Home|Sports|Athletes from MaxD sign with the MarlinsSports

Gaitor and Dean excited for the opportunity; looking to excel

Sheldon LongleySend an emailJanuary 18, 2023 95 4 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Miami Marlins International Crosschecker Adrian Puig probably said it best, stating that The Bahamas is probably the best nation in the world for sports per capita, and that’s one of the reasons that keep them coming back to sign young baseball talent.

The Marlins added three more Bahamians to their organization on Tuesday, signing two out of the MaxD Sports Academy and another one out of the International Elite (I-Elite) Sports Academy, bringing the total number of Bahamians in the Marlins system up to eight.

Joining the fold from MaxD were Daniel Gaitor and Breyias Dean – both 17-year-old prospects out of the Freedom Farm Baseball League (FFBL). I-Elite student-athlete Janero Miller, number 16 on the international prospects list, signed at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium last night. All three players are in the government of The Bahamas’ subvention program.

“We’re very excited to have all of them on board,” said Puig. “The athletes who come out of this country are exceptional. There are so many Bahamian athletes in different sports who are really impacting their sports internationally. We’ve been aggressive here and we are going to continue to be aggressive. This is a market that we are very much passionate about and will continue to invest in.”

In an upscale signing session at Crypto Isle on Easy Bay Street, both Gaitor and Dean said they are thrilled for the opportunity.

Gaitor started Freedom Farm at seven years old and has been with MaxD since 12. 

“I always had a goal to get to this point. It took a lot of hard work but I was prepared to put in that work – from day one,” he said. “I believe that I’m ready for the next challenge in my life. I’m excited and I’m happy for Breyias as well. I hope that both of us keep going and make The Bahamas proud. For me, personally, I couldn’t wait for this day to come and now that it’s finally here, I’m excited and ready to get to the next level. Baseball comes with failure, so you have to be disciplined and keep going. It was rough through the pandemic. That was challenging but I just kept a smile on my face and kept pushing, and this is just the beginning. I’m prepared to put in more work to get to the next level.”

Dean, who was with Freedom Farm since 10 and at MaxD for the last five years, said he’s excited as well.

“This feels great. It shows that there is light at the end of the tunnel,” said Dean. “I’ve been working very hard and just trying to get better every day. This shows that there is a reward for your hard work. I’m just looking forward to the opportunity to keep climbing and keep getting better.”

President of MaxD Greg Burrows Jr. said they are very proud of both Gaitor and Dean and are looking forward to them excelling at the next level. The MaxD Sports Academy opened its doors in 2013 and has helped about 20 young Bahamian baseball players realize their dreams by signing professional contracts.

“We’re just continuing to put in the work. I’m very proud of both of these young men. They have been working very hard for this opportunity and now this day is here,” said Burrows. “It’s a big step for them in their lives. I’m extremely happy for them and their families. Both of them are very athletic and very strong, so I believe they could make an impact right away. I look forward to them moving through the system very quickly.”

Gaitor is primarily an outfielder while Dean regularly plays infield. The financial details of their signing bonuses were not disclosed but Puig said they are very happy to have both of them on board.

“This is one of the best parts of the job – giving young men an opportunity to fulfill their dreams. It’s a special moment for both of them and we’re very happy and excited to have them,” said Puig. “Programs like MaxD are doing a great job of developing young men and giving them the resources they need both on and off the field. These guys are great kids and they’re very disciplined. We feel very comfortable about the character of these two young men. They are going to represent The Bahamas very well.”

Puig said short term, all three players will report to their new 35-acre academy and development center in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic, and take part in rookie ball in the Dominican Summer League for the 2023 season.

“Once they get in the system, it’s up to them in determining how quickly they move through the system, but I’m confident they will both do well and exceed expectations,” he said.

Senior Director of International Operations for the Marlins Adrian Lorenzo said both young men come with a lot of promise and potential.

“They are very advanced and disciplined young men who we feel hold a lot of potential – not just on the field but off the field as well,” said Lorenzo. “They both have exceptional levels of aptitude and athleticism and we feel that they both will become exceptional baseball prospects.”

In the coming days, more Bahamian baseball players are expected to sign professional contracts with Major League Baseball (MLB) organizations in this current international signing period. Chad Delancy signs with the Boston Red Sox at Fusion Superplex on Saturday and Andrew Arthur inks his name on the dotted line with the St. Louis Cardinals at Fusion Superplex on Sunday.

The Bahamas keeps turning heads with MLB signees, which is a testament to the hard work of local coaches at Freedom Farm, the Junior Baseball League of Nassau (JBLN), the MaxD Sports Academy and I-Elite.

https://thenassauguardian.com/athletes-from-maxd-sign-with-the-marlins/

 Home|Sports|McCoy selected for NBA Academy campSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailJanuary 18, 2023 100 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Bahamian junior national basketball team standout Terrell McCoy was selected to participate in the 2023 NBA Academy Women’s Camp Latin America. The camp got underway on Monday and wraps up on Thursday, in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

The camp is accommodating all the top female prospects from across the Latin American region. The NBA Academy’s women’s program is an elite basketball development system for top female prospects. It was launched in 2018.

