THE SENIOR women’s national basketball team celebrate with their bronze medals at the FIBA Caribbean Women’s Basketball Championships yesterday in Havana, Cuba.

As of Monday, July 18, 2022

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TEAM Bahamas coaching staff, from left to right, Deven Johnson, Diasti Delancy and Donillo Culmer.

DENIKA Lightbourne drives to the basket.

VALERIE Nesbitt drives through the defence of the Jamaican players.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#AFTER falling short of getting into the gold medal round, head coach Donillo ‘Donnie’ Culmer said the women’s national basketball team wanted to make sure Team Bahamas returns home with the bronze medal from the FIBA Caribbean Women’s Basketball Championships.

#Culmer, assisted by Diasti Delancy and Deven Johnson, held off Jamaica for a 68-57 victory in the third place at the end of the five-day tournament yesterday in Havana, Cuba. It was the Bahamas’ second victory over Jamaica after they won their first game in their only game in the round robin. “The team’s performance was great. We had some ups and downs, but this was a very young team and so some of the girls had some jitters,” said Culmer, who had at least two high school students who will be going into grade 12 in September.

#“We wanted to finish with the gold or at least play in the gold-medal game, but the Dominican Republic and Cuba were a little bit better than us on the days we played them and we felt a bit short.”

#The Bahamas, coming off an 81-56 loss to the Dominican Republic in the playoffs on Saturday, got a game high 14 points with 12 rebounds, two steals and a block from starting centre Britinique Harrison.

#Denika Lightbourne, the 17-year-old high school sensation, had 12 points with six rebounds, five steals and three assists and Valicia Demeritte added 12 points.

#No other player was in double figures, but La’Tavia Brennen contributed nine points with three rebounds, Antonicia Moultrie, another 17-year-old rising star, had six points with two rebounds, two steals, a blocked shot and an assist, Valeria Nesbitt also had six points with eight assists and five rebounds, Philicia Kelly had four points, three rebounds and two assists and Latoya Rolle chipped in with three points ad seven rebounds.

#Jamaica was led by Faatimah A with 12 points, eight assists, three rebounds, two steals and a block.

#The Bahamas held a slim 18-14 lead at the end of the first quarter and posted a 32-29 advantage at the half.

#The Bahamas came out of the locker room and went on a 18-9 spurt in the third to extend their margin to 50-38 at the end of the third quarter.

#Jamaica outscored the Bahamas in the fourth, but it wasn’t enough to stage the massive comeback for the upset.

#“Jamaica came out and gave us a run for our money in the first half,” Culmer said. “So I told the girls, we have to dig down deep because we have the whole Bahamas watching us. Today is Sunday and everyone was watching us. So if everyone does their job, we will be successful in taking home the bronze.”

#The other members of Team Bahamas were Karolyn Baptiste, Lorraine Oliver, Roberta Quant and Tiffany Wildgoose.

#The trainer was Sasha Johnson.

#Looking at the team they had to work with, Culmer said if the Bahamas Basketball Federation could keep the core players together, the future looks bright for the women’s national programme. “We need to find some bigs who are willing to play for their hometown and I think we should be good for a good eight years because these girls are very, very young,” Culmer reflected. “We have some girls who are going into their final year in high school in the United States and the Bahamas, so the future is bright for us.”

#Team manager Anastacia Moultrie said the Bahamian team made the tournament a tough one, but they are delighted to come back with the bronze.

#“We fell short shooting and not hitting the open shots and a lack of big women to help rebound,” Moultrie said.

#“But thank God we pulled off the bronze. So for November, hopefully we will have some bigs to go and by then, we will be working on our shooting.”

#The Bahamas will be back in November to participate in the CentroBasket Tournament.

#In the four-team field in the Caribbean Championships, the Bahamas was blown out 76-44 by Cuba on Wednesday and 73-50 by the Dominican Republic on Thursday before they won 74-53 over Jamaica on Friday for a 1-2 win-loss record and third place in the round robin standings.

#In their rematch against the second place Dominican Republic in the playoff on Friday, the Bahamas lost 81-56 to set up the showdown against Jamaica, who was winless in their three games in the round robin and lost to Cuba in the playoffs.

#Cuba stayed undefeated as they won the gold 79-60 over the Dominican Republic.

#The Bahamas will be back in Mexico November 22-27 to participate in the CentroBasket Tournament.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/18/fiba-womens-basketball-bahamas-earns-bronze/?news

As of Monday, July 18, 2022

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NATIONAL champions Sanadia Smith, Cara Saunders and Giovanni Farrington show off their awards.

KAIF Young displays his winning trophy.

TWIN brothers Wedlear and Wendly Eugene receive their awards.

JUDAH Forbes on the stage.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#KAIF Young, Fania Joseph, Cara Saunders, Giovanni Farrington and Sanadia Smith emerged as overall champions in the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation’s 49th National Bodybuilding Championships at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island on Saturday night.

#Their performances should cement their spots on the federation’s national team that will represent the Bahamas at the Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships July 27 to August 1 at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Center in Bridgetown, Barbados.

