BAHAMAS men’s 4 x 400 metre relay team, from left to right, of Shakeem Smith, Kinard Rolle, Alonzo Russell and Wendall Miller. Photo: Derek Carroll

As of Tuesday, August 23, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstiubbs@tribunemedia.net

#FREEPORT, Grand Bahama — It turned out to be an historic event, not just for the Bahamas, but the North American, Central American and Caribbean region at the 2022 Anita Doherty Open Championships.

#And even though he spent the majority of his time recuperating in the Rand Memorial Hospital, NACAC president Mike Sands said he was still pleased how the event was staged in Grand Bahama, despite complaints by some of the countries about the living conditions in the games village at Our Lucaya Resort.

#As the fourth edition of the three-day event came to a close on Sunday night at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex, Team Bahamas produced its largest medal total ever with seven, including the gold medal from Shaunae Miller-Uibo in a championship record in the women’s 400 metres.

#Team Bahamas, managed by Renee ‘Sunshine’ Davis with Ronald Cartwright as the head coach, assisted by Tito Moss, Robert Ayton, Jason Larimore and Corrington Maycock, also collected two silver from Tynia Gaither in the women’s 200m and the women’s 4 x 100m team of Printassia Johnson, Anthonique Strachan, Devynne Charlton and Gaither.

#The team also produced four bronze from Charlton in the women’s 100m hurdles, Donald Thomas in the men’s high jump, Rhema Otabor in the women’s javelin, and the men’s 4 x 400m relay team of Kinard Rolle, Alonzo Russell, Shakeem Smith and Wendell Miller. The Bahamas didn’t participate in the initial championships in El Salvador in 2007, but made its debut in 2015 in Costa Rica, bringing home two silver and three bronze before going to Toronto, Canada in 2018 where the Bahamas collected two bronze.

#At the end of the meet, a total of 22 championship records were broken, one shy of the most ever posted in Toronto where the record stands at 23.

#The United States of America, in a dominating fashion that included a sweep of all five relays contested, including the mixed 4 x 400m and both the men and women 4 x 100 and 4 x 400m relays, carted off a total of 63 medals with 29 gold, 22 silver and 12 bronze.

#Jamaica came second with six gold, nine silver and nine bronze for their total of 24, while Canada got third with 14 medals, including two gold, three silver and nine bronze. Cuba and Guatemala both got two gold to beat out the Bahamas in the gold rush for fourth and fifth, but only had six and three medals in total respectively.

#As he stood in the VIP stands watching the final day of competition on Sunday, Sands is still of the opinion that hosting the event in Grand Bahama was the right decision by NACAC.

#“I think we made the right decision. We got the support that we needed and I’m very, very pleased with the results,” Sands said.

#“We saw a number of championship records broken and that is a testimony of the calibre of event we had and as testimony to the facility at this track and its surface.

#“I’m just thankful for all of the support that we received from the member associations, who all came and participated, not withstanding the support of the Bahamas Government, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Ministry of Grand Bahama and our many partners and sponsors.”

#Despite the bump in the road, as it pertains to the accommodations at Our Lucaya, Sands said they were able to iron out and correct the deficiencies and it ended up being a great championship.

#“It’s not how you start, but how you finish,” he said.

#Shortly after making his remarks during the opening ceremonies on Friday at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex, Sands returned to the VIP stand where he had a dizzy spell. He was treated on site and then taken to the Rand Memorial Hospital where it was determined he will be kept in for a few days for observation.

#“I’m thankful for the support during my down time,” he said.

#“I had the best of care from the doctors, nurses and personnel at the Rand and the support from the Minister of Grand Bahama, Ginger Moxey. It was 24-7 care. I’m very happy with that.

#“I was able to watch the live stream from my bed and so I was very happy with what I saw. But I’m very happy that I was able to come out here for the closing of the championships. I’m still not 100 percent, but I’m in a better place right now.”

#While everybody was making their way out of Grand Bahama on Monday, Sands will remain for a few more days to complete his evaluation before he is given the green light to travel. But he said he is optimistic that once the results are completed, he will be able to return home.

#Sands, however, said he is grateful that despite being hospitalised, he was able to watch as everybody stepped in and made sure that the championships turned out to be one that everybody will remember.

#The championships, which has not been given a location for the fifth edition as yet, was held in honour of the late Anita Doherty, a prominent sportswoman, educator, administrator and philanthropist who passed away on March 28.

http://sportsinthebahamas.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=4736&action=edit

BAHAMAS women’s relay team of, from left to right, Printassia Johnson, Anthonique Strachan, Tynia Gaither and Devynne Charlton.

