroke event.

Blue Waves Swim Club’s duo Cailyn Dean and Kirsten Rolle were second and third, respectively, in the race for the 8-and-under girls title. Dean scored 43 points and her teammate Rolle finished with 37 points.

Tia Seymour from the Mantas Swim and Water Polo Club was the high-point winner in the 10-and-over girls category. She won all seven of her races, scoring 63 points. The 10-year-old won the 50m, 100m, and 200m free events, the 50m and 100m fly, the 50m breast and the 50m back.

Taylen Nicolls, who swims for Mako, was second with 41 points. Close behind her was the Mantas Swim and Water Polo Club’s Paityn Burrows with 32.50 points.

Amassing first place finishes in all his races was the Blue Waves’ Christon Joseph. The 10-year-old won all seven of his races to cart off the 9-10 boys division title, tallying 63 points. He won the 50m, 100m and 200m free, the 50m fly, the 100m breast, the 200m IM and the 100m back.

Mako’s Keiron Lloyd was second after scoring 47 points. Lloyd’s teammate Zander Lightbourne was third with 40 points.

Joseph’s teammate Dijon Simmons powered his way to a first-place finish the high-point award in the 11-12 boys category. He scored 54 points. On his tail, finishing in second place, was Mako’s Maxwell Daniels who scored 49 points. Trace Russell, who also swims for Mako, was third with 44 points.

Simmons, who swam in his first CARIFTA Championships this year, won all six of his races. The 12-year-old won the 50m free, the 50m back, the 50m breast, the 400m IM, and the 50 and 100m fly events.

It was a stiff race for the senior boys title between Mako teammates Erald Thompson III and Tristin Ferguson. In the end, Thompson edged Ferguson by three points to win the 15-and-over boys category high-point award with 48 points. Ferguson was second with 45 points. There was a tie for third as Mako swimmers Cherkadin Wells and Andrew Walcott both scored 36 points.

Thompson, who is back home from Howard University in Washington DC, swam in six races and won four of them. He won the 50m and 200m free, the 50m back and the 200m IM.

It was a battle for the top spot in the 15-and-over girls category. The host club’s Devin Cuffy-Bethel won one of her seven races and still managed to win the high-point award with 48 points. The win came in the 50m breast event. She had three second-place finishes and three third-place finishes.

Jamilah Hepburn, who swims with Mako, scored 38 points to finish second. Lyford Cay’s Delaney Mizell and Mako’s Rachel Lundy were tied for third with 36 points apiece.

Other sponsors of the meet were Evolve Functional Fitness, McDonald’s, Yes! It’s Switcharific and The Swim Shop.

https://thenassauguardian.com/mako-closes-out-local-swim-meets-attention-shifts-to-nationals/

Simba FrenchSend an emailJune 16, 2022 301 5 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

MANAGUA, Nicaragua – The Bahamas’ senior national men’s soccer team just completed its first window of the CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) Nations League competition on Monday with a 4-0 loss to Nicaragua in Managua, Nicaragua. The 14-man squad held its own against a nation that call ‘fútbol’ its second sport after baseball.

Among those 14 Bahamian players were teenagers Vance Wheaton, Jordin Wilson, Kenaz Swain and Michael Massey who played with a lot of heart against squads that have veteran and professional players. There was also the element of the Nicaraguan fans who were loud in support of their team. Wheaton played goalkeeper for the entire game and could not get his center backs, Lesly St. Fleur and Evelt Julmis, to hear him most of the time, due to the loudness of the fans in the Nicaragua National Football Stadium.

Wilson is the youngest of the four players at age 16. He has played in all four games in the first window and played the full 90 minutes on Monday. He said he was happy for the opportunity to represent his country at the senior level at such a young age.

“It’s a good feeling,” Wilson said. “It’s an honor and good experience and it’s a good lesson going forward. If you’re playing with these guys young, then, when you’re older, you should be flying, so it’s looking good. I was pushing … getting that experience to help prepare me for the next level and bonding with other people. It’s been a great experience.”