The NBA Academy Latin America’s statement focuses on the campers receiving instructions from high-level coaches.

“Terrell McCoy was individually selected by the NBA (National Basketball Association) based on her outstanding basketball skills and leadership abilities. The NBA Academy Elite Women’s Africa Regional Camp will be a unique opportunity for each player to improve their basketball ability, be coached by WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) former and current players/coaches and get to know other basketball players at the same age level from the region.”

McCoy was outstanding for The Bahamas in the Centrobasket Under-15 Championship that was held in Puerto Rico in June 2022. The Bahamas lost all of its games but McCoy finished the tournament averaging a double-double at 10.4 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. She led The Bahamas in both categories. She finished with three double-doubles in the five games that The Bahamas played in while averaging 27.5 minutes per game.

NBA Mexico Basketball Operations Senior Director Marc Pulles said they are excited to work with McCoy and the other players.

“There is a lot of excitement around women’s basketball across Latin America and the Caribbean and the NBA Academy women’s program is at the center of our efforts to further grow the game at the elite level and help promising young women maximize their potential,” he said. “We’re excited to work with some of the top prospects from across the region to help them develop as players and leaders while also providing them with the memorable experience of learning from WNBA players, legends and coaches.”

McCoy is also a star in the track and field arena, competing in the throws. She won the bronze medal in the under-17 girls discus at the 2022 CARIFTA Games in Kingston, Jamaica, and has qualified for this year’s CARIFTA Games.

The 2023 NBA Academy Women’s Camp Latin America will bring together 29 of the top high school-age prospects from 13 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean. A total of 10 former NBA Academy Women’s Camp Latin America participants have committed to or gone on to attend NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division I schools in the United States.

Nike is the presenting partner for the camp, and each camper will be provided with Nike basketball shoes, uniforms and other apparel.

https://thenassauguardian.com/mccoy-selected-for-nba-academy-camp/

 Home|Sports|Marlins signs No. 16 prospect Janero MillerSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailJanuary 18, 2023 117 4 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

It was the day that 17-year-old Janero Miller dreamed of – signing day – for him. That came yesterday when Major League Baseball’s (MLB) number 16 international prospect signed on the dotted line with the Miami Marlins and donned the team’s jersey for the first time inside the foyer of the Thomas A. National Stadium.

The International-Elite (I-Elite) Sports Academy and Freedom Farm product was the third Bahamian to be signed by the Marlins organization yesterday, joining MaxD products Breyias Dean and Daniel Gaitor as the MLB international signing period continued. All three are part of the government of The Bahamas’ subvention program.

The trio brings the total to four Bahamians who have already signed in this window of MLB’s international signing period with two more remaining. Chad Delancy (Boston Red Sox) and Andrew Arthur (St. Louis Cardinals) remain. Sebastian Walcott kicked off the signings on Sunday when he made it official with the Texas Rangers.

According to the Miami Herald, the 6’2” Miller is set to receive a $950,000 signing bonus. He is touted as an outfielder and a switch hitter who can throw a fastball up to 92 miles per hour. His coach at I-Elite, Geron Sands, went as far as calling him the “Bahamian Shohei Ohtani”. Ohtani plays for the Los Angeles Angels and is the best two-way player in MLB today.

Flocked by his mother, father, relatives, coaches and friends, Miller teared up a few times as he thanked persons for elevating him to this point, joining many other Bahamians in MLB’s farm system.

“I started playing baseball at the age of nine. I was not good at it. Every other sport I had tried came naturally, but for baseball, I had to work a little harder,” said Miller. “There are no other words that I can express for how grateful I am that I am now going to play professional sports.”

The center fielder and left-handed pitcher urged corporate Bahamas to support young persons like himself. Miller thanked organizations and groups such as Commonwealth Bank; Bank of The Bahamas; ICS Security; the Jubilee Gardens Auxiliary Committee, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture; and the Bahamas Baseball Association (BBA) for giving him financial support in achieving his dream. Miller expressed gratitude to the Marlins organization for the opportunity and for making his dream a reality.

Marlins Senior Director of International Operations Adrian Lorenzo was on hand to welcome Miller to the organization. He reminisced about when he and Sands started this journey of Bahamian baseball intrusion into the professional ranks years ago and how The Bahamas was going to be special.

“I had this gut feeling that the Bahamian market was primed to be something special because I saw a high level of athleticism, a high level of aptitude,” Lorenzo said. “They have the advantage of already speaking English and in a sport where you’re going to have to do that and a lot of your Latin American counterparts have that as an obstacle for them for a few years before they can get started, is a vital thing. I just had a good strong feeling that this was coming and developing as a baseball market.”

Lorenzo spoke about Miller and what he brings to the organization.