As of Tuesday, August 23, 2022

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Drumeco Archer

#By DENISE MAYCOCK

#Tribune Freeport Reporter

#dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

#FREEPORT, Grand Bahama — Drumeco Archer, president of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA), was extremely pleased with Team Bahamas’ performance at the NACAC Open Championships in Grand Bahama.

#Among those highlighted was Grand Bahama’s very own Tynia Gaither, who won the silver medal in the women’s 200-metre final, clocking a time of 22.35 seconds.

#And, Donald Thomas captured the bronze in the men’s high jump. Also, the gold medal win by Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo, who set a new NACAC record in the women’s final of the 400m.

#“I am happy, I have seen improvements across the entire spectrum of our programme at every international event we have gone to and we have been increasing the medal count,” Archer said on the final day of competition at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex on Sunday.

#“Today, we had Tynia, in addition to Donald Thomas – the ageless wonder – getting a bronze medal in the high jump. Then, we had Devynne Charlton placing second in the 100 metres hurdles and we also had the incredible Shaunae Miller-Uibo winning a gold medal, and then we came back with Tynia Gaither running a personal best of 22.35 and getting the silver medal – you couldn’t ask for more than that with Team Bahamas.”

#“I think the championships went pretty well when you look at the quality of performances and the quality of athletes that have participated at these games, he said. I don’t know if we could have expected more.

#“GB is elated. This is really a stimulus for them in terms of track and field, but also an economic boom,” Archer added. Archer stated that they are happy about having the event in Grand Bahama. “I think by all accounts everybody seems very satisfied, he said.

#The event attracted 400 athletes from North America, Central America and the Caribbean. He thanked Mike Sands, president of the NACAC, for bringing the event to the Bahamas, particularly Grand Bahama.

#Sands took ill while attending the event and is under observation.

#“President Sands is convalescing. He is under observance,” Archer said.

#“I have spoken with him. He is in great spirits, and he says he feels great.”

#Conditions were very hot over the three days of competition.

#“It was incredibly hot, and I think it took its toll on many athletes,” Archer said. “But, it cooled down on the final day of competition and you could not complain anymore about the heat.”

#When organising the schedule, he explained that the technical director would have considered the question of light conditions in time for the event.

#“And out of an abundance of caution, we decided in the event that lamps were not installed at the time of the event, then at least, we would have full daylight for the event.”

#“Well, we got full light and a wonderful facility for nighttime competition. Unfortunately, it was too late to change the schedule,” he stated.

#Archer is confident that other events would be held in Grand Bahama.

#He noted that whether government or privately funded, they will push and continue to market the Bahamas as a track and field and tourist destination. “Our push and mandate is to create more content for track and field in the Bahamas, both in GB and NP,” Archer said.

#He thanked the entire organising committee for doing such a huge job in executing and pulling off the event and delivering a world-class competition.

#“I want to say a special thanks to Chevonia McBride and Perez Cooper who were co-chair persons for the event, and Norris Bain, deputy managing director, and others, including Deon Britton (hotel accommodations); Dr Cecil Thompson (transportation); Sophia Higgs (volunteer section); Laura Pratt Charlton, (competition manager) supported by her husband David Charlton (the competition director). General-Secretary Keith Joseph and Mabelene Miller CEO for BAAA (responsibility for accreditation),” Archer summed up.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/aug/23/baaa-president-archer-pleased-team-bahamas/?news

 Home|Sports|High scoring affairs in the NPSASports

Simba FrenchSend an emailAugust 23, 2022 143 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

There were two games on the New Providence Softball Association (NPSA) schedule on Saturday night – both in the women’s department. They both finished in the fourth inning as the Sunshine Auto Wildcats and the RAB Operators picked up victories. Fans got an early night at the Banker’s Softball Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex as both games ended short via the mercy rule.

The Wildcats easily disposed of the Johnson’s Lady Truckers, 11-1, in the late game. The early game had the Operators dominating the Black Scorpions, 17-0.

Wildcats’ pitcher Thela Stevens, formerly Thela Johnson, walked away with the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in their game as she finished 2-for-3 at the plate and scored two runs. The runs came in the first and second innings. In pitching, she struck out four of the Lady Truckers’ batters.

The Wildcats surely were not looking for this game to go to seven innings as they quickly got out to a 4-0 lead after the first inning. It was all Wildcats straight through as they pounced on the Lady Truckers to go up 6-0 after two innings. Both teams came up empty in the third inning.

