SHOWN, from left to right, are men’s national soccer team player Omari Bain, Bruce Swan, BFA technical director, Adam Miller, sports officer, Kevin Davies, assistant coach, and men’s national team player Nicolas Lopez.

As of Thursday, March 23, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#THE Bahamas Football Association (BFA) will host the CONCACAF Nations League match between the Bahamas men’s national soccer team and Trinidad & Tobago at 4pm this Friday.

#The two men’s soccer teams will face off tomorrow evening at Thomas A. Robinson Stadium. The matchup between the senior men’s team is anticipated to be an exciting one as Bahamians are urged to come out and support their national team.

#Kevin Davies, assistant coach of the men’s soccer team, talked about what Bahamians can expect from Friday’s showdown.

#“The Bahamian public can expect a group of young men who have been working hard, they are ready to put everything on the line for this game [and] they are excited. The guys are hungry and they want to prove that they can play with the big boys in the region,” Davies said.

#He added that the Bahamas’ players have been adequately prepared and are ready to go in Friday’s big competition.

#Ahead of Friday’s matchup, the Bahamas men’s national soccer team has been preparing for this soccer game for the last four to five months.

#Additionally, a camp was held over the Christmas holidays to accommodate the players who are abroad at school.

#The senior men’s soccer team is focused and in their final stages of training as they prepare to matchup against Trinidad and Tobago.

#Omari Bain, a member of the men’s national soccer team, talked about what his experience and preparation has been like since joining the team in February.

#Bain said he has been very happy with the way the team is preparing ahead of the matchup against Trinidad and Tobago. He said the preparation has not only been physical but also mental and it has been a good experience so far. He added that he has no doubt in his mind in terms of the willingness of the men’s team or their technical ability.

#The Bahamas national men’s soccer team will consist of goalkeepers Ian Lowe, Michael Butler and Vance Wheaton. The forwards are Jordin Wilson, Wood Julmis and Nahum Johnson. The team’s defenders will include Troy Pinder, Lesley St. Fleur, Miguel Thompson, Phieron WIlson, Quinton Carey, Roen Davis, Elijah Mitchell and Ian Harris.

#Additionally, the midfielders are Michael Massey, Deron Ferguson, Omari Bain, Christopher Rahming, Reuben Edgecombe, William Bayles, Marcel Joseph and Nicolas Lopez.

#Lopez, who was in attendance at yesterday’s press conference, was also excited for the upcoming soccer match as he was injured during the last faceoff.

#“It’s been great to be back in The Bahamas and obviously train with the team. I had my first training with the team yesterday since coming back. Training so far has been good and I am looking forward to the meet coming up.”

#Despite not being able to practice as much as his other teammates, Lopez remains confident that Team Bahamas will shine at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium on Friday.

#Persons who are interested in purchasing tickets for Friday’s event can go to bahamasfa.net to purchase digitally. Meanwhile, for physical ticket purchases, fans can go to the NSA office at the Western Grandstand of the stadium where tickets will be sold until the day of the match.

#Tickets for this remarkable event will include the VIP Section for $25, General Admission (Adults) $15, and kids under 12 are $7. The BFA along with coaches and players are excited for this Friday’s soccer game against Trinidad and Tobago and it is hoped that Bahamians will come out and support this event.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/23/mens-soccer-showdown-tomorrow/?news

As of Thursday, March 23, 2023

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FOSTER DORSETT, BAAA first vice president, and the Dame of CARIFTA, Pauline Davis at the press conference to announce the Let’s Move Bahamas Fun Run/walk.

#By TENAJH SWEETING

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) has officially launched the “Let’s Move Bahamas” fun run/walk.

#The unique event is scheduled for Easter weekend at 6am on the final morning of April’s 50th CARIFTA Games.

#With the event taking place on the highly anticipated CARIFTA weekend, event organisers are asking that former CARIFTA participants join the “Let’s Move Bahamas” event on Arawak Cay.

#During a press conference held yesterday at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium, special events coordinator Damarius Cash encouraged former CARIFTA members to come out and support the event.

