Devynne Charlton second in 100m hurdles

Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Steven Gardiner on their way to winning their 400 metres races at the Diamond League athletics meeting at Charlety stadium in Paris, Saturday. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

As of Saturday, June 18, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#COMPETING in the same meet for the first time this year, Bahamian Olympic champions Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Steven Gardiner surged to impressive victories in the 400 metres on Saturday at the Wanda Diamond League Meet in Paris, France.

Devynne Charlton (File photo)

#They were joined by World Indoor silver medalist Devynne Charlton, who came through for second in the women’s 100m hurdles as the trio showed that they are ready for the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon in July.

#Coming off a fourth place finish in the women’s 200m in Rome on June 9 in her last race, Miller-Uibo returned to her signature event in the 400m where she secured her victory in 50.10 seconds, but leaving fellow Bahamian Tonique Williams-Darling’s meet record of 49.15 from 2004 on the books.

#28-year-old Miller-Uibo used her 6-foot, one-inch frame to establish the early lead through the first 200m. She came off the final curve and on the straight away, took a peek at the rest of the field as she maneuvered down the home stretch.

#In full control of the race from lane four, the two-time Olympic champion coasted across the finish line with a jog as Polish competitors Natalie Kaczmapek and Anna Kielbasinski closed the gap in 50.24 and 50.28 in lanes five and six respectively.

#Gardiner, the reigning world champion, made his debut in Paris where he hopes to be back in 2024 to defend his Olympic title. Like Miller-Uibo, Gardiner established control of the race from the start in lane five, but got a challenge through the first 200m from Lidio Andres Felix from the Dominican Republic in lane four.

#Gardiner, however, used his 6-3 frame to shift into another gear on the back half of the race and clocked a season’s best of 44.21 to leave Felix behind in 44.92, while Nene Zakhiti of the Republic of South Africa was third in 44.99.

#Immediately following the race, Charlton took to the track and, after a stumble coming out of the bocks, negotiated her way from the outside in lane seven through the ten flights of hurdles for a second place finish in the women’s 100m race in her season’s best of 12.63.

#Toby Amusan from Nigeria was steady from start to finish in lane five and took the tape in an area record and personal best of 12.41. Great Britain’s Cindy Sember was third in 12.73.

#Miller-Uibo, Gardiner and Charlton are now on their way home for the Bahamas Association of Athletic Association’s National Championships on Friday and Saturday at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium.

http://sportsinthebahamas.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3918&action=edit

As of Thursday, June 16, 2022

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#THE Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) has named three teams for international tennis competition this month.

#A group of talented Bahamians will be representing the country at a very competitive level.

#The teams include the following:

#Two under-12 tennis team competitions are set to take place in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The nations in the Caribbean and the Central American region are slated to compete for their respective nations.

#Team Bahamas’ U-12 girls’ team consists of Marina Bostwick, Caitlyn Pratt, Srae’ Rodgers and coach Sharon Greene.

#The boys’ team consists of Patrick Mactaggart, Kingston Rees, Nicholas Russell and coach Artie Johnson. The teams are expected to travel June 24 with matches getting underway on Saturday, June 25.

#The players are all representing the Bahamas for the first time on a national team. This is a wonderful opportunity for each of them to display their talent on a global level and to compete amongst the best of the best in the region. The young players will give it their best as each one has invested time and effort into tennis.

#All the players will participate in the upcoming Junior Nationals starting (today) this Thursday at the National Tennis Centre (NTC). Afterwards the team will travel next week to Santo Domingo to begin competition.

#Bahamas Davis Cup Team

#National champion Spencer Newman and player/ captain Marvin Rolle were the first two to receive BLTA team nominations for the 2022 Bahamas Davis Cup Team.

#At the trials held in May there were two other nominations – Kevin Major Jr and Baker Newman.

#The Davis Cup Group III Americas Competition will be held in Escazu, Costa Rica June 22-25 at the Costa Rica Country Club and the surface is hard courts.

#The Bahamas team departs on Sunday and will arrive a few days in advance of the competition.

#Countries competing are The Bahamas, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Jamaica, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico and Venezuela.

#Three teams will be promoted to the World Group II Playoffs and two teams will be relegated to Americas Group IV.

#The teams will be divided into two pools, the winner of both pools will be automatically promoted and the teams with the second best results from pool play will face each other for the third spot.

#A number of teams from Group II that were relegated will be competing, including Venezuela, Paraguay and Jamaica.