#Federation president Joel Stubbs said they are expected to announce the team selection within a day or two so that the athletes can prepare for the trek to the championships.

#Fans showed up in great numbers in groups to support their favourite competitor as they yelled and screamed every time they came onto the stage to strut their stuff until the announcements were made on the final winners.

#Young, omitted from the final stage appearances with all of the winners, said he was not disappointed when his name wasn’t called for the men’s physique title. He kept his composure and was more elated that the officials recognised the mistake, albeit, after the crowd had dispersed.

#“I felt good about it. I knew I worked hard for it all season,” said Young in receiving the trophy in his bitter-sweet victory. “It showed tonight. I put in the work and I am happy. Things happen. That’s a part of life.”

#The 37-year-old Young, however, said his focus is concentrated on getting ready for his fourth CAC Championships. He intends to be “sharper” as he changes his diet to go on stage more developed in his bid to improve on his second place finish at the 2019 championships.

#From lacing up her track shoes to walking on stage in more high heels, Saunders didn’t have a problem making the necessary adjustments to becoming the women’s wellness champion.

#“I anticipated doing very well, but nothing is never expected in this sport because it is so objective,” she said. “I just know I had a plan and I wanted to be effective with my plan and I wanted to execute the things that I trained for. I’m just so happy to be on this stage performing.”

#The 38-year-old Saunders was a promising 400m specialist, but since 2018, she’s been in the gym preparing for her transition to the big stage as a fitness competitor. “I won the Northern Division and I won it again here, so I’m just so elated,” said Saunders, who started competing in the wellness competition in 2016 when it was first introduced, but noted that she definitely misses track and field because “it’s still my first love.”

#As she prepares for CAC, the self-employed Saunders said she would like to be able to put on some more mass to be more effective.

#Already acclaimed as the first female heavy equipment operator at Bahama Rock in Grand Bahama, Sanadia Smith came to town and crushed the competition in the women’s figure category.

#She was also honoured for assisting in the success of the recent Northern Bahamas Championships.

#“I felt like I made an improvement from the initial show that they had in Grand Bahama,” said Smith of her victory in the same category at the Northern Bahamas Championships. “I love the competition. I brought my A-game and I felt very good being on the stage.”

#The 31-year-old Smith said if selected for the CAC Championships, she wants to just “tighten up” and be a lot leaner.

#With his two coaches Paul ‘Mighty Mouse’ Wilson and Leonardo ‘Nardo’ Dean presenting him on stage with his men’s bodybuilding title, Farrington said he couldn’t ask for a better performance.

#“I want to give God thanks for allowing me to come here and to perform,” said Farrington, a long-time member of the Royal Bahamas Police Force. “I was actually thinking about calling it quits when COVID-19 came.

#“However, my coaches saw the potential in me and I also want to thank Joel Stubbs because he was there to help motivate and encourage me in training. I came out here and I brought the package to win and now it’s time to get ready for the CAC Championships.”

#Looking at the performances, president Stubbs said the show was a great one, considering that many fans showed up as they were eager to watch the competitors compete for the first time since the pandemic stuck in 2020.

#“We are starting and rebuilding at the same time,” Stubbs said. “We will mix the bitter with the sweet and at the same token, encourage and support these new athletes who came on board and want to advance and excel in their fitness goals. We want to be there for them”

#• Here’s the results from the various categories:

#Men’s Physique Champion – Kaif Young.

#Women’s Bikini Champion – Fania Joseph.

#Women’s Wellness Champion – Cara Saunders.

#Men’s Bodybuilding Champion – Giovanni Farrington.

#Men’s Physique Class A – 1. Justin Lightbourne.

#Men’s Physique Class C – 1. Anthon Moxey.

#Men’s Physique Class D – 1. Wedlear Eugene, 2. Wendly Eugene (twin brothers).

#Men’s Physique Class E – 1. Judah Forbes, 2. Dangelo Edmunds.

#Men’s Physique Class F – 1. Kaif Young, 2. Davin Johnson, 3, Terrion Kemp.

#Men’s Classic Physique – 1. Andrew Gibson, 2. Orick Nesbitt, 3. Andrew Sweeting.

#Men’s Physique Novice Open Class – 1. Davin Johnson, 2, Judah Forbes, 3, D’Angelo Edmunds.

#Women’s Bikini Class B – 1. Fania Joseph.

#Women’s Bikini Class G – 1. Kastachia Stuart, 2. Danielle Rollins.

#Women’s Bikini Class H – 1. Britnaa Davis.

#Women’s Bikini Novice – 1. Kastachia Stuart, 2. Britnae Davis, 3. Danielle Rollins.

#Women’s Bikini Novice Open Class – 1. Dorcas Cox, 2. Jackie-Jean Cleare.

#Women’s Wellness Class B – 1. Altonique Curtis.

#Women’s Wellness Class C – 1. Cara Saunders, 2. Denica Thompson.

#Women’s Wellness Class D – 1. Jackie-Jean Cleare.