#“We are asking you to come out and show yourself, make yourself known to the BAAA and we are gonna highlight you at this event so we want all to come out and support,” Cash said.

#With 4,000 plus Bahamian athletes competing in the CARIFTA Games from 1972 to 2023, according to BAAA president Drumeco Archer, officials are expecting a great turnout on the final morning of the CARIFTA Games.

#For former CARIFTA participants and others that are interested in registering for the fun run/walk event, the process is simple. The first step of the registration process requires potential registrants to send an email to info@bahamastrackandfield.org.

#After sending an email the individual will receive a registration link where they will have to fill out a registration form for the event.

#The fun run/walk event is free in efforts to target and honour former CARIFTA athletes on the final morning of this year’s 50th CARIFTA Games.

#Persons who are unable to register online will have another opportunity at 5:30am on the morning of the event at Arawak Cay.

#Registrants for the “Let’s Move Bahamas” event can look forward to a free t-shirt, and the first thousand participants to cross the finish line will receive a medal.

#Also, as participants pass the finish line they will receive a raffle ticket for them to participate in.

#Mike Sands, president of the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC), talked about what the public can expect from this year’s “Let’s Move Bahamas” fun run/walk event.

#“I think it’s something that I am encouraging all Bahamians to let us unite as one Bahamas and let us join in,” Sands said.

#He added that there are a number of persons who have already expressed their interest in joining the fun run/walk event up to this point.

#The CARIFTA Games will be held April 7-10 at the Thomas A Robinson stadium.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/23/fun-runwalk-final-morning-carifta/

TEMPLE Christian Suns High School track and field team.

As of Wednesday, March 22, 2023

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Kenya Culmer

PERRY Cunningham

#SCHOOL pride is still at an all time high at Temple Christian High School following their historic third-place finish at the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) Track and Field Championships.

#The achievement is a remarkable one that reflects positively on the school and its athletics programme.

#“Finishing third in the BAISS championships is no small feat, and it is something that should be celebrated and recognised by the entire school community,” said high school principal Perry R. Cunningham.

#“This accomplishment is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the student-athletes, coaches, and staff who have worked tirelessly to prepare and compete at the highest level.

#“Our high school’s achievement sets a new standard of excellence for future athletic teams to strive for. It demonstrates that with hard work, dedication, and commitment, anything is possible. The school community is proud of the student-athletes, coaches, and staff who have brought honour to the institution.”

#Reflecting on the journey to this point, he said:

#“The team faced several challenges leading up to the BAISS track and field championships, including COVID-19, injuries, lack of equipment and staff, limited financial support and balancing academic work with athletic training.

#However, they were able to overcome these obstacles through hard work, dedication and the support of their coaches, parents, staff and community.”

PROUD members of the TC Suns track and field team.

#Looking to the future, the principal added, “To maintain and build on this success, the school’s athletics programme has several goals, including identifying new talents, improving facilities, implementing a physical conditioning programme, inviting accomplished athletes to motivate student-athletes, implementing a mentorship programme, participating in more competitions, increasing athletic scholarship awards, and gaining more parental support.”

#Coach Kenya Culmer is the head of physical education and head of the track and field programme at Temple Christian High School. She has been with the school for six years and has a background in track and field as a former athlete.

#She attended Temple Christian Elementary and was introduced to the high jump by coach Demeritte. After high school, she was awarded a full track scholarship at Southern Illinois University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business management.

#In 2012, Culmer made history as the first Bahamian woman to jump over 6 feet, becoming the national high jump record holder. She originally came to Temple Christian to help out on a short-term basis, but six years later, she is still with the school, making a significant impact on its athletics programme.

#Coach Culmer credits the team’s success to a rigorous six-month training programme that focused on endurance, strength and technical aspects of each event. “Our students and coaches sacrificed much time into the preparation for the B.A.I.S.S. competition. We took the time to test each athlete and identify their strengths, which allowed us to put them into events where they could excel. The athletes themselves deserve much of the credit for their consistency and dedication, leaving everything on the track and field in each event.”