#The 2022 BJK Cup Group II Americas will take place at the Centro Nacional De Tenis Parque Del Este In Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

#Meet the Players

#• Marvin Rolle – Player/Captain

#Marvin Rolle is a decorated Davis Cupper. For 18 years Marvin received nominations (25) to Bahamas Davis Cup.

#His willingness to serve and represent the country is unmatched. His best run with the team is Group I Semifinals. Marvin has been a part of the Bahamas Davis Cup for 14 straight years. He has won 40 Davis Cup singles matches, 26 in doubles which is the most for any Bahamian player.

#Marvin’s career high ranking in doubles is 681 and 1,304 in singles. He epitomizes tennis strength, skill and class.

#• Kevin Major Jr is receiving his 6th team nomination for the Bahamas Davis Cup. Kevin has a 7/8 win loss ratio and an ATP ranking of 1,916.

#Spencer Newman is The Bahamas current Giorgio Baldacci Open National Champion.

#This is Spencer’s fourth team nomination. He has a 7/5 win ratio. Spencer was quoted as saying: “Playing Davis Cup is among the highest honour any tennis player can receive.”

#Baker Newman is expected to round out the team and is receiving his fifth team nomination for Team Bahamas. In Davis Cup action Baker has a 11/6 win ratio and was a tennis collegiate standout for Vanderbilt.

#The BLTA along with the entire Bahamas extends its best wishes to the team as it represents the country and we pray for a safe journey and strong performances.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jun/16/blta-names-three-teams-international-tennis-compet/?news

As of Tuesday, June 14, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#AHEAD of the national championships for track and field and swimming, the Bahamas Olympic Committee has announced a 28-member team of athletes and seven coaches to represent the Bahamas at the Commonwealth Games.

#The games are scheduled for July 29 to August 7 and according to BOC president Romell Knowles, every so often, they are forced to name the team prior to the national championships.

#The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ National Championships is scheduled for this month and the Bahamas Aquatics’ Nationals will take place from July 7-10, but athletes from both disciplines, along with cycling, triathlon, wrestling, judo and boxing have already been selected to the team.

#“We could no longer wait until the national championships because this list is almost etched in stone. All of the accreditations, the processing have been done and the system is closed,” Knowles said.

#“Even if we wanted to add someone, it’s going to be a pain in the butt to try and get Birmingham to open up the system to allow us to make amendments. That’s not prohibited. We could do it on the executive side or the coach’s side, but the athletes, they see it as tampering or cheating.”

#Having met their quota of 28 athletes, Knowles said in order to replace an athlete, the BOC would have to fill out a form indicating that the athlete is either injured or not able to travel before they can replace anyone.

#However, in the case of the team selection, Knowles said double Olympic 400m champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo is still contemplating making the trip to Birmingham. If her and her camp decides to go, they have conveyed her interest to the local organising committee in Birmingham to have added to the team.

#Named by chef de mission Roy Colebrooke as members of the Commonwealth Games team are the following:

#Athletics – Devynne Charlton (women’s 100m hurdles); Anthonique Strachan (women’s 100/200m); Steven Gardiner (men’s 400m); LaQuan Nairn (men’s long jump); Jahmaal Wilson (men’s 110m hurdles); Terrence Jones (men’s 110m); Tynia Gaither (women’s 100/200m); Ken Mullings (men’s decathlon); Shaun Miller Jr (men’s high jump); Kendrick Thompson (men’s decathlon) and Charisma Taylor (women’s triple jump/100m hurdles).

#No coach has been selected as yet.

#Swimming – Izaak Bastian (men’s 50/100/200m breaststroke); Devante Carey (men’s 50/100m free, 50/100m/200m back and 50/100m fly); Lamar Taylor (men’s 50/100m free, 50/100/200m back and 50/100m fly); Luke Kennedy Thompson (men’s 50/100m breaststroke, 200/400/800m free and 200m IM); Lilly Higgs (50/100/200m breaststroke and 200m IM); Katelyn Cabral (women’s 50/100m butterfly, 50m free and 50/200m backstroke); Zaylie-Elizabeth Thompson (women’s 100/200m freestyle, 200m IM and 200m breaststroke); Rhanishka Gibbs (women’s 50/100m freestyle and 50/100m breaststroke).

#The coaches for the team are Andrew Loveitt and Travano McPhee.

#Cycling – Felix Neely Jr and Lorin Sawyer.

#Kenton Roker will be the team’s coach.

#Triathlon – Armando Moss (men’s sprint).

#Cameron Roach will be the coach.

#Wrestling – Rashji Mackey (freestyle 92 kilogram) and Thorn Demeritte (freestyle 74 kilogram).