#Women’s Wellness Novice – 1. Altonique Curtis, 2. Denica Thompson, 3. Jackie-Jean Cleare.

#Men’s Bodybuilding Middleweight – 1. Giovanni Farrington, 2. Andrew Gibson, 3. Andrew Sweeting.

#Men’s Bodybuilding Novice Middleweight – Andrew Gibson.

#Men’s Bodybuilding Super Heavyweight – 1. Orick Nesbitt.

#Men’s Muscular Physique – 1. Gemo Smith.

#Men’s Masters Bodybuilding – 1. Orick Nesbitt. 2. Andrew Sweeting.

#Women’s Fitness – 1. Seanea Bowe.

#Women’s Fitness Model – 1. Sanadia Smith.

#Women’s Figure Novice – 1. Dorcas Cox, 2. Jackie- Jean Cleare.

#Women’s Figure Open – 1. Dorcas Cox, 2. Sanadia Smith, 3. Jackie-Jean Cleare.

#Men’s Fitness Open Class – 1. Alexander Kemp.

#Men’s Fitness Model Nationals – 1. Alexander Kemp, 2. Kyle Turnquest.

#Men’s Classic Physique Novice – 1. Andrew Gibson.

#Gym with the most participants – J-Line Fitness.

As of Monday, July 18, 2022

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Kai Jones (AP Photo)

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#KAI Jones and the Charlotte Hornets concluded the NBA2K23 Las Vegas Summer League with a 2-3 win-loss record.

#In five games, the second year forward averaged 8.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and two blocked shots in 20 minutes per game.

#He had his best performance of Las Vegas Summer with 11 points (5-7 field goals), six rebounds and two blocks in a 90-81 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

#He opened league play with 10 points and nine rebounds in a 96-84 loss to the Indiana Pacers, but struggled from beyond the arc as he shot 0-10 on threes. He also posted nine points and eight rebounds in an 89-73 loss to the Chicago Bulls and also eight points, four rebounds and four blocks in an 89-86 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

#This year marked Jones’ second appearance in the Las Vegas Summer League.

#As a rookie last year, he averaged 9.8 points and 9.4 rebounds in 28.1 minutes per game.

#The team was coached by Greensboro Swarm head coach Jordan Surenkamp.

#At the NBA level with the Hornets, Jones appeared in 21 NBA games but played sparingly on the bench, but excelled at the G-League level under Surenkamp on assignment with the Swarm.

#He averaged 16.5 points on 61.4 percent shooting from the field – 32 percent from three-point range – 9.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.1 blocks in 32 total G League games. He also posted 15 total double-doubles.

#Jones highlighted the season with a career high 30 points and grabbed nine rebounds in a 139-119 win over the Long Island Nets on March 27 at the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina. “I bought in out of the gate. I love basketball, so once I was told about the opportunity to play 30 minutes (in Greensboro) because I wasn’t playing up here (in the NBA), I was jumping. I was so excited and ready to go. It gives me extreme confidence. Coming in, I believed I could have an impact on this team on both ends.Now, it’s just that I think I can have a greater impact. I know there’s no ceiling for me. Just continue to work,” Jones said in his postseason exit interview.

#“Coming into the season, I didn’t think I was going to be down there, but God had a plan and I’m glad that I did go. I learned so much about myself and grew so much. It’s a blessing. The biggest thing for me was walking in gratitude. I think that’s huge. Learning how to be so grateful for playing the game every day and with the opportunity you have in front of you, making the most out of it.”

#Jones was selected No. 19 overall by the New York Knicks but his rights were traded to the Hornets for a future first round pick in the 2021 NBA Draft in June at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/18/jones-and-hornets-end-summer-league-2-3-win-loss-r/?news

MILLIE Vlasov and Gulliver du Saint-Chene have a clear first round in the CSI2* 1.45m Grand Prix at the Jumping International de Vichy event in Vichy, France.

As of Monday, July 18, 2022

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SMILES and tears of joy as Vlasov’s performance makes her the first Bahamian ever to achieve the Longines World Rankings in show jumping.

#MILLIE Vlasov achieved the most significant milestone yet in her equestrian career, becoming the first Bahamian show jumper to earn a place in the Longines World Rankings as a result of her placing in the 26.000 CSI2* 1.45m Grand Prix at the Jumping International de Vichy event in Vichy, France, aboard Gulliver du Saint-Chene.

#Out of a field of 54, the pair were only one of 15 to jump clear over French course designer Jean-François Gourdon’s challenging first round track, completing the course in 74.12 seconds.

#An unlucky rail down on the second fence of the jump-off cost Vlasov four faults. Despite this, a series of tight, nimble turns between the fences helped to shave off extra seconds, a successful strategy that landed her in the prize money – and, for the first time, in the Longines World Rankings.

#The Longines Rankings are the way the governing body of equestrian sport, the FEI, ranks the best riders in the world. The list is updated weekly.

#To be eligible for Longines Ranking points, riders must place in competitions meeting certain requirements with regards to fence height, technical difficulty and prize money.

#Competitions are divided into groups depending on the level of each.