The midfieder’s first game was against St. Vincent and the Grenadines when The Bahamas won 1-0 at home at Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium. He came on as a substitute in the 86th minute of the game.

“I was quite excited and nervous at the same time because you turn around and you see all your family and friends and everyone. When I got on the field, it all just came to me, so I knew I had a role to play and help the team win,” Wilson said.

The former Lyford Cay International School (LCIS) student-athlete, who now attends IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, says playing for The Bahamas is bigger than playing for IMG. He plays in competitive games for IMG but for The Bahamas, he is up against professional players at a higher level. 

Wheaton was on the team as a third string goalkeeper. He missed the first two games because the number one keeper on the team Julio Jemison was the primary player in goal for The Bahamas. Jemison got injured in the third game at home in a 2-0 loss to Nicaragua last week Friday. Oliver Townend replaced Jemison in goal. For the away game against Nicaragua on Monday, Wheaton got the start because Townend did not travel.

“I wasn’t expecting to get many minutes,” Wheaton said. “I was the only keeper going on the field. The pressure was on, but I tried to relieve some of that pressure because I’m not the only one on the field – we’re a team. We do everything as a unit and Monday night was going to be the most important night of my life as it had the potential to be a crucial decider for offers to schools for university and so on. It may even lead to hopefully a professional path.”

Wheaton handled the pressure well and made some good saves in the game. He had to face two penalty shots that went in but it was not a bad showing for the 17-year-old who started goalkeeping in November 2020 on a trial basis. He said he is grateful to Avery Kemp who coaches the goalkeepers on the national team. Kemp was working with Wheaton from November 2020.

“It’s an honor to wear the colors of my country and to play for the national team,” said Wheaton. “It was my dream to play for this team and to play in an environment like that of Nicaragua. I played a few minutes against St. Maarten back in March and that feeling was just so incredible. I knew that I was going to have to experience that feeling again. I did it for the entire 90 minutes and I embraced it.”

Wheaton’s teammate at LCIS and Renegades Football Club, Michael Massey, brought the energy on Monday night in the midfield. He was fearless going after the ball from players bigger and stronger than him. That was not the first game that he played in during the first window of the CONCACAF Nations League. Massey’s debut was when he came on in the 80th minute as substitute player against Trinidad and Tobago in Trinidad. He remembered the commentator, former Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster, saying that he, Swain, Wheaton and Wilson are indicative of the bright future for The Bahamas in soccer.

“It’s an absolute honor to be given the opportunity to represent your country that you’ve grown up and adored. I loved every second of living there despite my family coming from Europe and moving to The Bahamas. I call it home, so it’s an absolute honor,” Massey said.

Massey returned to The Bahamas and played for the country for the first time on Friday against Nicaragua. He came on as a substitute and embraced the opportunity to play in front of the Bahamian supporters.

“I think being given the chance to play for 400,000 people back home is something that only a very small percentage of the country will get to do. It’s an incredible feeling and to experience it with a lot of my close friends as well that I’ve grown up playing football with, is something else,” said Massey.

Both he and Wheaton are entering grade 12 at LCIS.

Swain attends Kingsway Academy and is entering grade 12. He played for the first time on the senior men’s team during this window. He made his debut against Trinidad and Tobago, coming off the bench. Swain said he learned a lot about the game since training and playing for the men’s team.

“It gave me exposure and advanced my game. It got me new tactics and new ways to move the ball with purpose and intent. Being on the team taught me how to take care of my body, go to sleep and how to have better conversations. It was good to surround myself with a bunch of guys who went off and played soccer. I have improved my game,” he said.

The right back embraces the opportunity to play for his country. Playing at home on Friday against Nicaragua gave him some confidence and eased his nerves, he said.

“I was less nervous playing away than at home,” Swain said. “Playing in front of the home fans with your family and friends supporting you is a great feeling, but it was a bit nervous. Overall, it was a better feeling at home.”