“The most obvious part is the raw natural ability. He’s that type of player where you get on the field and like your eyes go right to him, no matter who else is on the field. It’s like they go right to him. He’s got a special presence to him. He’s got that X factor that we always talk about as evaluators, that we always hope that we find and that’s before he even started doing anything baseball-related. Then, when he starts doing the baseball-related things, he starts to impress. I always had a good strong gut feeling based on our interactions that he was of high character and a high integrity person. This signing tonight (Tuesday), and what people have said about him, just reinforced that in a way that I didn’t quite understand,” Lorenzo said.

Sands thanked Lorenzo and the Marlins organization for believing in Miller and chimed in on the prospect who he had at I-Elite for six years, calling him one of the best players he ever developed.

“He’s a leader on and off the field. He’s an excellent student. He’s very intelligent, caring and mature. It’s been an absolute pleasure to mentor and develop and train him from the age of 11,” Sands said.

Former professional baseball player Albert Cartwright, who co-founded I-Elite with Sands, was happy to see Miller’s dream become a reality.

“It’s a proud moment to see Miller being able to take this next step for his dream to get to the big leagues. It’s also a sad movement for me because for the last few years, Miller has been under my wing. There’s been so many obstacles that we had to go through with him being a pitcher and a position player. He had to put in double work to be able to get to this point,” Cartwright said. “It’s been a lot of good moments and a lot of learning points that he had to get through. There’s been some ups, there’s been a lot of downs, but that’s going to prepare him for his journey with the Marlins and I’m excited to watch it. I’m excited to see him grow and I’m excited to be a part of his journey as he continues to go on.”

Miller’s first stop for the Marlins will be down in the Dominican Republic in the Dominican Summer League.

Overall, the Marlins’ class of 2023 includes 19 players from the Dominican Republic (DR), nine from Venezuela, three from The Bahamas and one from Japan.

https://thenassauguardian.com/marlins-signs-no-16-prospect-janero-miller/

 Home|Sports|It’s officialSports

Jones headed to the ‘Big Apple’; looking to bring championship to New York

Sheldon LongleySend an emailJanuary 17, 2023 203 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

After six productive years together, Bahamian women’s professional basketball player Jonquel ‘JJ’ Jones and the Connecticut Sun are parting ways.

Jones was dealt to the New York Liberty in a three-team trade on Sunday. The move was made official late Sunday. According to reports, Jones listed the Liberty as her preferred destination.

In her six years with the Sun, Jones led the team to two appearances in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Finals, is just two years removed from a Most Valuable Payer (MVP) season and is a former most improved player and sixth woman of the year in the league.

The Liberty have suddenly entered the championship picture in the WNBA, adding Jones to a lineup that includes 2020 No. 1 overall pick Sabrina Ionescu and former league most improved player  and All-Defensive First Team member Betnijah Laney.

In the three-team deal, Connecticut receives the number six pick in the draft as well as Rebecca Allen from New York and Tyasha Harris from Dallas. The Dallas Wings get Natasha Howard and Crystal Dangerfield from the Liberty, and Kayla Thornton heads to New York also.

Jones bid farewell to the Connecticut on Instagram.

“We’ve share so many memories together. Our journey started at the 2016 draft where a young 22-year-old woman would hear her name called in the same arena where she would make countless memories. I have done amazing things in my career, all while proudly wearing Connecticut across my chest,” she said. “After careful thought and consideration, I have decided to move on and begin the next chapter of my W career. I would like to take this time to thank the Mohegan Tribe, the Sun’s front office, my teammates and of course the incredible fans because without any of you I would never be the player and person that I am today. Please know that Connecticut will always have a special place in my heart and that I am forever grateful for my time as a member of such a great organization.”

After a dominant season in 2021, Jones received 48 of 49 first-place votes for the WNBA MVP Award, finishing one vote shy of a unanimous selection. She led the Sun to the league’s best win/loss record at 26-6, including a 15-1 home record at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. That year, Jones averaged a double-double at 19.4 points – fourth-best in the league – and a league-best 11.2 rebounds per game. She shot 51.5 percent from the field.

A year after turning in arguably the greatest season by a Bahamian athlete in history, Jones took a step back in 2022. She averaged 14.6 points on 51.3 percent shooting from the field while adding 8.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game, and finished seventh in the MVP voting. However, she did manage to lead the Sun to a second WNBA Finals berth in four years where they lost to the Las Vegas Aces three games to one.

Liberty General Manager Jonathan Kolb told the Associated Press that they are thrilled to add Jones and Kayla Thornton to their roster.

“Adding Jonquel and Kayla to our roster in the prime of their careers was a can’t-miss opportunity to bolster our frontcourt on both ends of the floor,” he said. “JJ brings an established MVP skillset, and Kayla possesses a rare combination of defensive physicality and offensive spacing. We can’t wait to welcome them to the Liberty family and get to work on pursuing our championship goals.”

Jones expressed excitement on Twitter. She is looking to bring a championship to New York.

“To say I’m excited would be a huge understatement. To the fans, future teammates and everyone who has welcomed me to New York, thank you. I can’t wait to get this season going and show out in the ‘Big Apple’,” she said.