#Vlasov’s performance earned her a spot in three categories. As well as the Longines Rankings, she is also now ranked in the FEI Jumping U25 Ranking and in the Pan-American Rankings.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/18/vlasov-achieves-longines-world-rankings/?news

As of Friday, July 15, 2022

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Bahamas’ Denika Lightbourne holds onto the basketball.

Head coach Donillo ‘Donnie’ Culmer leads the Bahamas cheering squad on the sidelines.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#AFTER losing their first two games in the FIBA Caribbean Women’s Basketball Championships, Team Bahamas rebounded with three players in double figures as they took their frustration out on Jamaica on Friday in Havana, Cuba.

#Unlike their previous two losses to host Cuba on Wednesday and the Dominican Republic on Thursday, Team Bahamas came out firing on all cylinders and looked like a well oiled machine in a 74-53 rout.

#Team Bahamas surged to a 21-10 lead at the end of the first quarter and, despite being out-scored 19-15 in the second quarter by Jamaica, the team held onto a 36-29 advantage at the half.

#Coming out of the locker room, Team Bahamas turned up the heat with a 23-16 spurt in the third to take a 59-45 margin into the fourth quarter.

#Putting the finish touches on the game, Team Bahamas went on a 15-9 tear in the final quarter to stamp their approval on what has been a gratifying performance for the coaching staff led by Donillo ‘Donnie’ Culmer and including Diasti Delancy and Deven Johnson.

#Team Bahamas, with Sasha Johnson as the trainer, saw manager Anastacia Moultrie’s 16-year-old daughter Antonicia Moultrie leading the attack with 15 points, four rebounds, two assists and as many steals in her starting role in 24 minutes and 36 seconds on the court.

#Philicia Kelly, one of the veterans on the team at age 32, exploded for 14 points with three rebounds and a pair of steals, while 17-year-old Denika Lightbourne, the leading top performer for the Bahamas so far, contributed 12 points with five rebounds, four steals and two assists.

#Valerie Nesbitt, the team’s 23-year-old floor general, came through with nine points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals; Valicia Demeritte, 22, chipped in with seven points and three assists and 29-year-old centre Britenique Harrison finished with six points, 11 rebounds and five block shots.

#Other members of Team Bahamas are Latoya Rolle, 34; Karolyn Baptiste, 19; La’Tavia Brennen, 22; Lorraine Oliver, 30; Roberta Quant, 45 and Tiffany Wildgoose, 31.

#Gezelle Anderson led Jamaica with a game high 17 points and nine rebounds.

#Team Bahamas was coming off a 73-50 loss to the Dominican Republic on Thursday after suffering a 76-44 decision to Cuba on Wednesday on day one of the tournament. With only four teams in the tournament, Team Bahamas finished third in the round robin with a 1-2 win-loss record.

#On Saturday, however, the playoffs will get underway and Team Bahamas will face the Dominican Republic (2-1), while Cuba (3-0) will battle with Jamaica (0-3). The two winners will meet for the gold and silver on Sunday and the two losers will square off for the bronze.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/15/team-bahamas-recovers-defeat-jamaica/

 Home|Sports|The Bahamas finishes third at CBC; advances to CentrobasketSports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailJuly 18, 2022 109 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Bahamas has advanced to the FIBA Americas Women’s Centrobasket Championship in November after taking care of Jamaica in the third placed game of the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Women’s Championship yesterday, winning 68-57, at the Ciudad Deportiva Coliseum in Havana, Cuba.

It was an up and down tournament for The Bahamas at the CBC Championships, losing emphatically to Cuba and the Dominican Republic (DR), but taking care of Jamaica when it needed to – during the single round robin section of the tournament and prevailing in the game yesterday, to advance. Earlier in the tournament, they defeated Jamaica 74-53.

In the semifinals on Saturday, The Bahamas was drubbed, 81-58, to the DR, losing by 23 points again. They also fell by 23 points to the DR during the single round robin section of the tournament. In their first game of the tournament, against Cuba, they lost 76-44.

However, the top three teams advances to Centrobasket, and given their dominance over Jamaica, Team Bahamas was able to move on with a third place finish.

The Bahamas trailed just briefly, 2-0, in the opening minutes of the game against Jamaica.

After they went ahead 3-2, they never looked back. After Jamaica scored the first basket of the game, The Bahamas scored seven in a row to take a 7-2 lead. They went on to lead 18-14 after one.

Jamaica stayed close in the second quarter, but could never pull even or surge ahead. They stayed within striking distance, trailing just 32-29 at the half.

It was in the third quarter when The Bahamas began to pull away from the Jamaicans. After Jamaica got to within a single point at 32-31, The Bahamas went on 10-1 scoring run to take their first double digit lead of the game, 42-32. They led by as much as 14 before settling for a 50-38 advantage at the end of three.

The Bahamas led by as much as 19 points in the fourth and final quarter. The Jamaicans scored the final eight points of the game to make the score respectable, but it was too little too late for them.