#The coach will be Clinton Burke.

#Judo – Cynthia Rahming (women’s 57 kilogram) and Andrew Munnings (men’s 73 kilogram).

#Willard McKenzie Jr will be selected as the coach.

#Boxing – Carl Hield (junior middleweight); Rashield Williams (junior welterweight).

#The coach will be Vincent Strachan.

#With over 55,000 athletes expected to participate in the games, in addition to the coaches and officials, which should push the amount to over 75,000, Knowles said it will be very costly and that is one of the reasons why the Bahamas, like every other country, has been presented with a quota to meet.

#Knowles said they don’t have a qualifying standard for the games and while they are still working on a criteria, they are expected about the team selected, based on the recommendations from the national federations, to represent the Bahamas.

#And with athletes like Gardiner, Strachan and Charlton heading the list for Team Bahamas, Musgrove said it’s good when the calendars don’t clash and the elite athletes can compete for their country.

#“We are elated to have this quality and high calibre of athletes competing for the Bahamas for the games this time around,” Musgrove said.

#Musgrove, who has served as chef de mission for a number of national teams in the past, noted that these games will be like no other due to the COVID-19 restrictions with the Games Village for the athletes divided into three venues, for the athletes with the boxers at the NEC Hotel Campus, swimming and track and field at the University of Birmingham and the University of Warwick for cycling, triathlon, wrestling and judo.

#“These games are very, very complex and, as a result of that, the management of these teams will have to pull their weight,” Musgrove said.

#“Myself and the other management team will be spread very thin ensuring that Team Bahamas has the best possible opportunities in each and every sport to do what they need to do.

#“We want to create an environment as the management team whereas the coaches and athletes won’t have to worry about anything but to compete to the best of their abilities for the Bahamas over the three villages.”

#It’s anticipated that it will cost the BOA about $200,000 to cover the expenses of the games for all of the athletes, coaches and officials, including their travel, accommodations, insurances and per diem in Birmingham.

#“We have a responsibility for the athletes to showcase them in front of the world at no cost to their national federations,” Knowles said.

#“Thanks to our sponsors, Puma, Olympic Solidarity, Pan Am Sports and the Government of the Bahamas.”

#Due to the COVID-19, pandemic, Knowles said governments are finding it more difficult to sponsor events like this and so they will have to seek more support from corporate Bahamas to assist the national federations in carrying out their commitments to their athletes and coaches for their international events.

As of Tuesday, June 14, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#THE Bahamas Olympic Committee has gotten the approval for seven Bahamian athletes to receive a monthly stipend of $1,000 each from the Olympic Solidarity Scholarship heading into the 2024 Olympic Games.

#BOC president Romell Knowles made the announcement yesterday as they also revealed the teams that will represent the country at the inaugural Caribbean Games, scheduled for June 29-July 3 in Guadeloupe and the Commonwealth Games, set for July 29-August 7 in Birmingham, England.

#Ratified and approved from the list of entries submitted for the scholarships to help in their development going into the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France are the following athletes: Devante Carey from swimming; Devynne Charlton, Samson Colebrooke, Wendell Miller and Kendrick Thompson from athletics (track and field), Rashji Mackey from wrestling and Justin Roberts from tennis.

#Knowles said the athletes were selected based on the recommendations from the various national federations and a committee within the BOC selected the talents based on their talent or who has the highest level of potential to qualify in their particular sport.

#“That information is then sent on to the Olympic Solidarity, who then send it on to international federations from the various sport,” Knowles said. “The International Federation has to approve that athlete. If they approve it, the Olympic Solidarity would accept it.”

#The athletes will be getting the same amount as athletes from around the world.

#But at any point, Knowles said the fund could be stopped if any athlete is in violation of doping or if they are not consistent in their training process.

#“Ther BOC can stop it at any time. There are monthly policy reports and the IOC can question it or they can stop it,” Knowles said. “The whole idea is to help those athletes with the greatest financial need or the highest potential to qualify for the (Olympic) games.”

#While there are some athletes whom many feel should be considered for selection, Knowles said they tried to select the best possible athletes from the Bahamas to participate in the two-year programme.

#The programme, according to Knowles, will officially begin as the athletes receive their first pay cheque of $1,000 for the first month.

As of Tuesday, June 14, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#THE Bahamas will have a nine-member team among the 800 under-23 athletes from 29 countries competing at the historic inaugural Caribbean Games in Guadeloupe from June 29 to July 3.