Jones had one year left on her contract with the Sun. The 6’ 6” four-time all-star is excited to bring her talent and experience to New York and is looking forward to doing her part to transform that team into a WNBA powerhouse. The Liberty have lost in the opening round of the playoffs the last two seasons.

With Jones, the Sun came within a game of winning the WNBA title in 2019, losing to the Washington Mystics, and within two games of winning the title last year, losing to the Aces.

http://sportsinthebahamas.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=6320&action=edit

 Home|Sports|Walcott signs with the RangersSportsWalcott signs with the RangersJBLN product said he is grateful for the opportunity; more to sign this week Sheldon Longley Send an emailJanuary 16, 2023 350 3 minute readFacebook Twitter LinkedIn Share via Email

Sebastian Walcott, a product of the Junior Baseball League of Nassau (JBLN) and the International Elite (I-Elite) Sports Academy, became the latest Bahamian to sign with a major league professional organization, inking on the dotted line with the Texas Rangers at an upscale session at Sapodilla Restaurant on West Bay Street on Sunday.

In the coming days, led by Walcott, a quartet of young men are expected to sign with professional baseball clubs, and for the first time, two from The Bahamas are listed among the top 20 international prospects in this current class during Major League Baseball’s (MLB) international signing period.

Walcott, regarded as a tall and gifted shortstop with elite athleticism, is at number eight, and Janero Miller, who is at number 16, signs with the Miami Marlins on Tuesday. Chad Delancy signs with the Boston Red Sox at Fusion Superplex on Saturday, and Andrew Authur inks his name on the dotted line with the St Louis Cardinals at Fusion Superplex next week Sunday.

As for Walcott, he draws comparison to Miami Marlins’ infielder Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr. – the seventh Bahamian to be called up to the majors. He is touted as one of the top talents in this latest boom of Bahamian baseball players. A total of 34 I-Elite baseball players have signed with major league organizations in the last eight years, and additionally, 20 I-Elite alumni have received high school and collegiate scholarships to attend school in the United States.

Walcott, who turns 17 on March 14, stands at 6’ 4” and weighs 190 pounds. He receives a $3.2 million signing bonus according to the Dallas Morning News.

Giving thanks to God first and foremost, his parents Jeffrey and Yael Walcott, older brother Seth with whom he shares a close and personal relationship, family and friends, JBLN, I-Elite and the Rangers organization, young Sebastian Walcott said he is intrigued by the possibility of becoming a major leaguer, an established star in the league, and even a hall of famer one day.

“Today is a day that I have always hoped and waited for,” said young Walcott. “After countless days on the baseball field training, signing day is finally here. Thanks to I-Elite and the Rangers organization for making this dream a reality. I am beyond excited for this opportunity and I’m looking forward to growing and excelling as a player.

“Thanks to my community – thanks for supporting me and embracing my talent for baseball. I’m proud to be a Bahamian and I’m looking forward to representing The Bahamas. I have always been taught that I could do anything through Christ who strengthens me and today proves that with God, anything is possible.”

The Rangers agreed to deals with 17 players on Sunday, including Walcott, who at number eight on MLB.com’s international prospect rankings, is their highest ranked signee. They also added 16-year-old outfielder Pablo Guerrero, son of Hall of Famer and former Rangers player Vladimir Guerrero and the brother of Vladimir Jr., who plays with the Toronto Blue Jays.

I-Elite, which continues to mentor and develop young Bahamian athletes, currently enrolls 24 young men from New Providence, Grand Bahama and Eleuthera.

“This has been a long journey and today and we have crossed the finish line of the first race,” said Geron Sands, president, co-founder and head coach of I-Elite. “This has been a team effort indeed. Sebastian is the epitome of hard work and determination. His competitive drive is at the top of the grading scale. He is a top international prospect, but most importantly, he is a great human being. I am confident that he will achieve whatever he sets his mind to. His ability and projections exceed expectations. We will be hearing his name for a very long time. He is destined to be great.”

Vice President/Assistant General Manager for Player Development and International Operations for the Rangers Ross Fenstermaker said they are ecstatic to have young Sebastian Walcott on board.

“This is a special day across professional baseball, and particularly for the Rangers,” said Fenstermaker. “We get to welcome Sebastian into our organization. This has been a long journey and an awesome one. I was told by Coach Geron that this one might be the best one yet, and I don’t think he’s wrong. Today, we get to make it official. We in the Texas Rangers are committed to seeing his development through to the very end. Congratulations and welcome to the organization.”

Fenstermaker was quoted in the Dallas Morning News, a daily newspaper serving the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas, stating that Walcott is top end athlete with bat to ball skills, easy projectable power and elite arm strength. “He’s mature beyond his years with tools that play in games right now,” added Fenstermaker.

The Bahamas keeps turning heads with MLB signees which is a testament to the hard work of local coaches at JBLN, the Freedom Farm Baseball League, the I-Elite Sports Academy and Max D Sports Academy among other leagues and organizations.

https://thenassauguardian.com/walcott-signs-with-the-rangers/

 Home|Sports|Mambas, Rebels win in NPBA actionSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailJanuary 17, 2023 79 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Tucker Boys Mambas got their first win of the season, prevailing 58-57 over the TMT Giants, in New Providence Basketball Association (NPBA) Division I action on Saturday night at the A.F. Adderley Gymnasium. The Rebels division two easily took care of the RC Liquors Eagles, 76-60.