Britenique Harrison paced The Bahamas with 14 points on 7-for-12 shooting. She added 10 rebounds for her second consecutive double-double, and third of the tournament. Denika Lightbourne had 12 points, six rebounds, five steals and three assists, and Valicia Demeritte added 12 points. They were the only players in double figures for The Bahamas.

Amen-Ra Faatimah led Jamaica with 12 points and added eight assists. Ashalee Gordon and Cadene Cowan added 11 apiece and Gezelle Allison dropped in seven and pulled down 12 boards. Cowan had a game-high 14 rebounds.

The Bahamas shot 35.4 percent from the floor (28-for-79) compared to 27.9 percent (19-for-68) for Jamaica. The Bahamas also forced a whopping 27 turnovers in the game while committing just 14, and dished out 16 assists compared to 11 for Jamaica. 

Host country Cuba and Jamaica played for the gold medal late last night. The result of that game was unavailable up to press time.

Team Bahamas was coached by Donillo ‘Donny’ Culmer and he was assisted by Devon Johnson and Diasti Delancey. The five-day tournament was sanctioned by FIBA (International Basketball Federation), and the top three nations qualified for the FIBA Americas Women’s Centrobasket Championship in November.

https://thenassauguardian.com/the-bahamas-finishes-third-at-cbc-advances-to-centrobasket/

 Home|Sports|Strachan just misses final; Gaither false starts, Miller-Uibo cruisesSports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailJuly 18, 2022 48 4 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Team Bahamas is off and running at the 18th World Athletics (WA) Outdoor Championships which got underway Friday at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, USA.

Both Anthonique Strachan and TyNia Gaither made it through to the semifinals of the women’s 100 meters (m) but could get no further as Strachan just fell short and Gaither suffered the most unfortunate result when she was disqualified for a false start. From the naked eye, it was near impossible to catch a false start from Gaither, but the starting blocks at World Athletics are fully automated and any glitch in the set position could trigger a false start. Gaither’s reaction time was 0.093 seconds. The allowable limit is 0.1. According to reports, she protested, but the final was ran last night without her.

As for Strachan, she ran a lifetime best in the semis, clocking 10.98 seconds, but was fifth in her heat and finished 10th overall in what turned out to be a blazing trifecta of semifinal races. A total of 10 women in the semis, including Strachan, ran under 11 seconds, possibly going down as the fastest women’s 100m semifinals in world championships history.

Strachan, who was one one hundredth of a second ahead of her previous personal best time, said she was pleased with her performance. She along with Gaither will run in the heats of the women’s 200m this evening.

“I like it. I ran a nice race and was able to get a PB (personal best time) out of it. I gave it my all and just came up short,” said Strachan from Hayward Field last night. “I am a better 200 runner, so I’m looking forward to that. I’m excited and looking forward to it.”

In the heats, Strachan ran 11.08 seconds while Gaither ran 11.16 seconds.

Last night’s final featured three Jamaicans and two Americans.

Strachan was looking to make her first global individual final on the senior side while Gaither was looking to make her third. She finished eighth in the women’s 200m at the last two world championships.

In the women’s 400m, two-time Olympic Champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo cruised into the semifinals, easily winning her first round heat in 51.10 seconds. She goes into the semis with the ninth-fastest time out of the heats and will run out of lane six in the first of three semifinal heats at 9:45 p.m. on Wednesday. Just the top two and the next two fastest times from the heats will advance to Friday’s final.

Donald Thomas was the first to see action for The Bahamas, competing in the men’s high jump on Friday. He had a best leap of just 2.21m (7’ 3”), and failed to qualify for the final. Thomas finished tied for 12th in his group and was tied for 23rd overall out of 29 jumpers.

The Bahamian had a successful clearance of 2.17m (7’ 1-1/4”) to one his competition before knocking the bar down on his first two attempts at 2.21m. Thomas went clear on his third attempt at 2.21m, but failed in all three attempts at 2.25m (7’ 4-1/2”).

LaQuan Nairn got his first taste of global competition in the men’s long jump, and also bowed out in the qualifying round. Nairn had a best jump of 7.80m (25’ 7-1/4”), well short of his qualifying leap for the worlds – a jump of 8.22m (26’ 11-3/4”) that was done at the USA Track and Field (USATF) Golden Games at Hilmer Lodge Stadium in Walnut, California, in April.

Nairn leapt 7.80m on his first and third attempts and scratched on his second. He finished 18th among a field of 32 jumpers on Friday. Just the top 12 jumpers or an automatic qualifying leap of 8.15m (26’ 9”) made it into the final.

Samson Colebrooke experienced action in the men’s 100m and failed to make it out of the first round. Colebrooke was fifth in his heat and finished fifth in his heat and was 38th overall in 10.23 seconds. The final cut-off time for none-automatic qualifiers for the semis was 10.15 seconds.

It was an American sweep in the final as Fred Kerley went on to win his first global individual title in 9.86 seconds, Marvin Bracy was second in 9.88 seconds and Trayvon Bromell ran an identical time as Bracy but was outleaned for the silver. He finished with the bronze.