#She added: “The athletes handled the pressure exceptionally well, with not one expressing fear of competing against larger, more dominant schools. We taught them how to be confident and most importantly to believe that they can do all things through Christ who strengthens them.”

SHOWN, left to right, are TCS coaching team Marvin Darville, Kenya Culmer and Kevin Armbrister.

#Culmer leads a team alongside coaches Marvin Darville and Kevin Armbrister. An experienced coach, Armbrister was instrumental in the development of C.H Reeves’ track and field programme for over 20 years, a high school who were dominant in the government school track and field sector for many years.

#Darville has been head coach of the SunBlazers track and field club for 19 years, specialising in the sprints and hurdling events.

#Culmer credited this experience in this area as a strong factor to the Suns’ success in the hurdles events at the BAISS event.

#She continued, “As a team, we were able to achieve this success through strong collaboration between the coaches and athletes. In addition, we were fortunate to have the support of dedicated parents and volunteer coaches, all of whom worked together to make this achievement possible. As we always say, ‘teamwork makes the dreamwork.’”

#Cunningham added: “By recognising and celebrating these achievements, we can inspire and motivate future generations of athletes to strive for greatness and continue to build a strong athletics programme at Temple Christian High School. “This historic achievement shows that with the right resources, support, and guidance, even a relatively small student population can achieve great things.

#“It is a reminder that hard work, dedication and teamwork are the keys to success, and that anything is possible when we set our minds to it.

#“This achievement is a testament to our school’s commitment to excellence and the development of well-rounded students.

#“This accomplishment is not only a victory for the athletics programme but for the entire school community, and it should serve as inspiration for all students to strive for greatness in all aspects of their lives,” said Cunningham.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/22/temple-christian-high-school-celebrates-growth-its/?news

As of Monday, March 20, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#THE New Providence Sports Council is seeking funding urgently as sports associations make preparations for the sixth edition of the Bahamas Golden Jubilee Games.

#WIth the games being only four months after a 21-year hiatus, sports officials are beginning to have some concerns with the lack of funding so far as the country looks to host the multi-sport event.

#According to members of the different sports associations at a press conference on Saturday, they have not received any funding as yet despite the draft for the Bahamas Games expected to be held in early April.

#James Price, president of the New Providence Basketball Association, talked about some of the financial concerns the council has discussed up to this point.

#“We are faced with too much situations over the Bahamas Games, we have players they are overseas, they want to know if you are gonna pay for them to come in [if] you have accommodations for them to stay we need to know where these funds are supposed to come from,” Price said.

#Price added that he does not see where the NPBA can fund the tickets for athletes when they are costing between $1,200 to $1,500. He also had concerns over ordering uniforms for July’s games because if they are ordered too late they won’t arrive in time for the New Providence sports teams.

#The president of the NPBA was not the only one who had concerns about funding for his sport.

#Sam Rodgers Sr, president of the Bahamas Baseball Association, said the association was looking at bringing in top baseball athletes but first they would need to import baseballs from Puerto Rico which will take 7-8 weeks. However, they have not received any funds as yet to do so.

#“Funds really should have been dished out a few months ago, it’s very important right now for us to make sure, if the Bahamas Games will go on funds have to be issued in short order in order for us to be ready and prepared,” Rodgers Sr added.

#Shirley Mireault, of the cycling association, said they put in their budget on time due to requests from the islands to help in preparing their local athletes for cycling as well as providing them with helmets but to no avail because they have not received funding up to this point either.

#Among the urgent needs for funding to proceed with preparations for the games, the New Providence Sports Council is seeking accommodations, transportation, and that the New Providence sports team receive the same rights and privileges as athletes from the other islands.

#At February’s conclave held by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, the financial committee had not yet decided whether or not the New Providence Sports Council team would be allowed to live in the Games Village. The committee said that they would make a decision on the living accommodations for the New Providence teams by the next conclave.

#The different sports associations in The Bahamas are hoping to receive funding for the sixth edition of the Bahamas Games soon as the games are expected to commence July 7-15.