#Romell Knowles, president of the BOC, revealed that it will cost about $100,000 for Team Bahamas to compete in the games, which will comprise of seven sports and is organised by the Panam Sports Association.

#Chef de mission Dorian Roach made the announcement of the team that includes the following athletes and coaches: Athletics (track and field) – Adrian Curry (men’s 100m); Camille Rutherford (women’s 100m); Megan Moss (women’s 400m); Corey Sherrod II (men’s 400m); Oscar Smith (men’s 100m hurdles) and Rhema Otabar (women’s javelin).

#The coach will be Kennord Mackey.

#Judo – Danial Strachan (men’s 90 kilogram) and Jasmine Russell (women’s 57 kilogram).

#Oneysi Portorreal Pons is the coach.

#Cycling – Felix Neely Jr (road race).

#Roach, who will travel on the management team with Rickey Davis as the doctor and Jenna Gibson as the physio-therapist, said it has been a long time coming for the staging of the games.

#“I know for a number of years, we have been trying to put on the Caribbean Games, a games that the English-speaking Caribbean countries can have as their own,” said Roach, a vice president of the BOC. “So we’re excited to see that dream to a fruition in 2022.”

#Roach, who is also the president of the Bahamas Triathlon Association, said they are hoping that the games will be established as one that the athletes can look forward to in the future.

#The initial games will also include basketball 3-on-3, futsal, swimming and netball, but Roach said they were unable to field any swimmers as the Bahamas Aquatics will be engaged in another event and they won’t have any swimmers available.

#“This is the first major kind of games after COVID. It’s a youth under-23 age group, so these are our athletes who are preparing for the bigger games in the future,” he said.

#“Guadeloupe is still going through some COVID-19 protocols, but we don’t expect to have any issues.

#“It’s unfortunate that we don’t have any swimmers and the track and field team is so small, but we have nine athletes who we feel will represent the country very well.”

#As these games are put on for the Caribbean athletes, Knowles said the Bahamas will support Guadeloupe in making sure that the games are a success and hopefully they can build on what takes place in the future.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg.

As of Tuesday, June 14, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#With a 25 percent increase that pushes their budget allocation to little over $5.8 million, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg produced a comprehensive programme.

#Minister Bowleg’s much-anticipated contribution to the budget debate in the House of Assembly yesterday touched on the return of the hefty grants to sporting federations, Sports in Paradise, athletes’ subvention and the Bahamas Games.

#Quoting from the legendary Nelson Mandela, Bowleg noted that while “sport has the power to change the world, to inspire and to unite people in a way that little else does,” it creates hope where once there was only despair and it is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers” as it “laughs in the face of all types of discrimination.”

#National Federation Grants

#He assured the national federations, which are in compliance with the Ministry, will have their annual grant of $80,000, which was first established 30 years ago, be restored after it was drastically cut to $20,000 in recent times. All B core sports, according to Bowleg, will receive an increase of 10 percent in their annual grants this fiscal year as well.

#Sports in Paradise

#“My hardworking team and I are revolutionising the Bahamas’ Sports in Paradise and sports tourism brand,” said Bowleg, the immediate past president of the Bahamas Basketball Federation, which brings a number of events to the country.

#“We are encouraging persons to book it, come to the Bahamas – but when you come, don’t forget to bring your sporting gear.”

#He also noted that work is being done on the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium in preparation for the men’s national basketball team practice sessions for the second window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers on July 4.

#While Grand Bahamian Chavano “Buddy” Hield, of the Indiana Pacers in the National Basketball Association, has already committed to competing on the team, the BBF is still waiting on confirmation from Deandre Ayton of the Phoenix Suns and Kai Jones of the Charlotte Hornets. The qualifier, according to Bowleg, is just one of the many events that heralds the “Sports in Paradise” schedule over the next few months, including the Hoop Fest Basketball Tournament in December when Los Angeles Lakers’ Lebron James is expected to make an appearance to watch his son play.

#Bowleg also commended National Football League player Michael Strachan of the Indianapolis Colts for spearheading a list of NFL stars that participated in the inaugural Bahamas All- Pro Celebrity weekend that also featured Michael Vick, former quarterback and 2010 Comeback Player of the Year; Los Angeles Charges’ Keenan Allen, a five-time Pro Bowler and Rashad Fenton, Melvin Ingram and DJ Swearinger.,

#The event was staged on the heels of the Cleveland Browns O-Line players training camp, led by quarterback Deshaun Watson, at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

#The Bahamas and its Caribbean director Greg Burrows are preparing to stage the Babe Ruth Caribbean Baseball Championships, featuring teams from the United States, China, the Caribbean and Cuba, at the newly refurbished Baillou Hills playing field.