The Lady Truckers finally got a runner home as catcher Brendia Carey scored after hitting a triple, but the Wildcats still led 6-1.To end the game in the fourth inning, the Wildcats needed to score five more runs. They did easily. Second baseman Shannon Poitier came home after Cia Bowe was hit by a pitcher with the bases loaded to end the game.

In the first game, Operators’ pitcher Diva Burrows was the MVP as she had a no-hitter and struck out four Black Scorpions’ batters.

It was all Operators in this game as it also lasted four innings. They scored four runs after two innings before tuning their bats more to score some runs in the third and fourth innings. In the third inning, they almost doubled their runs total with seven runs to go up 11-0.

The Operators scored another six runs in the top of the fourth inning to plate 17 runs after four. Needing to defend in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Operators picked up three quick outs to win the game.

NPSA action continues Thursday night with a women’s matchup at 7 p.m. and the men’s game following.

The University of The Bahamas (UB) Mingoes will battle the Operators at 7 p.m. The men’s game will feature the Atlantis Titans going up against the Cyber Tech Blue Marlins at 9 p.m.

https://thenassauguardian.com/high-scoring-affairs-in-the-npsa/

 Home|Sports|Otabor wins bronze in the women’s javelinSports

Otabor wins bronze in the women’s javelin

Sheldon LongleySend an emailAugust 23, 2022 161 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

FREEPORT, Grand Bahama – Javelin sensation Rhema Otabor won her most prestigious medal, to date, claiming a bronze in that event at the 4th Anita Doherty North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Track and Field Championships in Freeport, Grand Bahama, on Sunday.

Otabor had a best throw of 57.91 meters (m) – 186’ – just off her personal best throw of 58.58m (192’ 2”).

It was a 1-2 sweep for the Americans as Kara Winger won the gold with a throw of 64.68m (212’ 2-1/2”) and Ariana Ince secured the silver with a throw of 59.69m (195’ 10”). Otabor had a strong performance in finishing third.

“That was about a meter short of my personal best throw, so I was happy with it. I had a li’l hiccup at the end but I’m satisfied,” said Otabor. “The competition out there was tough. I got what I expected and overall it was pretty good. I felt the support and love from the crowd and it was great.”

After winning gold at the Commonwealth Games a few weeks ago, LaQuan Nairn was looking for similar success at the 4th Anita Doherty NACAC Track and Field Championships here at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex but had to settle for fourth among a tough field of jumpers.

Nairn soared 7.75m – 25’ 5-1/4” – matching the same distance as the bronze medalist but falling to fourth based on the distance of their second-best jumps.

American William Williams won the gold with a leap of 7.89m (25’ 10-3/4”), Jamaican Tajay Gayle secured the silver medal with a leap of 7.81m (25’ 7-1/2”) and the other Jamaican Shawn-D Thompson won the bronze medal. He had an identical best leap as Nairn but, as mentioned, he had the better second-best jump to give him the edge for the bronze.

The other Bahamian in the field, Holland Martin, finished sixth with a best jump of 7.67m (25’ 2”). There was only about five inches separating Nairn from fourth to the gold.

“It’s a good feeling to be here jumping in front of my family and the home crowd,” said Nairn. “The competition was pretty good.”

Nairn qualified for the final with a leap of 7.45m (24’ 5-1/2”). The other Bahamian in the men’s long jump Holland Martin had a best leap of 7.18m (23’ 6-3/4”) in qualifying. He qualified for the final 10th overall.

“It’s always great to be able to come home and compete in front of the home crowd. I wish I could have done better, but I feel healthy,” said Martin. “I felt very comfortable out there – I love to compete in front of the home crowd. There was a slight headwind which I believe caused an issue with some of our approaches, but it was just about going out there and making the adjustments. My performance was OK but I know I could have done better.”

Nairn said he really wanted a medal, but he’s content with what he was able to do.

“For me, it’s just about staying poised and focused on executing each and every time I step on the runway and not worry about what happened in the past. I’m looking forward to better things in the future,” he said.

In the men’s triple jump, Kaiwan Culmer just missed out on a medal, finishing with a best leap of 15.55m (51’ 0-1/4”) for fourth. The other Bahaman in that event, Kristen Hanna, was sixth, finishing with a best leap of 13.87m (45’ 6-1/4”).

In the women’s triple jump final, Tamara Myers finished fourth overall with a best leap of 13.69m (44’ 11”).