The next window for the CONCACAF Nations League is in March 2023. Up first will be a home game against Trinidad and Tobago, then there will be an away fixture against St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The quartet looks forward to being named to the team once again and representing The Bahamas for a sport they love to play.

https://thenassauguardian.com/teenagers-soak-up-chance-to-represent-the-bahamas/

As of Thursday, June 16, 2022

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REGATTA lovers enjoy maypole plaiting.

THE AWARD presentation for best overall skipper in memory of the late Anvil Bishop Taylor presented by his wife and family.

#AFTER a two-year hiatus because of the COVID- 19 pandemic, thousands returned to the beautiful shores of Exuma over the Labour Day weekend to experience the camaraderie and excitement of the long-awaited Barraterre regatta and homecoming festival, which ran from June 3-6.

#The Barraterre regatta and festival has always been a staple on the country’s cultural calendar.

#The highly anticipated event attracts many locals as well as international visitors.

#Every year, the residents of Barraterre use this opportunity to showcase their many talents – whether it’s song, dance, cooking and – of course – sloop sailing.

#This year’s 37th regatta and homecoming festival featured three days of sailing with Class ‘C’ sloops, and many skippers from throughout The Bahamas competed for cash prizes and trophies. Some of the sailing sloops that took part in the regatta were also built on the island.

#Onshore activities throughout the day included games such as hoopla, quadrille dancing, plaiting of the maypole, succulent Bahamian dishes, and native crafts on display.

#Music was a major component of the regatta, and at night a variety of Bahamian entertainers such as D-Mac, Baludy & Nishe L.S. were showcased at the site.

#The festival also featured rake and scrape music, maypole plaiting and a talent show. “This year’s Homecoming & Regatta festival was awesome,” said Annie Lloyd, Barraterre homecoming and festival president. “The committee had a small window for preparation, and despite the many challenges, we did it. “Next year, 2023, we are looking forward to a bigger and better festival weekend as we anticipate a larger crowd and eventful weekend.”

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jun/16/barraterre-celebrates-37th-annual-regatta-homecomi/?news

As of Thursday, June 16, 2022

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#THE Bahamas Basketball Federation announces its 2022 junior boys’ and junior girls’ coaching staffs.

#The BBF recently announced its basketball coaching staff selected to support the teams representing The Bahamas this summer in international play.

#“As a federation we are extremely proud of the hard work and commitment of our coaching staff who sacrifice their time and lend their expertise to support our various teams,” said Eugene Horton, president

#“We believe that the game of basketball connects people and builds community while changing the lives of talented men and women who deserve exposure on international courts,” said Horton.

#The BBF proudly announces its 2022 junior programme’s coaching staff:

#Centrobasket U15

#Men’s Championship

#Gurabo, Puerto Rico

#June 18-22

#Centrobasket U15 Junior

#Boys National Team

#Head Coach –

#Quentin Hall

#Assistant Coaches –

#Kevin Clarke & Denykco

#Bowles

#Team Manager – Delva

#Francis

#Team Doctor – George

#Burrows

#Director of Basketball

#Operations – Latoya

#Silver

#Head of Delegation –

#Stephen Brown

#Centrobasket U15

#Women’s Championship

#Gurabo, Puerto Rico

#June 26-30, 2022

#Centrobasket U15 Junior

#Girls National Team

#Head Coach –

#Varel Davis

#Assistant Coaches –

#Anton Francis & Shakira

#Farrington

#Team Manager –

#Taronya Wildgoose

#Athletic Trainers –

#Sasha Johnson

#Director of Basketball

#Operations & Head of

#Delegation –

#Latoya Silver

#• The first international game will be held in Gurabo, Puerto Rico, June 18-22, with the under-15 junior boys’ team.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jun/16/bahamas-basketball-federation-names-its-coaching-s/?news

As of Thursday, June 16, 2022

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OAKTREE Medical Center came on board as the title sponsor while Fidelity Bank joined as a gold sponsor for the upcoming BAAA National Championships, June 24-26 at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium.

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#CORPORATE citizens have stepped forward to support the BAAAs and its athletes as they prepare for the landmark event on the local track and field calendar.