#It’s expected that more than 20 teams in the under-12 and under-6 age group categories will participate in the five-day tournament from July 7-11.

#Bowleg also signified the commitment by the North American, Central American and Caribbean, headed by Mike Sands, to take their NACAC Track and Field Championships to Grand Bahama August 19-21 at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex.

#Next year, Bowleg revealed that NACAC will bring the 50th edition of the CARIFTA Games to the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium over the Easter holiday weekend.

#The government has earmarked $1 million to ensure that the event is a success.

#In their Blueprint for Change, Bowleg also disclosed that a technical team will be going to the World Athletics’ World Championships in July in Eugene, Oregon to present their formal communication to have the World Relays return to the Bahamas.

#Athletes’ Subvention

#Having heard the cry of the professional and amateur athletes, who have been pleading for support, Bowleg stated that his ministry will supply a total of $1.4 million into the Elite Athletes Programme to assist more than 100 athletes across 11 different sporting disciplines, inclusive of track and field, swimming, tennis, boxing, cycling, judo, volleyball, basketball, bodybuilding/fitness, golf and baseball.

#“The objective of the ‘Elite Athlete Subvention Programme’ is to provide financial assistance to our athletes, to reduce the financial burden of cost associated with their training and competition expenses,” he said. “This financial assistance programme has proven to be of valuable importance to our elite and developing athletes, as they are now able to focus more on their development rather than having to concern themselves about where the next dollar is coming from.”

#Under the (Philip) Davis led administration, Bowleg said they think different and knows the benefits of investing in the country’s athletes, coaches and other stakeholders.

#“Sports is one of the vehicles we are going to use to build a better tomorrow,” he stated. “To build and prepare our athletes for the world stage, we must start the search at home.”

#Bahamas Games

#To that end, Bowleg said they have commissioned a Bahamas Games Secretariat, headed by former Director of Sports, Martin Lundy, who along with his team, are actively and aggressively engaged in assessing, formulating, and executing plans for the return of an exciting and highly competitive Bahamas Games.”

#The games, known as the Bahamas Jubilee Games, are scheduled for July 5-16, 2023 in collaboration with the Bahamas’ 50th Anniversary of Independence.

#It’s expected, according to Bowleg, that 16 sporting disciplines, including softball, basketball, track and field, lawn tennis, swimming, field and beach soccer, indoor and beach volleyball, bodybuilding, boxing, cycling, baseball, youth Olympic sailing, regatta sailing and golf, will take place.

#Teams and islands expected to participate are New Providence, Abaco, Acklins, Andros, Bimini and the Berry Islands, Cat Island, Eleuthera, Exuma and Ragged Island, Grand Bahama, Long Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador and MICAL – Mayaguana, Inagua, Crooked Island and Long Cay. It will be the sixth edition of the mini-Olympic style games that got started in 1989 and continued in 1991, 1995, 1998 and 2001 when the last one took place.

#Special Olympians praised

#Bowleg also commended the Bahamas Special Olympics on their return home on Sunday from Orlando, Florida where they dominated the Special Olympics USA Games. The 23-member delegation, inclusive of Vashni Thompson, Austin Green, Bronson Aranha, Stephen Russell and Deron Forbes, was praised for their stellar performance.

#Bowleg said Bahamas Special Olympics president Gilbert Williams and the entire administration team, parents and volunteers must be commended for their hard work.

#He also singled out the men’s national soccer team that he watched on Friday night at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium where they played and lost 2-0 to Nicaragua.

#The team played their home game in the series on Monday night in Nicaragua, losing 4-0.

#Bowleg also announced that he will not forget his constituency of Garden Hills and will stage the annual Mario Bowleg Care Summer Camp June 27 to July 1 where participants will learn the fundamentals of the games of basketball, volleyball, baseball and swimming.

LEEVAN SANDS, far right, with some of the other Bahamian athletes who competed at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

As of Wednesday, June 15, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#WHILE he basked in the success of the Florida State Seminoles men’s track and field team, Olympic bronze medallist Leevan “Superman” Sands was just as in awe from what he saw from the Bahamian athletes competing at the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s National Outdoor Championships.

#Sands, a first year assistant coach with the Seminoles, helped guide Florida State to a fourth place finish in the men’s division of the four-day championship last weekend at the Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

#The Seminoles, coached by Bob Braman, came into the meet ranked at number three.

LEEVAN Sands with some of the jumpers from Florida State.