Terrence Jones was also scheduled to run the 100m for The Bahamas, but according to reports, he is not vaccinated and wasn’t allowed to compete.

The Bahamas competed in the heats of the mixed relay on Friday, but the team of Bradley Dormeus, Megan Moss, Alonzo Russell and Doneisha Anderson, in that order, could only manage a time of 3:19.73 which then gave a seventh place finish in their race. They were 15th overall out of 16 countries.

The Dominican Republic went on to a stunning gold in the final coming from behind to past the United States (US). The team, featuring Olympic silver medalist in the women’s 400m Marileidy Paulino, won in a world leading time of 3:09.82, the Netherlands also past the US and finished second in a national record of 3:09.90, and the Americans featuring the legendary Allyson Felix in what should be her final world championships race, finished third in a season’s best time of 3:10.16.

Competing for The Bahamas this evening will be Gaither and Strachan in the heats of the women’s 200m. Gaither will run out of eight in the fourth of six heats at 9:21 p.m, and Strachan will run out of lane eight in heat six at 9:35 p.m. The first three in each heat and the next six fastest times will move on to tomorrow’s semifinals.

Miller-Uibo will run in the women’s 400 semifinals on Wednesday.

https://thenassauguardian.com/strachan-just-misses-final-gaither-false-starts-miller-uibo-cruises/

 Home|Sports|All hail the return of the nationalsSports

New national champions crowned in bodybuilding and fitness

Sheldon LongleySend an emailJuly 18, 2022 130 6 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Starving for an opportunity to compete, bodybuilding and fitness athletes came out in full force on Saturday night and the fans showed their approval, signaling a grand return of the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation’s (BBFF) Novice and National Championships.

The 49th edition of the bodybuilding and fitness nationals, and the first in three years, due to the threat of COVID-19, drew hundreds to the Atlantis Theater at Atlantis on Saturday night.

Coming out with the overall titles were Fania Joseph in Open Bikini, Cara Saunders in Women’s Wellness, Kaif Young in Men’s Physique and Giovanne Farrington in Men’s Bodybuilding. Overall, 30 athletes took part in the competition and, for all of them, it was a welcomed experience after a three-year hiatus at the national level.

Joseph competed in just her second nationals. She competed for the first time in 2019 and is now the National Bikini Champion.

“I feel very good. This is incredible,” said Joseph. “I worked extremely hard for the past four months or so, and I feel as if the hard work has definitely paid off. I brought my best to the national stage and I’m very happy with the result. The work continues.”

Joseph will now prepare for the 49th Annual Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships, set for July 27 to August 1, in Bridgetown, Barbados. The CACs is an International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness’ (IFBB) world ranking event and an IFBB elite pro qualifier. Several Bahamians have attained their IFBB pro cards from the CACs over the years.

“I’m very grateful to the federation (BBFF) because even though we didn’t have nationals, they still provided opportunities for us to compete over the last three years,” said Joseph. “Right now, I’m just looking to going to the CACs and representing The Bahamas well. I’m optimistic that I will have a good showing.”

Joseph won the Open Bikini Class B title and the Overall Bikini title. In the Novice Division, Kastachia Stuart was the winner and she was followed by Britnae Davis and Danielle Rollins. In the Open Bikini Class G, Stuart came out on top and she was followed by Rollins. Davis took home the Class H title.

Also celebrating her first overall national title was Saunders, who duplicated her feat from the Northern Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships two weeks ago, in Women’s Wellness. She also won in Open Wellness Class C and was followed by Denica Thompson in that division. In Women’s Wellness Novice, Altonique Curtis came out on top and she was followed by Thompson, then Jackie-Jean Cleare. Curtis won in Women’s Wellness Class B and Cleare came out on top in Women’s Wellness Class D.

“This feels absolutely amazing,” said Grand Bahama native Saunders, who started competing in 2016. “After Northern Bahamas, I wanted to come out here and do the same thing, and I did. That was big for me. It’s so surreal. I wasn’t so much nervous, but I was a bit anxious.”

Saunders said she is looking to put on a little more mass, particularly in her glutes (gluteal muscles), for the CACs in less than two weeks’ time.

Prevailing in Men’s Physique for the second time in a row, dating back to 2019, was Kaif Young. He also took the Open Men’s Physique Class F title and was followed by Davin Johnson and Terrion Kemp in that division. Johnson won the Novice title and was followed by Judah Forbes and D’Angelo Edmunds in that division. Justin Lightbourne won in Men’s Physique Class A, Anthon Moxey took the Class C title, Wedlear Eugene won in Class D and was followed by his twin brother Wendly Eugene, and Forbes took the Class E title and was followed by Edmunds.

There were three other competitors in Men’s Physique – Gordon White, Kory Ingraham and sports broadcaster Marcellus Hall. Men’s Physique had the most competitors with 12 competitors in action.

In men’s Classic Physique, Andrew Gibson came out on top and was followed by Orick Nesbitt and Andrew Sweeting. Gibson won in men’s classic physique novice as well.