“The field was a good one, so I felt compelled to jump well,” said Myers on Sunday. “It was a long season for me. I took about two weeks off after nationals and went back to training. Overall, I am pleased with my performance and I’m looking forward to the offseason.”

Thea Lafond won her country’s first-ever gold medal at the NACAC Championships, striking gold for Dominica with a leap of 14.49m (47’ 6-1/2”). American Keturah Orji won the silver medal with a jump of 14.32m (46’ 11-3/4”), and Davisleydi Velazco, of Cuba, won the bronze medal with a leap of 14.08m (46’ 2-1/2”).

https://thenassauguardian.com/otabor-wins-bronze-in-the-womens-javelin/

 Home|Sports|Jones’ 20 points not enough as Sun lose to WingsSports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailAugust 23, 2022 159 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Bahamian Jonquel ‘JJ’ Jones and the Connecticut Sun had a chance to wrap up their playoff series against the Dallas Wings on Sunday, but fell 89-79, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Jones was on the court for 22 minutes and shot 6-for-12 from the field, including one three-point shot, to finish with 20 points. She was perfect from the charity stripe, making all seven of her shots from there.

Jones missed out on a double-double as she pulled down nine rebounds – five defensive rebounds and four offensive rebounds. The reigning Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Most Valuable Player (MVP) also had two blocked shots.

The Sun tried to come back in the fourth quarter. They trailed 76-47 at the end of the third quarter, and the game seemed all but over. The Sun outscored the Wings 32-13 in the fourth quarter but the lead was too large to overcome.

“It’s the playoffs. One minute you’re up, the next minute you’re down, but you have to weather that storm and be ready to play,” Jones said. “We know what we’re capable of. We’re not in panic mode at all. That’s the beauty of winning Game One. We have another opportunity to go out there and close it out. We didn’t handle business tonight, but we have another game, so we’re ready to go.”

It was not the start that the Sun wanted as they dug themselves into a 13-3 hole with 3:35 remaining in the first quarter. The Grand Bahama native missed her two shot attempts in the first quarter and finished scoreless in that period. The Wings led 22-7 after one.

Jones’s first points came via two made free throws by the halfway mark of the second quarter. The Wings led 33-21 at that point. Jones then made her first made field goal of the afternoon which came at the 2:36 mark of the second quarter. She made a layup but the Wings led 40-25. At the end of the first half, it was a 16-point deficit as the Wings led 46-30. Jones finished with seven points in the first half.

Jones scored seven more points in the third quarter giving her 14 after three quarters. The Wings played the same way they did in the first quarter, outscoring the Sun by double digits in the third – 30-17.

The Wings’ lead was so large heading into the fourth quarter that a 22-2 fourth quarter run by the Sun still had them in a 

double-digit deficit.

The win was the Wings’ first playoff victory since 2009. Kayla Thornton scored 17 points for them.

The Sun shot 45.2 percent from the field and made four shots from deep where they shot just 28.6 percent for the game. They were sloppy with the ball as the Wings stole the ball eight times from them. The Wings shot 48 percent from the field, made 11 three-point shots, and finished with 28 assists.

The Wings scored 20 points off their 12 turnovers by the Sun, and the Sun gave up 23 second-chance points.

The Sun pummeled the Wings in Game One, 93-68, to take the 1-0 lead in the best-of-three mini series.

The decisive third game in the series gets underway at 9 p.m. on Wednesday at the College Park Center in Dallas, Texas. That game will be broadcasted on ESPN.

https://thenassauguardian.com/jones-20-points-not-enough-as-sun-lose-to-wings/

 Home|Sports|The Bahamas finished sixthSports

Host country won one gold, two silver and four bronze

Sheldon LongleySend an emailAugust 23, 2022 227 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

FREEPORT, Grand Bahama — The Bahamas ended up sixth at the 4th Anita Doherty North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) Track and Field Championships which wrapped up Sunday night at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

With four medals in the final session, Team Bahamas finished with seven medals in total – one gold, two silver and four bronze.

Winning the three-day regional meet was the United States of America (USA) with 29 gold, 22 silver and 12 bronze for a total of 63 medals. Jamaica, led by World Champion Shericka Jackson, was a distant second with six gold, nine silver and nine bronze for a total of 24 medals, and Canada rounded out the top three nations with two gold, three silver and nine bronze for 14 medals.

Cuba and Guadeloupe also finished ahead of The Bahamas. Cuba won two gold, one silver and three bronze for six medals and Guadeloupe secured two gold and a bronze for three medals.