#“It was our best showing since 2012 and I’m happy to have been able to assist in our team success,” said Sands, who worked specifically with the jumpers. “I’m very proud of what our team was able to do.

#“I’ve only been here for the past nine months and the jumpers were able to buy into the programme that I gave them. They said they were so glad to have an Olympian on the staff and that is where they want to go. They want to become an Olympian, but they also want to win Olympic medals.”

#The 40-year-old Sands, who is preparing to retire from competing in the sport after winning a medal in just about every major competition, including a gold in the men’s triple jump in 2004 and the long jump in 2003, said he’s delighted to be a part of the coaching fraternity where he can now pass his knowledge on to the next generation of jumpers. “We have some very good jumpers and I am very pleased about what the future holds for them,” Sands said. “We still have some more work to do with them because about four of them will be going to the USA Trials for the World Championships next weekend, so I will be there with them as a coach. “If they make the team, I will be at the World Championships in July to assist them in the World Championships. So I’m excited about the direction that the programme is headed and we look forward to next year.”

#While at the championships, the Bahamian national triple jump record holder got a chance to share a moment with some of the Bahamian athletes who competed for their respective schools at the NCAA Nationals.

#“I was very proud of what I saw from the Bahamian athletes,” Sands said. “It seems that the programme is heading into the right direction because we have some athletes who can make their presence felt in the future.”

#Sands, a former athletes’ representative for the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations, said he was rather impressed by the performances from the athletes, but he was particularly pleased with Shaun Miller Jr, whom Sands believes will be the next legitimate high jumper for Ohio State and Clemson’s sprinter Wanya McCoy and Texas Tech’s Terrence Jones.

#“I was hoping to see Charisma Taylor (of Tennessee) perform, but a slight injury forced her out of the competition,” Sands said. “She will be back next year, so I’m looking forward to seeing what she can do once she gets healthy.”

#Always in the mood for recruiting athletes, Sands said he’s hoping that one day he can get some Bahamians on the roster of the Seminoles, but he noted that the standard is a little high and in order to get a scholarship, the student-athletes have to be well-grounded.

#“I know we have some Bahamian athletes who can compete for Florida,” he said.

#“I will continue to look out for them because I want to have some athletes competing for the Seminoles. But they have to be academically inclined as well. I will continue to pursue Bahamians, but they have to be ready.”

#Sands was one of a few Bahamians who were a part of their coaching staff at the Championships.

#Among the others were head coach Lonnie Greene and his assistant “Golden Girl” Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie for the University of Kentucky and Norbert Elliott, the head coach for Purdue.

#Kentucky, featuring Megan Moss, was fourth in the women’s standings, while their men’s team finished tied with two others for 36th place.

#Purdue didn’t score in either division.

#The Florida Gators, coached by Mike Holloway and featuring Denisha Anderson, who ran on the women’s 4 x400 metre relay team, won both the men and women’s titles.

#The best individual performance by a Bahamian came from Florida International University Panthers’ Rhema Otabor, who picked up a fourth-place finish in the women’s javelin.

A VIEW of the refurbished Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

As of Wednesday, June 15, 2022

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BBA secretary general Teddy Sweeting.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#THE Bahamas Baseball Association is expected to christen the refurbished Balliou Hills Sporting Complex this weekend with the return of the Junior National Baseball Championships.

#At least 25 teams from New Providence, Grand Bahama and Abaco will make up the package of Tee Ball (6-and-under), Coach Pitch (8-and-under), 10-and-under, 12-amnd-under, 14-and-under, 16-and-under and 18-and-under divisions.

#After hosting the event in Grand Bahama for the past decade, the BBA decided to bring it back to New Providence where it got started in 2003 and was staged here for at least seven years.

#“After coming out of the COVID-19 situation and with the renovations to the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex for the hosting of the Babe Ruth Caribbean Youth Championships in July, we made an agreement with the National Sports Authority to host the Nationals here so we can have a dry run,” said BBA secretary general Theodore ‘Teddy’ Sweeting.

#“We want to give the NSA’s team the opportunity to go through all of the protocols with a smaller grouping so that they will be able to iron out the knits in preparation for the Babe Ruth Caribbean Championships. So we will be able to help out with that and see how it goes.”

#With the renovations almost complete, Sweeting said they are eager to stage the Nationals at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex from Thursday to Sunday. He noted, however, that the official opening day activities, including the official opening ceremonies, will take place under the lights on the Bankers’ Field.

#“I think we still have a lot of work to do for the Babe Ruth National Tournament. But we hope to have everything completed in time for the event in July.