In Men’s Physique, Young celebrated his overall title much later than he was supposed to, as Lightbourne was initially announced as the overall winner. The BBFF admitted the error, and long after the show would have ended and fans left the arena, Young was decreed the official winner.

“I’m very happy,” said Young, who has been involved in the sport for 15 years. “It’s been a long journey for me, putting in the work since 2007, and to come here and win the national overall title is a good feeling. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to take it to further heights.

“I’m looking forward to traveling with the national team, and I hope I’m able to attain a pro card in Barbados. I’m definitely looking to finish in the top three, but it would be a blessing to attain a pro card. Normally, we would take about a week off, but with CACs being so close, it’s back in the trenches, starting tomorrow. There are no breaks this time. I want to bring back some trophies and hardware to The Bahamas. That’s the plan.”

Young said he was a bit disappointed not receiving the overall title on stage and taking a picture with the other overall winners, but he knows that mistakes happen and he is prepared to move forward.

“That’s a part of life. Mistakes happen but I try to remain humble through the whole process and move forward,” he said.

Claiming the title of Mr. Bahamas in Men’s BodyBuilding was Farrington. With athletes such as Jimmy Norius and Charles Reckley no longer on the scene, someone has to step up in Men’s Bodybuilding and carry on the legacy. Norius and Reckley are both three time national champions and Mr. Bahamas winners.

Farrington also won the Men’s Middleweight Division in Bodybuilding and was followed by Andrew Gibson and Andrew Sweeting. Gibson came out on top in Middleweight Novice, Orick Nesbitt won in Men’s Super Heavyweight, and in Men’s Masters, and was followed by Sweeting.

“It’s a great honor. I feel great,” said Farrington. “I give God all the glory and praise. Because of the Almighty, I am healthy and fit and here competing today. I was actually going to call it quits, but I just stuck in there and kept training. I went after it, and I have to give guys like Leonardo Dean and Paul Wilson credit because they encouraged me to go after it. Also, when I started my training, I was under Joel’s (BBFF President Joel Stubbs) tutelage, so I have to give him credit as well. I’m pleased and just grateful. I’m going to Barbados with a total package and bigger body,” he added.

Other winners on Saturday night included Sanadia Smith in Women’s Fit Model; Alexander Kemp, who won three gold medals – Men’s Fit Model Novice, Men’s Fit Model National and Men’s Fitness; Gemo Smith in Men’s Muscular Physique; Seanea Bowe in Women’s Fitness; and Dorcas Cox, who won in Women’s Figure Novice and Women’s Figure National.

In Men’s Fit Model National, Kemp held off Kyle Turnquest; in Women’s fFgure Novice, Cox defeated Jackie-Jean Cleare; and in Women’s Figure National, Kemp prevailed over Smith and Cleare.

Smith won the Women’s Team Player award and the Men’s Team Player award went to Demeko Nesbitt, who didn’t compete on Saturday night, but is a former athlete at the nationals level for The Bahamas and now competes as a professional.

Smith also won the Most Improved Female Athlete while Terrion Kemp took home that award for the men.

There was an award presented to the gym with the most athletes entered in the show, and that award went to J-Line Fitness Bahamas with seven athletes. The Northern Bahamas gym participation award went to Nesbitt Fitness with six athletes entered.

“I just want to say thanks to all of the athletes who took part and to everyone who worked behind the scenes to ensure that this event came off. Also, special thanks to all the athletes who came down from Freeport and made this an even better show,” said BBFF Project Manager Leonardo Dean. “We’re looking forward to getting a national team together, but for that to be realized, we will need to determine how much funding we are able to receive. If we receive the funding that is promised to us, we will be able to go to the CACs. We’re reaching out to the government to honor their commitment to us and also to corporate Bahamas. We really need this funding to make the trip to the CACs happen.”

As mentioned, the 49th annual CAC Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships is set for July 27 to August 1 in Bridgetown, Barbados.

https://thenassauguardian.com/all-hail-the-return-of-the-nationals/

The Bahamas mixed relay team of Alonzo Russell, Bradley Dormeus, Megan Moss and Doneisha Anderson.

As of Saturday, July 16, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#THE Bahamas, with a mixed relay team and three individual athletes, didn’t have a successful negotiation through the qualifying rounds of their respective events to advance on Friday as the World Athletics’ 2022 World Championships got underway in Eugene, Oregon.

#In the heats of the mixed relay, the Bahamas team of 24-year-old Bradley Dormeus, running a split of 47.94, 20-year-old Megan Moss (52.23), 30-year-old Bahamian Alonzo Russell (43.80) and 21-year-old Doneisha Anderson (53.76) finished seventh in three minutes and 19.73 seconds.

#The team finished in 15th place with the two heats combined.

#Grand Bahamian Donald Thomas, the 38-year-old 2007 world champion, bowed out of the qualifying rounds of the men’s high jump with a leap of 7-feet, 3-inches or 2.21 metres for a tie in 12th place in Group B and 23rd overall.

#In the evening session of day one, Samson Colebrooke was the only competitor to show up in the heats of the men’s 100m. He placed fifth in heat five in 10.23 for 39th place overall. American Fred Kerley had the leading performance with a stunning time of 9.97, followed by his compatriot Trayvon Bromell in 9.89.