#The games will include softball, basketball, track and field, lawn tennis, swimming, soccer, volleyball, beach volleyball, bodybuilding and powerlifting, boxing, cycling, baseball, youth Olympic sailing, regatta sailing and golf.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/20/np-sports-council-seeks-funding-and-support-ahead-/?news

As of Monday, March 20, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#AFTER a tough loss to the Leno Regulators last week Thursday, the Sand Dollar Imports High Flyers evened the series 1-1 in a 86-63 blowout win.

#The High Flyers were locked in from the game’s opening tip as they jumped out to a seven-point lead early on and never looked back. At the end of the second quarter, the High Flyers wrapped up the first half with the score 42-28.

#The Sand Dollar lead only got bigger in the second half as the team’s leading scorer Enrico Bethel splashed five three-pointers on the night while shooting a perfect 5/5 from the field.

#Bethel talked about how it felt to come out and tie the series 1-1.

#“It was a must win so I have mixed feelings, we have to win one more so I cannot really be emotional right now,” Bethel said.

#Despite his reluctance to celebrate prematurely, Bethel added that in game three they have to win it all by playing together, and playing good defence.

#He was not the only High Flyer that made great impacts in the game.

#Dave Davis and Van Hutchinson both came out the night’s matchup with double doubles. Davis scored 16 points to go with 15 boards and Hutchinson poured in 15 points to pair with 16 rebounds in the game. The two combined for half (31) of the team’s 62-rebound total.

#The High Flyers dominated the Regulators in the paint 48 to 32. They also had 17 points off turnovers compared to the 11 from the other team. The team also got out and ran as they were able to notch 14 quick points on the fast break. Meanwhile, the Regulators only had eight in the night’s matchup.

#During the game, the High Flyers were up by as much as 25 points in efforts to fight another night in the NPBA playoffs.

#Donnie Culmer, head coach of the Sand Dollar Imports High Flyers, talked about what helped his team to come out with a win.

#“We have been here before, we are battle tested and the first game our shots didn’t drop and we didn’t execute but the guys are more focused now,” Culmer said.

#Although Culmer did not reveal the specific game plan of his team, he said his team executed their game plan perfectly on the night and will look to come out and do the same thing today.

#The Leno Regulators will look to make things difficult for their opponents as the two face off 8:30pm tonight at the A.F. Adderley Gymnasium in a win-or-go-home game.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/20/sand-dollar-high-flyers-even-series-1-1/?news

COMPETITORS and officials at the completion of the Grand Bahama Time Trials on Saturday.

As of Monday, March 20, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#GRAND Bahama — In preparing their team for the Bahamas Games in July, the Grand Bahama Cycling Association hosted its time trials on Saturday.

#Veteran Leebert Gibbs emerged as the fastest finisher of the 12-mile event, while Sylvia Bateman was the top female competitor and triathlete Launy Duncombe clinched the crown as the junior champion, albeit, he was the lone competitor in that category.

#Gibbs, the eighth competitor out on the course, accumulated the fastest time of eight minutes and 46 seconds to out-duel the field of 12.

#He noted that it was good to get the competition from the other competitors as they start to prepare for the Bahamas Games with the view of dethroning New Providence.

#“Today, I didn’t have the opportunity to use my time trials gear, but I was still able to hold my pace, averaging about 26 miles per hour,” Bateman said.

#“Coming back, I tried to tune it down a bit and I caught a couple people before I got to the finish line.”

#Bateman, the fifth competitor on the course, did 29.34 for second place overall. She noted that she’s even more encouraged when she lines up to compete against the guys because her aim is to beat them.

#“It was easy going into the wind, but when we turned around, it was a struggle, but I just wanted to get to the end,” Bateman said.

#“I had to push myself because I have a speed that I don’t want to go below and so I just kept pushing.”

#And Duncombe, coming off his victory in the Powerade Potcakeman Triathlon at Jaws Beach on March 5, led the field out and came back in with the fourth fastest time of 30:46, just ahead of Bahamas Cycling Federation’s vice president Kenton Roker, who was third in 29:46.

#“I felt my performance was decent, but not my best,” said the 16-year-old Duncombe.