The order of finish at the NACAC Championships is based on quality of medals as opposed to quantity.

Managing Director of the local organizing committee (LOC) of the meet, and president of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) Drumeco Archer said they are very pleased with the results of the meet and the overall running of the entire event.

“I would believe that we would have accomplished our goal, both on and off the track,” said Archer. “Led by Shaunae, TyNia and Devynne, our athletes turned in exceptional performances and we are very proud of all of them. Off the track, the general consensus of our 

international guests was one of joy, enthusiasm and complete satisfaction. They all had a good time. I believe that this will go down as the best NACAC Championships to date.”

Winning the gold for The Bahamas was Shaunae Miller-Uibo in a new championships record time of 49.40 seconds. The two silvers came from TyNia Gaither in the women’s 200 meters (m), matching her personal best time of 22.41 seconds, and the women’s 4x100m relay team of Printassia Johnson, Anthonique Strachan, Devynne Charlton and Gaither, in that order, in 43.34 seconds. Charlton won a bronze medal in the women’s 100m hurdles in 12.71 seconds, Donald Thomas won a bronze in the men’s high jump with a clearance of 2.25m (7’ 4-1/2”), Rhema Otabor won a bronze medal in the women’s javelin with a toss of 57.91m (186’), and the men’s 4x400m relay team of Kinard Rolle, Alonzo Russell, Shakeem Smith and Wendell Miller, in that order, won a bronze medal in 3:06.47.

NACAC is one of six area associations under World Athletics that caters to athletes in the North American, Central American and Caribbean region. It is the governing body of athletics in the area.

Some of the greatest athletes in the world hail from the NACAC region, and the area usually produces the most medals and global champions at the world championships or the Olympics.

The seven medals won by The Bahamas is the most by a national team at the NACAC Championships. In 2007 in San Salvador, El Salvador, The Bahamas did not participate. In 2015 in San José, Costa Rica, The Bahamas finished with two silver and three bronze for five medals. At the 2018 NACAC Championships in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, The Bahamas won two bronze medals.

This year, in Freeport, The Bahamas won a gold, two silver and four bronze for a total of seven medals as the host nation. It’s the highest finish ever for The Bahamas in the medal standings at the NACAC Championships.

Also, with more 420 athletes in action, this was the largest NACAC Championships in terms of participation.

A total of 23 championship records were set at the three-day meet.

Ronald Cartwright served as the Head Coach of the team and he was assisted by Tito Moss, Robert Ayton, Jason Larimore and Corrington Maycock. The Team Manager was Renee “Sunshine” Davis.

https://thenassauguardian.com/the-bahamas-finished-sixth/

JONQUEL Jones (35) in action in Game 1 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff series last night in Uncasville, Connecticut. (Photos: Sean D Elliot/The Day via AP)

As of Friday, August 19, 2022

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#UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Jonquel Jones had 19 points and eight rebounds, Alyssa Thomas added 15 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists and the Connecticut Sun beat the Dallas Wings 93-68 last night in Game 1 of their first-round series.

#Third-seeded Connecticut pulled away in the third quarter, scoring 13 straight points to build a 64-45 lead. The sixth-seeded Wings went five-plus minutes without a field goal in the third quarter, and the Sun closed the frame on a 17-5 run for an 18-point lead.

#Game 2 of the best-of-three series is Sunday in Uncasville.

#“We’ve been working the entire season to be here, so we don’t want to squander this opportunity,” Jones said of the home-court advantage. “We got to come up with that right intensity.”

#Dijonai Carrington added 13 points and DeWanna Bonner scored 10 points of her 12 points in the first half for Connecticut.

#Dallas scoring leader Arike Ogunbowale sat out because of an abdominal injury. The Wings got a boost when Satou Sabally played in her first game since July 12. Sabally scored 10 points in the first half, including a half-court heave to beat the first-quarter buzzer, but she went scoreless after halftime.

#Allisha Gray led Dallas with 17 points. Tyasha Harris each added 13 points and Marina Mabrey had 11.

ATHLETES work out at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex a day before the start of the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Championships that is expected to feature more than 400 athletes from over 10 countries in the region, including the United States, Jamaica and Cuba. Photos: Vandyke Hepburn/BIS

As of Friday, August 19, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunedia.net

#Coach Lonnie Greene said although his first priority is on high hurdles national record holder Devynne Charlton, he is just delighted to be able to assist any Bahamian athlete who needs his help.