The win gives the fifth place Mambas a 1-5 win/loss record on the season in the Vince Ferguson Division of the NPBA Division I. That division has five teams. The Giants are in fourth place in that division with a 2-3 record. The Rebels now have a 3-4 record and sit in fourth in division two. The Eagles record is now 3-3 and they are in fifth position in division two.

The Mambas-Giants game had twelve lead changes and eight ties. The Giants held the lead for most of the game but relinquished it with 32 seconds remaining. Two clutch free throws by James Rolle gave the Mambas the lead at 58-57, and they held on for the one-point win.

With 0.4 seconds remaining, the Mambas’ Leon Bain fouled D’Angelo Mackey who was in the act of shooting a three-point shot. Mackey had a chance to tie the game or even win it, but he was unable to do either as all three attempts missed and the Mambas held on for the win.

Head Coach for the Mambas Jason Tucker said he was just telling his team to keep their composure.

“We were just trying to keep our composure and stick to the game plan. The games will have ups and downs but we have to be composed and stick to our game plan. We had some breakdowns in our defense tonight but we were able to come out with a win,” Tucker said.

The Mambas were led by Bain who had a game-high 18 points on 5-for-25 shooting from the field. He was perfect from the charity stripe as he made all four attempts including the go-ahead free throws. His teammates Jaden Stubbs and Clayton Tucker each had 12 points in the win.

Randy Miller led the Giants with 16 points and 14 rebounds in 32 minutes on the floor. He was 7-for-12 from the field.

In division two play, the Rebels wasted no time in asserting their dominance in the game as they jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead in the first quarter. They took a 23-12 lead at the end of the first quarter. They never looked back as they never trailed in the game.

Head Coach for the Rebels Bob Hudson said he was happy with his team’s effort.

“It was a solid game for us. We got back some players from injury but we were missing some starters. Overall, I was happy with the guys. It’s my first year with the division two team and we have some young players,” Hudson said.

The Rebels had three players scoring in double figures with Giano Fowler leading the way for them with a game-high 20 points. Kriston Munroe and Marcian Pickstock both chipped in with 16 points. Munroe had 11 rebounds to complete a double-double.

Alexio Frances had a team-high 16 points for the Eagles.

It was a horrid shooting night for the Eagles as they shot 25.6 percent from the field. The Rebels made 24 free throws while the Eagles struggled from the charity stripe as they shot 45.9 percent from there.

NPBA action continues tonight with division one action when the University of The Bahamas Mingoes (2-4) take on the Discount Distributors Liquors Rockets (6-0). That game will commence at 8 o’ clock.

https://thenassauguardian.com/mambas-rebels-win-in-npba-action/

 Home|Sports|Bahamians see action in college athleticsSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailJanuary 17, 2023 86 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Several Bahamians were in action on the collegiate scene this past weekend, getting in some track and field action to start off the year. 

The Kentucky Wildcats’ Anthaya Charlton was able to hold off 28 jumpers to win the long jump competition on Friday. She wasted no time getting in a good jump as her first jump was her best jump – a personal best of 6.18 meters (m) – 20’ 3-1/4”. She did it at her school’s Rod McCravy Memorial Meet which was held at the Wildcats’ Nutter Field House in Lexington, Kentucky.

The leap placed her at number eight on her school’s all-time list.

Charlton later competed in the 200m along with her teammate and fellow Bahamian Megan Moss. Charlton clocked 24.90 seconds to place 14th overall while Moss clocked 24.91 seconds to finish 15th overall.

Also running at the meet, representing Puma, was Charlton’s older sister Devynne Charlton, who is also an assistant coach for the Wildcats. She ran in the 60m. The older Charlton ran 7.49 seconds. The younger Charlton competed in that event and ran 7.61 seconds in the heats. Anthaya Charlton ran in the 60m dash final while her sister opted to sit out. Anthaya finished eighth with a time of 7.56 seconds.

Devynne Charlton was in action in the 60m hurdles and she finished second with a time of 7.98 seconds. In the heats, the Olympian ran 8.59 seconds and returned in the semifinals to run a time of 8.05 seconds. 

Moss was in action in the 400m and was able to post a time of 54.85 seconds to place sixth.

Also in action at this meet was Ohio State University’s Adrian Curry. In the men’s 50m, he advanced to the final after finishing with the seventh fastest time of 6.90 seconds in the semifinals. He clocked 6.85 seconds in the preliminaries. Curry sat out the final.

Javonya Valcourt was impressive in her first collegiate meet for the Clemson University Tigers as they competed at the Clemson Invite at the Clemson Indoor Track in Clemson, South Carolina. The freshman sprinted her way to finish second in the 400m with a time of 54.24 seconds. Also in that race was Northern Colorado’s Wendira Moss who finished seventh in 56.44 seconds.