#Competing in the Nationals this weekend are teams from the Grand Bahama Grand Amateur Baseball League, the Grand Bahama Legacy League, New Providence’s Community Baseball League, the Ed Armbrister League, Freedom Farm and the Junior Baseball League of Nassau, and two leagues coming out of Abaco from the north and the central area of the island.

#Sweeting said the BBA is excited to see so many people in the Family Islands who are making a contribution to the growth and the development of the game.

#He said this is a good opportunity for these persons to showcase the talent they have to work with.

#“We start programmes in these islands, but we always need persons who are willing and committed to carrying on the work,” Sweeting said.

#“So we are happy that persons like Feast is making his contribution on the island of Abaco to assist the programme there.”

#While the teams will arrive on Thursday, they will go directly into the official opening ceremonies at the Bankers’ Field where Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg will declare the tournament open.

#Following the ceremonies, in which Bowleg is also expected to toss the first pitch, the tournament is set to get started with a Coach Pitch game.

#At least two or three games are scheduled for opening night, which will conclude with a massive fireworks display. “We want to do the fireworks because we had a two-year hiatus where we didn’t have any sports played because of COVID-19,” Sweeting said.

#“We know alot of the fans are looking forward to it and it will be something special for the players because they are so excited to be playing in the nationals again.”

#Unlike Grand Bahama where they got to play late in the evening under the lights at the Emera Baseball Complex, Sweeting said they won’t have the luxury at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex and so they will get started at 8am on Friday and Saturday and hope to be finished by 7pm.

#Sunday has been designed as championship day where all of the champions are expected to be crowned in each division.

#“We’re looking forward to an exciting weekend. We are praying for less rain or no rain,” Sweeting said.

#“We have a plan B, if it rains, so we have everything in place to make this a great weekend of baseball for our junior players.”

JACOBI Bain has completed his freshman season with the Gold Rush men’s tennis team at Xavier University of Louisiana as the ITA NAIA South Region Rookie of the Year.

As of Wednesday, June 15, 2022

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#Jacobi Bain completed his freshman season with the Gold Rush men’s tennis team at Xavier University of Louisiana as the ITA NAIA South Region Rookie of the Year.

#Bain, a six-foot, one-inch southpaw, was joined by Gold Rush team-mate Santiago Perez, who was selected as the Senior Player of the Year.

#While Perez, who hails from Pereira, Colombia, compiled a 21-1 win-loss record in singles and 17-4 in doubles as XULA completed the season with a 20-6 record, their first 20-win season of the modern era (1994-present), Bain went 20-7 in signals and 26-9 in doubles.

#Bain and Ramirez were also the NAIA doubles runners-up at the ITA Cup. And Bain also teamed up with Megh Pastel where they earned a no. 20 ranking in the ITA NAIA doubles rankings.

#The XULA will announce the national winners of these awards on Thursday, but Bain said he’s excited to be the fourth XULA man, all in the last six seasons, to win the rookie regional award.

#“I feel pretty good about it. It’s a great accomplishment to have,” said an elated Bain. “It was something that I was aiming for going into my first college year, so I felt pretty good about achieving the award.”

#Looking back at his season as a business management major, Bain admitted that he had some hiccups as a college freshman, but he managed to make the necessary adjustments as he went along during the season.

#“I think I had a pretty good season overall,” Bain said. “I may have lost two matches, but I definitely didn’t lose them in a row. So I was there fighting every day trying to get at my best. I think I did a pretty good job.”

#As the regional Rookie of the Year, the award turned out to be the highlight of his season. But he noted that on the court, beating their arch-rival William Carey, 4-1, was what stood out the most.

#In that tie, Bain won both doubles and singles.

#Throughout the season, he was normally the first Gold Rush player on the court so he didn’t get a chance to clinch any victories for XULA.

#But losing 4-3 in the Nationals turned out to be the lowest point for Bain, who got beat 6-4 in doubles, but won his singles 6-4, 6-2. “That was a tough pill to swallow because we were playing so well,” Bain stated.

#Bain, the 19-year-old son of Marion and Bradley Ban, is currently in Bradenton, Florida training at the Inspiration Tennis Academy as he looks to get better for next year. “Next year, I’m just looking forward to playing higher in the line-up. I want to be able to do my best to help my team succeed,” he said. “After winning this Rookie of the Year award, I’m inspired to get better and perform at a higher level when I return in August.”