#Greene, the head coach at the University of Kentucky, is in Grand Bahama for the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Championships that is featuring more than 400 athletes from over 10 countries in the region, including the United States, Jamaica and Cuba.

#Although he’s not a part of the Bahamian coaching staff, Greene said wherever there is a need for his service, he is willing to assist Team Bahamas’ 11 women and 17 men who will compete in the NACAC Championships that will be held in memory of the late former athlete/ coach/executive/administrator Anita Doherty from today through Sunday at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex.

#“After the devastation of Hurricane Dorian, we have to do everything we can as a nation to try and generate commerce, the interest of sports tourism, to help Grand Bahama get back to normal,” Greene said.

#“I don’t think people take into consideration what it takes to bounce back from a hurricane. It could be earthquakes, it could be a tornado, whatever. Bouncing back isn’t easy and being able to generate heads in beds and getting dollars into local companies is vital.”

#So, when it was announced that NACAC would take the championships to Grand Bahama, Greene pegged it on his schedule for him and Charlton to attend. Charlton, a graduate assistant at the University of Kentucky, opened the season by winning the silver medal at the World Indoor Championships, placed seventh at the World Championships in Birmingham, England after her national record of 12.40 in the semifinals before she picked up another silver at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.

#“She’s having a phenomenal year,” Greene pointed out. “At the end of the day, her performances have all been legal. People could question windy performances if they want to, but I always tell people, if the wind is at your back, you run faster, but the wheels still have to turn. “A person could run fast and break the world record in windy conditions, but the wheel still has to turn for them to run that fast. Devynne has run 12.40s and I always thought she had that in her and possibly she can run 12.30s by the time we get to the Grand Prix Finals.”

#Greene, who first recruited Charlton to run for him as the head coach at Purdue University where she had a stellar collegiate career with the Boilermakers, said the goal is to get her to finish off the year strong, get some rest and do it all over again next year. But he said there’s nothing like competing at home. “The people in the stands will be cheering for her,” he pointed out. “Ninety percent of the crowd will be pulling for the 242. It’s like Team USA. When they came out to the World Championships in Eugene, the crowd went crazy.

#“In this great nation of us called the Bahamas, we’re home in Freeport, Grand Bahama. The way they look at it, it’s the Bahamas versus the rest of the world. That’s how they will compete. Their national pride is going to come forth. Bahamians are proud people. They will be there to cheer on the Bahamians.”

#While the lineup is expected to be a pretty good one for the women’s 100m hurdles, Greene said the goal is to get Charlton back on the podium and hopefully this time it will be on the top as the gold medallist.

#Although he only had a short time, Greene said he was also glad to give some pointers to Shakeem Smith, who will be representing the Bahamas in the men’s 400m hurdles at the championships.

#Smith is a graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and is now venturing onto the pro circuit.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo at the starting line. Photos: Vandyke Hepburn
Shaunae Miller-Uibo at the starting line. Photos: Vandyke Hepburn

As of Friday, August 19, 2022
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BY DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net.

#
FREEPORT, Grand Bahama: Bahamian two-time Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo breezed to victory in the 400m Women’s semi-final at the NACAC Championships on Friday morning at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex in Freeport.

#The 28-year-old Miller-Uibo looked relaxed and as always showed her Bahamian pride with her “pretty cute” ombre aquamarine-coloured hair.



The first heat of the semi-finals started shortly after 9:30am, with Miller-Uibo running in lane four.

Conditions were hot but breezy and Grand Bahama fans packed the stadium early to see the quarter-miler in action on the track.

Miller-Uibo will run in the finals of the 400m on Saturday at 6.15 pm.

photo

Shaunae Miller-Uibo leading the pack.

“I just give God all the thanks and praise,” she said after winning her heat. This is going to be my last one for the season and it’s no better place to do it than home.”

“When I came in for the first rounds today, I just wanted to take it easy and get ready for the finals tomorrow.”

Miller-Uibo, the world champion quarter-miler, plans to start training for the 200 metres.

When asked whether she still wanted to give up the 400m, she said: “You know, a lot of people took it wrong, we said we are going to start training for the 200 metres, and we are still going to do the 400m throughout the season.

“It’s just we are going to get a little bit more speed based on this and focus on the 200m. But you know I love the 400. It is my favourite event and the best of them. It is the one thing I am not just going to give up.”

Miller-Uibo said that she plans to go out and do her best in the finals for the Grand Bahamian fans on Saturday.

“For me, it is just going out there and giving my all, putting on a show for the Bahamian crowd, she stated. This is my last one for the season and you know we really have not been training these last few weeks, and so I just want to come out here and put on a show.”