Valcourt’s teammate Charisma Taylor was in action in the 60m hurdles. The graduate student finished third in a time of 8.20 seconds. She ran 8.36 seconds in the preliminaries. She tried her hand in the 200m and placed 13th with a time of 24.64 seconds. It was Taylor’s first meet of the year. 

Valcourt ran the 4x400m relay with her teammates Mia O’Neil, Kyla Robinson-Hubbar and Joella Lloyd. They placed third after clocking 3:41.72.

Lacarthea Cooper, a freshman at New Mexico Junior College, powered her way to a third-place finish in the 400m at the Texas Tech Corky Classic at the Texas Tech Sports Performance Center in Lubbock, Texas. The Olympian posted a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Championships qualifying time of 54.91 seconds. She was also in action in the 4x400m relay with teammates Ashantai Bollers, Deshana Skeete and Calisha Taylor. They posted a NJCAA Championships qualifying time of 3:42.39 to finish second.

Karon Dean was also at the meet, running in the 60m for University of Texas at El Paso. He reached the final and finished fourth with a time of a 6.66 seconds. Dean ran 6.65 seconds in the semifinals and posted a time of 6.74 seconds in the preliminaries.

The collegiate indoor season continues this coming weekend at various venues around the United States.

https://thenassauguardian.com/bahamians-see-action-in-college-athletics/

 Home|Sports|It’s officialSports

Jones headed to the ‘Big Apple’; looking to bring championship to New York

Sheldon LongleySend an emailJanuary 17, 2023 82 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

After six productive years together, Bahamian women’s professional basketball player Jonquel ‘JJ’ Jones and the Connecticut Sun are parting ways.

Jones was dealt to the New York Liberty in a three-team trade on Sunday. The move was made official late Sunday. According to reports, Jones listed the Liberty as her preferred destination.

In her six years with the Sun, Jones led the team to two appearances in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Finals, is just two years removed from a Most Valuable Payer (MVP) season and is a former most improved player and sixth woman of the year in the league.

The Liberty have suddenly entered the championship picture in the WNBA, adding Jones to a lineup that includes 2020 No. 1 overall pick Sabrina Ionescu and former league most improved player  and All-Defensive First Team member Betnijah Laney.

In the three-team deal, Connecticut receives the number six pick in the draft as well as Rebecca Allen from New York and Tyasha Harris from Dallas. The Dallas Wings get Natasha Howard and Crystal Dangerfield from the Liberty, and Kayla Thornton heads to New York also.

Jones bid farewell to the Connecticut on Instagram.

“We’ve share so many memories together. Our journey started at the 2016 draft where a young 22-year-old woman would hear her name called in the same arena where she would make countless memories. I have done amazing things in my career, all while proudly wearing Connecticut across my chest,” she said. “After careful thought and consideration, I have decided to move on and begin the next chapter of my W career. I would like to take this time to thank the Mohegan Tribe, the Sun’s front office, my teammates and of course the incredible fans because without any of you I would never be the player and person that I am today. Please know that Connecticut will always have a special place in my heart and that I am forever grateful for my time as a member of such a great organization.”

After a dominant season in 2021, Jones received 48 of 49 first-place votes for the WNBA MVP Award, finishing one vote shy of a unanimous selection. She led the Sun to the league’s best win/loss record at 26-6, including a 15-1 home record at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. That year, Jones averaged a double-double at 19.4 points – fourth-best in the league – and a league-best 11.2 rebounds per game. She shot 51.5 percent from the field.

A year after turning in arguably the greatest season by a Bahamian athlete in history, Jones took a step back in 2022. She averaged 14.6 points on 51.3 percent shooting from the field while adding 8.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game, and finished seventh in the MVP voting. However, she did manage to lead the Sun to a second WNBA Finals berth in four years where they lost to the Las Vegas Aces three games to one.

Liberty General Manager Jonathan Kolb told the Associated Press that they are thrilled to add Jones and Kayla Thornton to their roster.

“Adding Jonquel and Kayla to our roster in the prime of their careers was a can’t-miss opportunity to bolster our frontcourt on both ends of the floor,” he said. “JJ brings an established MVP skillset, and Kayla possesses a rare combination of defensive physicality and offensive spacing. We can’t wait to welcome them to the Liberty family and get to work on pursuing our championship goals.”

Jones expressed excitement on Twitter. She is looking to bring a championship to New York.

“To say I’m excited would be a huge understatement. To the fans, future teammates and everyone who has welcomed me to New York, thank you. I can’t wait to get this season going and show out in the ‘Big Apple’,” she said.

Jones had one year left on her contract with the Sun. The 6’ 6” four-time all-star is excited to bring her talent and experience to New York and is looking forward to doing her part to transform that team into a WNBA powerhouse. The Liberty have lost in the opening round of the playoffs the last two seasons.