#Oaktree Medical Center came on board as the title sponsor while Fidelity Bank joined as a gold sponsor for the upcoming BAAA National Championships, June 24-26 at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium.

#Dr Don Diego Deveaux, director at Oaktree, said his organisation’s $25,000 pledge signifies its commitment to youth development.

#“Our motto is caring, compassion, complete and the complete aspect stands out to me because we are a community and when I see these events being hosted, we just try to figure out how we can be involved.

#“It’s good to get from the community, but we have to figure out how we can give

#back and it’s the spirit of giving back that drives everything we do. I think if we can band together as a community, no matter which race, colour, creed, political party – it does not matter, we can show that we are one Bahamas,” he said. “When I look back at the number of Olympic champions from this small nation, I personally think that we have the best talent pool in the world and it is with that conviction that it is about giving the youth the opportunity to get there and we want to be supportive of everything. Think of us as a mini Youth, Sports and Culture, willing to help as best as possible and I encourage my fellow corporate citizens to do the same. We are one Bahamas, and if you cannot do it for us, who are you going to do it for?”

#Gowon Bowe, Fidelity Bank chief executive, said the successful staging of the national championships is a return toward the level of competition and rivalry that can bring the best out of our athletes.

#“Rivalries are always entertaining in The Bahamas. We know we have it in junkanoo, but even before we get to that, it starts in our schools and it starts in our athletic programmes. We often hear the negativity around the youth but we don’t often emphasize the positive elements,” he said.

#“When we go back to those days of coming out to our high school championships, and then to the BAAAs, watching our talent evolve, then watching us as 400,000 people surprisingly have won the Olympics and World Championships time and time again on a per capita basis and if we can be a part of that I think that is important. Whenever there is an opportunity to support and sponsor, we are going to be committed to youth development, ensuring that those elements that are good for us as a country, are those elements we are behind.”

#The first two days of competition will feature traditional events from junior and senior elite athletes while the final day will feature a relay carnival.

#“We are looking forward to welcoming everyone to the greatest show on earth next weekend,” said BAAA President Drumeco Archer.

#“For the first time in our history, we have included the youth component in our National Championship programme, giving recognition to our growing stars who will one day become the face of a new sporting generation. After three years of not having a Primary School National Track and Field Championships, we recognise that it was imperative that the federation provided a replacement to ensure the succession of our programmes.”

#With a plethora of international events on the horizon for Bahamian athletes at both levels, Archer said the upcoming nationals can be seen as the catalyst for the future growth of the national programme.

#“It is a collaborative effort, a nation-wide talent search and athlete development programme for both our short term planning – with the CARIFTA Games in mind, along with the long term sustainable goals of our federation,” he said.

#“It is so often said of our senior athletes that they always look forward to the support of the Bahamian fans and once again we have the opportunity to see some of the best athletes in the world, who are Bahamian, live and in living colour at our nationals.”

#Just over 300 athletes have registered for the event thus far with the deadline set for 9pm on June 17.

#Laura Charlton, special projects manager in the BAAA, said the public at large can expect the country’s best athletes to compete next weekend.

#“This is the national championships and they are all excited to compete at home in front of their Bahamian crowd,” she said.

#“One of the policies of the federation is that in order to be considered for a national team you must compete at the national championships, unless there are some unforeseen circumstances, but it is expected that everyone will be here and they will put on a good show.”

#Charlton added that the sponsorship from both organisations sets the tone for other members of corporate Bahamas to come forward as the Bahamas prepares for a series of competitions at the junior and senior levels.

#“We have not had any major sponsorship in years so, on the heels of COVID this is an awesome gesture on behalf of our sponsors,” she said.

#“This is an exciting time for us in track and field, we can now start to rebuild and improve our corporate partnerships to allow us to put on the best shows for our athletes as well as to help to prepare our athletes for competitions we have throughout the year. It is not a cheap venture to send these teams off, we always have to ensure our athletes have the best opportunity in terms of travel and accommodations so partnerships like these help us to do that.”