#“Normally when I ride my time trials, it’s more smooth and I pace myself so that I can come back strong. So it wasn’t my best performance, but I’m glad I kept my pace and was able to still finish off strong.”

#The other competitors in order of finish were Curtis Fowler in fifth in 31:35; Celia Dubey, sixth in 32:00; Volvique ‘5-0’ Moreau, seventh in 33:56; Ricardo Bishop, eighth in 34:20; Smonia ‘Nono’ Moreau, ninth in 34:32; Michel Laroda, 10th in 37:10 and Heather Burey, 11th in 38:02. Rnadu Cooper didn’t complete the course.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/20/cyclists-use-time-trials-get-gear-bahamas-games/?news

As of Monday, March 20, 2023

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STEVEN GARDINER

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#It was a big outdoor season opener for World and Olympic champion Steven Gardiner at the 17th Annual Spring Break Classic in Carolina, Puerto Rico.

#In his continued comeback this year from injury, Gardiner won the men’s 300 metres on Friday at the 2023 World Athletic Continental Tour – Challenger meeting in a quick time of 31.59 seconds, which was just shy of his Bahamian national record of 31.52.

#The 27-year-old native of Abaco is now ranked at number eight on the world’s 300m all-time list outdoors as he prepares to regain his 400m title at the World Athletics’ 2023 World Championships in Athletics in July in Budapest, Hungary.

#Gardiner, who missed the defence of his title at the 2019 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon due to tendon inflammation last summer, came off a pair of victories in the 300m indoors with a season’s best of 33.03.

#Trailing Gardiner in Puerto Rico was British Virgin Islands Olympic 500m hurdles fourth-place finisher Kyron McMaster, who ran 32.96 for second place, while Ian Gutiérrez Almedina completed the top three spots in 33.10.

ANTHAYA CHARLTON

#Charlton leads way in Orlando

#Fresh off her first National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Indoor Championships, Anthaya Charlton opened her outdoor campaign for the University of Kentucky at the Black & Gold Invite at the University of South Florida with a double dose of victory.

#On Friday, she leapt a personal best of 21-feet, 81/4-inches or 6.61 metres on her third attempt to break Sha’Keela Saunders’ UK freshman outdoor long jump record of 21-1 ¼ (6.43m) that she had previously established in 2014.

#Charlton came back on Saturday and had another spectacular showing in the women’s 100m where she ran a lifetime best of 11.38 for her second victory in a time that has placed her at number seven in the NCAA rankings so far this year.

#Paige Archer, a freshman at the University of Central Florida, ended up 10th in 11.88. On Friday, Archer, a graduate of Queen’s College, came through in 6th place in the women’s 200m in 24.52.

#Megan Moss, now in her junior year, picked up a fifth place in the women’s 400m in 54.35 right behind her team-mate Karimah Davis, who ran 53.74.

#Moss also ran the third leg on her Kentucky team of Karimah Davis, Dajour Miles and Tamila Fuller for the win in 3:36.37 for the fourth fastest NCAA time.

#Charlton also competed on the third leg of the other Kentucky team, including Mahogany Mobley, Reynei Wallace and Colleen Branch for fourth place in 3:44.32 for 12th in the rankings.

#Also at the meet, Stephan Farquharson, competing for Albany, was seventh in the men’s long jump on Friday with a leap of 23-10 (7.26m). Farquharson also anchored Albany men’s 4x100m relay team to fourth place in 40.85.

#And in the men’s 200m, Joel Johnson, representing SPIA Athletics, was 19th in 21.55.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/20/gardiner-charlton-open-outdoor-seasons-wins/?news

Photos: Vandyke Hepburn/BIS

As of Monday, March 20, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#GRAND Bahama — Veteran coach Pat Henry remembers his last trip to The Bahamas in October to participate in the homegoing service for his former Olympic sprinter Shavez Hart. This time, he was in a more celebratory mood as his Texas A&M Aggies captured the inaugural Island Relays over the weekend.

#Henry, now in his 18th season as the head coach at Texas A&M, watched as his Aggies dominated the men’s division with a 58-point advantage over the Arizona Wildcats and trailed the Oklahoma Sooners by 36 in the two-day meet that concluded on Saturday at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex.