With Jones, the Sun came within a game of winning the WNBA title in 2019, losing to the Washington Mystics, and within two games of winning the title last year, losing to the Aces.

https://thenassauguardian.com/its-official/

As of Monday, January 16, 2023

• Sign in to favorite this
• DiscussComment, Blog about
• Share thisEmail, Facebook, Twitter

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#As the collegiate indoor track and field season officially got underway over the weekend around the United States, a number of athletes – coming off injuries and making their debut for their respective schools – shined in their individual events.

ANTHAYA CHARLTON

Devynne Charlton

#Charlton shines in Lexington

#In her return to action after an injury last year, University of Kentucky’s sophomore Anthaya Charlton took the spotlight from her older sister Devynne Charlton at the Rod McQuary Memorial at the Nutter Field House in Lexington, Kentucky.

#Charlton, in her sophomore year, soared 20-feet, 3 ½-inches or 6.18 metres to win the women’s long jump. Her nearest rival was Taylor Hampton, a sophomore at Kennesaw State, with 19-1 ½ (5.83m).

#Charlton also competed in the 60m, placing eighth in the final in 7.56.

#Devynne Charlton, who is coming off a long season that saw her pick up a pair of international medals, made the final, but opted not to compete. She ran 7.45 for third in the semifinal.

Adrian Curry

#Charlton, winner of the World Athletics’ World Indoor Championships’ silver medal in the 60m hurdles and silver at the Commonwealth Games, had to settle for second in the women’s 60m hurdles in 7.98. The winning time was 7.88 by Kentucky senior Masai Russell.

MEGAN MOSS

#Megan Moss, a junior at Kentucky, got sixth in the women’s 400m in 54.85. Her former team-mate Abby Steiner, now competing for Puma, won the event in 52.70. Steiner was the top American 200m sprinter last year in her senior year at Kentucky.

#And Adrian Curry, a senior at Ohio State, was seventh in the semifinal of the men’s 60m in 6.90, but he opted not to participate in the final.

CHARISMA TAYLOR

#Taylor and Walcourt take the spotlight

#At the Clemson Invitational, Charisma Taylor picked up a third place finish in the women’s 60 metres hurdles as she got her indoor season started on the right track in her senior year at the University of Tennessee.

#Coming off an injury that prevented her from completing her outdoor season last year, Taylor clocked 8.20 seconds to trail winner Anna Hall of Adidas in 8.18 and Jayla Hollis, of Florida, who did 8.19.

#Taylor was also featured in the women’s 200m with Wendira Moss. Taylor got 13th in 24.46, while Moss, competing for Northern Colorado, was 17th in 24.87.

#Also at the meet, Javonya Walcourt, a freshman at Tennessee, came through for second place in the women’s 400m in 54.24. Moss was sixth in 66.44. Arianna Sharpe of Auburn won the event in 53.01.

LACARTHEA COOPER

#Cooper in fine form

#After sitting out the last half of the season because of an injury, St Augustine’s College graduate Lacarthea Cooper got in her first action in her new school at New Mexico Junior College.

#At the Texas Tech University Corky Classic at the Sports Performance Center in Lubbock, Texas, Cooper earned a third place finish in the women’s 400m in 54.91. The winning time was 53.51 by Iimacbong Nse Uka, a sophomore at Baylor, while Nayanna Dubarry-Gay, a junior at Texas Tech, was second in 54.63.

#Cooper also anchored New Mexico women’s 4 x 400m relay team to a second place finish in 3:42.39. Baylor took the tape in 3:37.22.

#Karon Dean, competing for UTEP, was fourth in the final of the men’s 60m in 6.66. The race was won by JT Smith of Tamu-Commence in 6.60.

#Rutherford in top five

#At the Arkansas Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Texas A&M sophomore Camille Rutherford was fifth in the women’s 200m in 24.01 seconds.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/jan/16/athletes-shine-usa/?news

As of Monday, January 16, 2023

• Sign in to favorite this
• DiscussComment, Blog about
• Share thisEmail, Facebook, Twitter

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#AT least four athletes attained the qualifying standards for the 50th CARIFTA Golden Jubilee here over the Easter holiday weekend, while there were several record-breaking performances as the T-Bird Flyers concluded its two-day meet at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium on Saturday.

#It was the first meet for the year on the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ 2023 calendar and T-Bird Flyers’ head coach Foster Dorsett said they can’t complain because everything went according to plan.

#“Despite the cold wind and the weather, I think the kids performed well,” said Dorsett of the meet that got started on Friday night and honoured the memories of the late Bahamas Association of Certified Officials, Courtney Wallace, the immediate past president and Ivy Campbell, a senior member.

#“We had a few qualifiers for CARIFTA, so the coaches got a good opportunity to see where their kids are at and so did the athletes. We also had some record-breaking performances, so overall I think it was a good meet.”

#Dorsett, the first vice president of the BAAA, thanked meet director Bernard Newbold for pulling it all together, the Tek team, led by Trevor Moss, for keeping accurate records of the stats, the BACO officials, now headed by Val Kemp, for officiating and the clubs, coaches, athletes and spectators who all showed up in great numbers.