#In addition to giving athletes a chance to qualify for international events in the relays, Sunday’s carnival will offer moments of levity with corporate partners and civic organisations expected to compete.

#“This gives our teams an opportunity to qualify when we have all of our athletes together in one place,” she said.

#“We have also opened it up to our civic organisations, fraternities, sororities, corporate Bahamas, other sports clubs, you can all put your teams together and compete.”

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jun/16/corporate-sponsors-step-support-baaa-nationals/?news

As of Thursday, June 16, 2022

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MIKE Strachan

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#HEADED into his second season with the Indianapolis Colts, Mike Strachan said his mindset is to continue his progression up the organisation’s depth chart.

#The Colts recently completed mandatory minicamp and three sessions of offseason OTAs.

#“My mindset is to take over. I want to be the person that they look to and rely on, I want to be there for my team, I want to be able to play a bigger role this year and I feel like I can do that,” Strachan said during his time at the Bahamas All-Pro Celebrity Weekend.

#“With Matt Ryan and the new additions I feel like this team is on the road to greatness and we can get to a championship.”

#The Colts will look to get Ryan – the team’s new 15-year-veteran quarterback – used to the fold.

#“He’s someone we all look up to, it’s like having another coach,” Strachan said of the addition of the former league MVP to the locker. “It’s crazy because he’s a great leader, he knows the game inside and out and he teaches us. He’s been a certified veteran for years in the NFL so he’s somebody that I listen to and look up to.”

#Colts head coach Frank Reich expressed similar sentiments from the first week of the offseason programme in April: “[Ryan] just has a fresh perspective and when we talked about the parts of the offene, I’m excited for how he’s going to help those young receivers. Every quarterback is an extended wide receiver coach. They have to be. They work with the receivers, their impact on the receivers is felt and I just think Matt has a particularly good perspective and a good way about him the way he’s going to connect with those young receivers to help them take the next step.”

#Strachan, a seventh-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, began the season with appearances in the first two games of the regular season but played sparingly for the remainder of the campaign.

#In week one of the regular season, he finished with two catches for 26 yards in the Colts’ 28-16 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

#Strachan was on the field for 18 snaps and was targeted three times – a higher rate than any other receiver in the lineup.

#“Since the first day we hit the field and we had to show them what we can do. I caught the first pass and I said ‘ok, I’m ready for this.’ It was smooth, I looked good doing it, so that was a big moment,” he said.

#“When I caught the first pass in the first game that was a big moment for me.”

#Despite the challenges in his rookie campaign, he still considered it a season of milestones with the opportunity to represent the country. “Just being in the locker room everyday with a bunch of different guys from different backgrounds, different salaries, look at a guy like Matt Ryan – $150 million – that’s your friend now,” Strachan said.

#“So it’s things like that that motivates me, seeing those guys, looking up to them and being able to work with them is touching.”

#The highlight of his debut campaign in the NFL was a 27-17 week four win over the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.

#Strachan played sparingly in his Colts’ first win of the season but said the experience of having his family in attendance was a “blessing.”

#The Colts finished the season 9-8 and just missed the playoffs. Strachan totalled 10 receptions for 130 yards in three preseason games.

#Overall, he had a Pro Football Focus grade of 73.0 this preseason, he was targeted 16 times, had six receiving first downs, no dropped passes, four contested catches, and was part of three explosive pass plays.

#In his preseason debut, Strachan finished with three receptions for 57 yards in the Colts’ 21-18 win over Carolina Panthers.

#In his second appearance, Strachan finished with two catches for 12 yards in the Colts’ 12-10 win over the Vikings, and 5 receptions for 61 yards in the Colts’ 27-17 win over the Detroit Lions.

#The former University of Charleston wide receiver and Grand Bahama native was selected by the Colts with the first pick of the seventh round (229th overall).

#He became the 3rd Bahamian born player to be drafted into the NFL following Ed Smith in 1973 (Denver Broncos – Round 13, pick 319) and Devard Darling in 2004 (Baltimore Ravens – Round 3, pick 82).

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jun/16/colts-mike-strachan-looks-ahead-second-season/?news