#Grand Bahamian native Terrence Jones Jr was also scheduled to compete, but he didn’t.

#The only other competitor in action on Friday night was LaQuan Nairn in the qualifying round of the men’s long jump. He soared 25-7 1/4 (7.80m) for 10th in Group B and 18th overall. The top qualifier was Yuki Hashoka of Japan with 26-10 (8.18m) with American Marquis Derdy trailing with 26-9 ¼ (8.16m).

#On Saturday as day two unfolds, Anthonique Strachan, 28, will continue the Bahamas trek through the 10-day competition being held in the United States for the first time, when she contests the first heat of the women’s 100m.

#The Bahamian national runner-up will run out of lane three with her lifetime and season’s best of 10.99 ahead of her 27-year-old Jamaican training partner Shericka Jackson, who will run out of lane two with her season’s best of 10.77, just off her personal best of 10.76.

#And 29-year-old national champion TyNia Gaither will follow in heat two in lane eight with her season’s beat of 11.11. Her lifetime best is 11.02. The top contender in her heat is Jamaica’s 35-year-old Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who will also run out of lane two with her season’s best of 10.67 and her lifetime best of 10.60.

#The top three finishers in each of the seven heats and the next two fastest finishers will advance to the semi-final on Sunday. Both Strachan and Gaither will also contest the 200m starting on Monday with the heats.

#Also on Sunday, repeat Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo, 28, will open her campaign in the women’s 400m as she goes after the gold that slipped away from her in 2019 in Doha, Qatar when she was beaten by Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser.  

#The Bahamas, however, will not have 26-year-old Steven Gardiner in Eugene to defend his world title in the men’s 400m. Gardiner announced just before the start of the championships that he had to withdraw from the competition with a UTE tendon inflammation to his right foot.

#The Bahamas also has the women’s 4 x 400m relay; Devynne Charlton in the women’s 100m hurdles and Ken Mullings in the men’s decathlon to compete later in the week in the bid to continue a string of winning at least one medal at the championships since 2013.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/16/world-championships-bahamian-athletes-action-day-o/?news

As of Friday, July 15, 2022

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Bahamas’ Denika Lightbourne holds onto the basketball.

Head coach Donillo ‘Donnie’ Culmer leads the Bahamas cheering squad on the sidelines.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#AFTER losing their first two games in the FIBA Caribbean Women’s Basketball Championships, Team Bahamas rebounded with three players in double figures as they took their frustration out on Jamaica on Friday in Havana, Cuba.

#Unlike their previous two losses to host Cuba on Wednesday and the Dominican Republic on Thursday, Team Bahamas came out firing on all cylinders and looked like a well oiled machine in a 74-53 rout.

#Team Bahamas surged to a 21-10 lead at the end of the first quarter and, despite being out-scored 19-15 in the second quarter by Jamaica, the team held onto a 36-29 advantage at the half.

#Coming out of the locker room, Team Bahamas turned up the heat with a 23-16 spurt in the third to take a 59-45 margin into the fourth quarter.

#Putting the finish touches on the game, Team Bahamas went on a 15-9 tear in the final quarter to stamp their approval on what has been a gratifying performance for the coaching staff led by Donillo ‘Donnie’ Culmer and including Diasti Delancy and Deven Johnson.

#Team Bahamas, with Sasha Johnson as the trainer, saw manager Anastacia Moultrie’s 16-year-old daughter Antonicia Moultrie leading the attack with 15 points, four rebounds, two assists and as many steals in her starting role in 24 minutes and 36 seconds on the court.

#Philicia Kelly, one of the veterans on the team at age 32, exploded for 14 points with three rebounds and a pair of steals, while 17-year-old Denika Lightbourne, the leading top performer for the Bahamas so far, contributed 12 points with five rebounds, four steals and two assists.

#Valerie Nesbitt, the team’s 23-year-old floor general, came through with nine points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals; Valicia Demeritte, 22, chipped in with seven points and three assists and 29-year-old centre Britenique Harrison finished with six points, 11 rebounds and five block shots.

#Other members of Team Bahamas are Latoya Rolle, 34; Karolyn Baptiste, 19; La’Tavia Brennen, 22; Lorraine Oliver, 30; Roberta Quant, 45 and Tiffany Wildgoose, 31.

#Gezelle Anderson led Jamaica with a game high 17 points and nine rebounds.

#Team Bahamas was coming off a 73-50 loss to the Dominican Republic on Thursday after suffering a 76-44 decision to Cuba on Wednesday on day one of the tournament. With only four teams in the tournament, Team Bahamas finished third in the round robin with a 1-2 win-loss record.

#On Saturday, however, the playoffs will get underway and Team Bahamas will face the Dominican Republic (2-1), while Cuba (3-0) will battle with Jamaica (0-3). The two winners will meet for the gold and silver on Sunday and the two losers will square off for the bronze.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/15/team-bahamas-recovers-defeat-jamaica/?news