Known for her beautiful, flamboyantly-coloured hair, Miller-Uibo said she enjoys giving a little Bahamian flavour to her hairstyle.

“I just have fun with it like I always do, and so it came out pretty cute,” she said. “Today I just wanted…to get a little bit of the Bahamian colours in it.”

Miller-Uibo admits that conditions were hotter than expected and that she is looking forward to the evening sessions on Saturday when she is scheduled to compete in the 400m Final, and on Sunday in the Women’s Relay final.

“It is a lot more humid than I think all of us expected, but I made the best of it,” she said of her semi-final on Friday morning.

When asked about the field of competitors, Miller-Uibo said: “You know we always bring a good field of girls and some of the best athletes in the 400m and the NACAC region, and so I expect the finals to be pretty good.

“We have a lot of our girls who made the finals at the World Champs as well, and so I am looking forward to it, and today I think everyone ran pretty decent just to make it through the rounds,” she stated.

On a more personal note, Miller-Uibo says a prayer before her race.

“I just say a prayer to God and just kind go from there. I don’t have specific things that I do to get ready. It’s just about going out there and having some fun. And you are more in that focused mindset and it is just pretty much what you’ve been training for all season long. You just want to make sure you execute it correctly and kind of relax.”

Miller-Uibo keeps a lean physique and when asked about her diet, she said. “After this, I will go a little crazy but for now it is kind of the same, not too strict, but not loose either. I try keeping a balanced diet,” she said.

She is often told by people and fans that she looks bigger on television.

“Everyone always says that and I am like, wow, ’cause I always watch myself too on the screen… but I get that all the time,” she said.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/aug/19/shaunae-miller-uibo-breezes-400m-final/?news

LEFT: LaQuan Nairn soaring in Grand Bahama. RIGHT: Shaunae Miller-Uibo at the starting line. Photos: Vandyke Hepburn

As of Friday, August 19, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#FREEPORT, Grand Bahama: Day one of the North American, Central American and Caribbean 2022 Anita Doherty Championships got off to a scorching start in the blazing heat on Friday at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex and produced some outstanding performances.

#Vashti Cunningham achieved a championship record of 6-feet, 31/2-inches or 1.92 metres to lead a 1-2 American finish in the women’s high jump and Gabrielle Jennings produced another record in nine minutes and 24.36 seconds for a clean sweep of the women’s 3,000 steeplechase.

#In finals featuring Bahamians, Kaiwan Culmer, coming off his seventh place finish at the Commonwealth Games, just missed a spot on the podium in the men’s triple jump with his fourth place with 51-0 ¼ (15.55m), while Kristen Hanna was sixth with 45-6 1/4 (13.87m).

#American Chris Benard won the gold with 53-9 3/4 (16.40m), followed by Jah Nhai Perinchief of Bermuda with 52-1 ¾ (15.89m) for silver and Taeco O’Garro of Antigua got the bronze with 51-6 ¼ (15.70m).

#Bahamian Tahejee Thurston had to settle for sixth place in the women’s hammer with her best toss of 180 (54.86m) on her second attempt.

#The Americans took the gold and silver with Janee Kassanavoid in the top spot with 234-7 (71.51m) and Brooke Andersen following with 25-3 (68.66m), while Jillian Weir of Canada claimed the bronze with 217-12 (66.20m).

#World indoor and Commonwealth Games’ silver medalist Devynne Charlton got nipped at the tape by American Tonea Marshall (12.75) in the second of the two heats of the women’s 100m hurdles as she clocked 12.76 for the fourth fastest time for Saturday’s final at 5:40 pm. Jamaican Megan Tapper took the first heat in the fastest time of 12.62. Denisha Cartwright was sixth in the heat in 13.56, but didn’t advance.

#“My start could have been a lot better, but it was a clean race and I didn’t hit any hurdles and I think I worked well on the back end to put myself in it,” Charlton said. “I felt the pressure of her (Marshall) next to me, but I had to keep my composure and keep myself steady and run my own race.”

#Cartwright, who was coming off her double sprint appearance at the Commonwealth Games, said it was good for her to return to her specialty, but it wasn’t the type of performance she had anticipated.

Holland Martin landing in the pit.

#In another close finish, Tynia Gaither earned her berth in Sunday’s final of the women’s 200m with her second place in the preliminaries in 22.82 behind American Brittany Brown, who took the tape in 22.82.