#“We had close to 600 athletes participating,” Dorsett said. “We expected more, but we know that Queen’s College just had their inter-house meet on Thursday and St Augustine’s College’s was on Friday, so many of their athletes didn’t compete because it was so close to their meets.

#“We also want to thank the Andros Heats and the Grand Bahama Heats track clubs and coach John Ingraham for coming in and participating as well. I think they performed well. But on the whole, I think all of the athletes performed well with this being the first meet of the year.”

#One of the highlights of the meet came from University of Miami bound Calea Jackson tossed the under-20 girls discus 45.35 metres to surpass the qualifying standard for the Carifta Games, scheduled for April 7-11 and erased Shelby Knowles’ meet record of 41.23m, set in 2021.

#Finishing second was Cailyn Johnson of Triple Threat with 34.83m. Jackson’s Blue Chips Athletics’ team-mate Annae Mackey was third with 28.02m.

#Terrell McCoy, who doubles up as a basketball player, also made her presence felt when she threw the under-17 girls’ discus 12.85m to not only break Danielle Nixon’s meet record of 10.07m, but also hurled past the Carifta standard of 12.56m.

#Nixon, who competed in the event for Blue Chips Athletics, had to settle for second with her best of 9.79m, while Kenyce Scavella of Ags Athletics was third with 9.37.

#In the under-17 girls javelin, Taysha Stubbs of Air Assault threw 36.09m to break the meet record of 28.81m, set in 2021 by G’Shan Brown and surpassed the CARIFTA standard of 35.35m.

#Her team-mate Chea’Lesa Knowles was second with 14.37m and Taj Ellis of Ags Athletics was third with 7.69m. “It feels good to win it and to qualify for CARIFTA,” said Stubbs, a grade 10 student at Nassau Christian Academy. ”It was not my best, but it was still a really good throw and I’m happy that I qualified. I want to give thanks to God for it.”

#Stubbs, 15, said she will now get back into training and work a lot more on her technique so that she can be better prepared for CARIFTA once she is selected to the team.

#Kamera Strachan, the little sister of strongman Keyshawn Strachan, won the under-20 girls javelin with a heave of 38.34m to wipe out Carmitra Mackey’s meet record of 37.17m that she established in 2021 and she also qualified for the Penn Relays in April where she will get to travel as a member of St Augustine’s College team.

#The 14-year-old Strachan had moved up to the under-20 division, according to coach Corrington Maycock, to achieve the latter feat. But the ninth grader also attained the CARIFTA standard in the under-17 division where she will get to compete with Stubbs in April.

#“I am happy that I qualified for CARIFTA because I want to represent my country,” said Strachan, who qualified twice last year, but was unable to travel with the team because she was too young. “It was good. I’m really happy that I qualified for the Penn Relays as well.”

#Grand Bahama’s Erin Barr turned in one of the most impressive performances on the track when she captured the combined under-17 and under-20 women’s 800 metres in a time of 2:28.24 to replace Breyanna Kemp’s meet record of 2:40.92. However, she fell short of the CARIFTA standard of 2:19.22.

#“The wind was crazy, but I tried to rely on my strength training like my coach (John Ingraham) told me to do,” said Barr, a 10th grader at Tabernacle Baptist. “I think I executed the race the way I should.”

#Under the right conditions, 16-year-old Barr said she intends to qualify for both the 800 and 1,500m for CARIFTA.

#And in the boys’ under- 20 division, Hurry Murray’s Raywind Winder clocked 2:04.35 to replace Creswell Farrington’s previous meet record of 2:05.91 from 2021, but he too fell short of the CARIFTA standard of 1:54.12. “I went out with the open man and tried to run at least 1:55, but in the second lap, I had him until the final 200m when my knees just clipped and I couldn’t go with him,” said Winder, a 16-year-old 11th grader at Doris Johnson Secondary High.

#He said he will continue to work on his maintenance and stay hydrated during competition in order to achieve his goal.

#Sharan Roker, of the T-Bird Flyers, was second in 2:04.57 and Kristofer Wong of the Phoenix Track Club was third in 2:04.64. Jackson Ozias, of the University of Bahamas, won the open men’s 800m in 2:01.34 and Auston Clarke, of Speed Dynamics was second in 2:03.29.

#Emma Johnson, running unattached, also produced an outstanding performance in running away from the field in the final lap to take the under- 15 girls 800m in 2:56.20.

#Hurry Murray’s Breytesiha Kemp (2:41.95) and Ramonique McLennon (2:41.11) had to settle for second and third. On Friday night, the top two finished in that same order in the 1,500m as Johnson took the tape in 5:32.99 over Kemp, who did 5:39.93.

#Kemp’s sister Breynice was third in 5:48.57. Breynice was fourth in the 800m in 2:41.36.

#Jayden Cooper of Speed Capacity took the under-17 boys’ 800m in the fastest heat time of 2:13.75.

#Quincy Rolle of the Red Line Athletics was second in 2:13.83 and Breck Kemp of Hurry Murray was third in 2:16.38.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/jan/16/carifta-standards-attained-t-bird-meet/?news