Sheldon LongleySend an emailJune 13, 2022 295 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Competing at the Special Olympics USA Games for the first time, Special Olympics Bahamas turned in an exceptional effort, coming away with six medals – four gold and two bronze at the week-long event which wrapped up on Sunday in Orlando, Florida.

The 23-member squad, 12 from New Providence and 10 from Grand Bahama, returned home to a rousing reception at Lynden Pindling International Airport yesterday.

The Bahamas picked up four of those six medals on Tuesday – two gold and two bronze. “King” Deron Forbes showed why he is the self-proclaimed king of the 400 meters (m) in athletics, taking gold in that event after going into the final with the fourth-fastest time from the preliminaries.

Forbes came back in the men’s 200m on Friday and settled for fifth after going into the final with the third-fastest time out of the prelims.

Also on Tuesday, Stephen “Goliath” Russell out of Freeport, Grand Bahama, won gold in men’s singles in bocce. He won both of his men’s singles matches in the prelims on Monday, and then came back to win the gold medal match on Tuesday. Russell then teamed up with Vashni “Metro” Thompson to win the gold medal in their division in bocce doubles later in the week. They defeated Aruba 10-3 in the gold medal match.

Russell and Thompson were simply spectacular, finishing undefeated in the bocce doubles competition. In the preliminary round, they turned back Aruba by a score of 10-1 and then defeated Delaware by the same score, 10-1.

In women’s singles in bocce on Tuesday, Thompson settled for a bronze medal. In the prelims, she lost her first match and won the second.

In bowling singles on Tuesday, Bronson “B Man” Aranha won a bronze medal for The Bahamas, competing in the M12 Division. In the M5 Division, Austin “Mr. Big Stuff” Green had to settle for fourth, missing the bronze medal by seven pins. In the preliminary round, Green averaged 125 while Aranha averaged 122. The duo finished seventh in bowling doubles.

In soccer, The Bahamas finished with a 2-2 win/loss record, most importantly winning the gold medal match in their division on Friday. The Bahamas defeated Special Olympics Ohio, 4-3, for the gold medal, on Friday. The team lost 3-2 to Special Olympics Florida on Tuesday, fell 3-1 to Special Olympics Michigan on Wednesday, and then won its first match, defeating Special Olympics Colorado, 2-1, on Thursday. They then came back and won the gold medal on Friday.

“Our athletes continue to shine and we are very proud of them,” said National Director of Special Olympics Bahamas Gilbert Williams who traveled with the team. The Bahamas was competing in the Special Olympics USA Games for the first time and is scheduled to compete in the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, Germany, next year.

“We went after nine medals and came back with six, but we are proud of all of the athletes,” said Williams.

“Stephen ‘Goliath’ Russell said his goal coming into this event was to come away with a gold and that is exactly what he did, just erasing everyone in his path. One of his matches, he won 12-0, and then went on to win the gold. The self-proclaimed king of the 400 meters, Deron Forbes, went out there and showed what he could do. He could talk the talk and he certainly knows how to back it up. He went out there and won a gold as well.

“Forbes continued to impress in the 200m, and the bocce doubles team of Stephen Russell and Vashni Thompson, they were simply unstoppable. They ran all over the competition on that first day and then went out there and won gold. That dynamic duo went undefeated in doubles play in the competition. The soccer team bounced back from a rough start to win gold in their division. Bronson ‘B Man’ Aranha went out there and won a bronze medal for The Bahamas in bowling singles and Vashni did the same thing in bocce singles.

“There were some close finishes as well. Austin ‘Mr. Big Stuff’ Green had to settle for fourth in bowling singles, Forbes was fifth in the 200m in athletics, and the men’s doubles team of Austin Green and Bronson Aranha gave it their all but finished seventh in their division in bowling.

“The team performed extremely well, and outside of the performances, I can tell you that the athletes thoroughly enjoyed themselves. For many of them, this was their first time traveling to the US, for some of them, this was their first time at Disney, and for some of them, this was their first time competing internationally. With that being said, it was a great competition, a great time and it’s time for a great celebration. We appreciate all of the support that we’ve gotten, and with continued support, our athletes will continue to shine and make The Bahamas proud.”

The Bahamas competed in four sporting disciplines at the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games – athletics, bocce, bowling and soccer.

Over 3,800 athletes from the United States of America (USA), Canada and the Caribbean competed in 19 sporting disciplines in total. This was the first time that countries outside of the USA competed in the Special Olympics USA Games. The event was hosted by Walt Disney World, and all of the athletes and coaches had an opportunity to visit Disney’s Magic Kingdom and the other theme parks.

Most of the competitions took place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.