#“I was pretty relaxed. Didn’t want to do too much. It’s been a long season, so I try to be smart in my runs, but I will be ready for the final,” said Gaither, who finished with the third fastest qualifying time.

#Ian Kerr also got second in his heat of the men’s 200m preliminaries in 20.89 as he trailed American Josephus Lyles, who won in 20.29. It was the sixth fastest time for Sunday’s final at 4pm for Kerr, who predicted that he will run something fast.

#“I really tried to stay composed and execute my race from start to finish, especially coming off the curve,” said Kerr, who noted that he heard the cheers from his family in the stands. “The first 110 was really important for me to set myself up to finish the race nice and strong.”

Janae Ambrose

#Olympic and champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo, the cream of the crop in the women’s 400m, breezed through the semi-final with the fastest qualifying time of 50.84 seconds in winning the first of two heats.

#“I just give God thanks and praise. There’s no better place to be competing than at home, so I’m looking forward to getting ready for the final,” said Miller-Uibo as she looked ahead to the showdown at 6.15 pm on Saturday.

#However, she dispelled the comments that she’s done running the 400m. She noted that her comments were originally taken out of context when she said she was just going to start training for the 200m.

#“We’re still going to be doing the 400m,” Miller-Uibo proclaimed, adding that she’s just going to get some more speed in the 200m, but as the world’s best in the 400m, she said “I’m not just going to give up on it.”

#Barbados’ Sada Williams, the Commonwealth Games champion, pulled off heat two in the second fastest qualifying time of 51.48.

#Bahamian Janae Ambrose, fifth in the second heat, had the 11th fastest time of 57.58.
“It was alright, but it was just so hot,” said Williams, who noted that in competing in her first NACAC Championships, she’s “looking forward to it”. “It’s hot,” she said. “I’m looking forward to this championships and the final tomorrow.”

#She added that it’s going to be interesting matched up against Miller-Uibo – the first time that they will face other in a final. Looking forward to running another 49 seconds, Williams said: “I know she will push me.”

#Two Bahamians advanced from the qualifying rounds of the men’s long jump with Commonwealth Games champion LaQuan Nairn having the fifth best leap of 24-5 ½ (7.45) on his first and only attempt and Grand Bahamian Holland Martin taking the 10th spot with 23-6 ¾ (7.18m) on his second attempt.

Kinard Rolle

#“I felt good about it,” said Nairn as he prepares for the finale on Sunday at 3pm on the final day of competition. “We had a slight head wind, so I just wanted to come out here and qualify for the final.

#“I feel really confident, just coming off the Commonwealth win. I’m extremely excited to be jumping in front of my family and the home crowd. I’m looking forward to winning it on Sunday.”

#Martin, a Grand Bahamian native, said he wished that he would have done better, but he was satisfied with his effort, getting into the final.

#“We had a slight head wind with some problems with all of our approaches, but we made a lot of adjustments,” Martin said. “I gladly made the adjustments in my last two attempts. Hopefully in the finals, it won’t be the same thing.”

#The top qualifier was Jamaica’s Tajay Gayle with (7.83m) on his first attempt.

#Shakeem Smith advanced to Sunday’s final at 3.35pm with the seventh best time of 50.55 with his fourth place in the first of two heats, but Andre Colebrooke just missed out in the second heat with fifth in 53.27 for ninth overall.

#“I just came out here to execute and advance to the final,” Smith said. “The race was pretty smooth. Could have been way better but I hope to improve on it once we get in the final.”

#In falling short of getting into the final, Colebrooke said he made some mistakes and he paid for it.

#“I should have taken it out a little harder,” he said. “But, for next time, you will see me go much faster.”

#CJ Allen of the USA had the fastest qualifying time of 48.76.

#Also, Kinard Rolle was the lone Bahamian entered in the men’s 400m qualifying rounds. He placed third in the first heat in 47.86 for the seventh time to advance to Saturday’s final at 6:25pm. Alonzo Russell didn’t start in heat two.

#The fastest qualifier was Christopher Taylor in 45.50 just ahead of compatriot Nathon Allen in 45.85.

#“It’s good to make it to the final on home soil. Thank God for that,” Rolle said. “Thank everyone for coming out here to support me this morning, even though it was early. I appreciate that.”

#The three-day meet was officially opened by Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis. Also in attendance were Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg and Ginger Moxey, the Minister for Grand Bahama, along with NACAC president Mike Sands and BAAA’s president Drumeco Archer.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/aug/19/nacac-championships-outstanding-performances-day-o/?news