#“It’s a great place to come. I think my team had a great time. We’ve been here since Monday and the people have been so kind to us,” Henry said. “It’s the week after our NCAA appearance and for some people, we hit it hard and for others, we took it easy.

#“But for the most part, what we tried to get done here this weekend is we just wanted to take it easy and get through this week without any injuries.”

#Henry, who has coached at Texas A&M for the past 18 years after spending 19 years at Louisiana State University where he coached strongwoman Laverne Eve, said it was hard to come here for the funeral of the 29-year-old Hart in January, but because they enjoyed their time here this weekend, he’s looking forward to bringing the Aggies back in the future.

#Texas A&M took the men’s crown with 198 points over Arizona, who had 140. Oklahoma was third with 132, the South Carolina Gamecocks were fourth with 125 and the University of the Bahamas Mingoes rounded out the field with 19.

#On the ladies’ side, the Sooners took the title with 193 with the Aggies following with 157. The Wildcats got third with 152, the Gamecocks were fourth with 99, the Vanderbilt Commodores were fifth with 54 and the Mingoes completed the table with just one.

#The Aggies got something to celebrate on the ladies’ side as Camryn Dickson took the title of the fastest woman at the meet in the 100m in 11.81, holding Arizona’s Neysia Howard, who was second in 11.96 with Mikayla Hayes of Oklahoma getting third in 12.14.

#“I just really wanted to get out and save my drive phase for as long as I could,” Dickson said. “It was a little windy today, so I just let the momentum carry me through to the line since I was tired going through the line since I was a little tired from the last 60-40 metres.”

#Coming off what she felt was a pretty good indoor season, Dickson said she is looking forward to the rest of her outdoor season, especially getting it started here in the Bahamas where “it’s amazing and I’m so blessed that track has brought me all the way here.”

#In the men’s 100m, it came down to a photo finish as Anthony Greenhow of South Carolina nipped Trayvion White- Austin of Arizona, in times of 10.66 and 10.67 respectively. Demarius Smith, unattached, clocked 10.76.

#“I was just coming off the 4×1 and so I had to rest my legs, so I just tried to stay strong,” Greenhow said. “I don’t have the best start, so I knew the guy who came second had a really good start, so I had to stay to my race, which is my finish.”

#Greenhow said he couldn’t ask for a better place to be in than in the Bahamas.

#Portugal native Rogerio Amaral, representing South Carolina, won the men’s 1,500m in 3:54.80 ahead of Arizona’s Iker Sanchez Lopez and Cooper Quigley, who had to settle for second and third respectively in 3:55,15 and 3:56.97.

#“I love it. I love the culture and the music. It made me feel like I was home,” said Amaral, who noted that his trip here was wonderful.

#“With this crowd cheering all of us on, I just wanted to go out there and put on a show for them. None of the guys wanted to make a move, so I waited for the final stretch, which is something I like to do in Arizona.”

#And all the way from Germany, another South Carolina representative Svenja Sommer took the women’s 1,500m in a sprint as well in 4:35.25, well ahead of Sailor Hutton of Arizona, who did 4:36.81 for second. Gabi Barrara of Oklahoma was third in 4:40.38. “I love it. It was always my dream to come here. I love the weather, I love the beach and everything here,” said Sommer, who had to display a little bit of tactics to win her race. “Nobody wanted to take the lead in my race, but after my team-mate did, I was glad that I had a little bit of power left. Now that I am finished, I can enjoy the rest of my time here.”

#And while there was a clean sweep by Arizona in the women’s high jump, Tallie Bonds and Alexa Porpaczy Arizona matched the same height of 5-feet, 10 ½ -inches or 1.79m to share the victory with Emma Gates take third with 5-7, 1.70m.

#Bonds said they all have had “so much fun here with their beach day and training” that she “never wants to leave.”

#But she said despite all of the distractions, she performed as best as she could, but she will never “forget this experience. This was one of my best ones, so I’m sure I will be back.”

#Marvin Henfield, who helped organise the meet, called it an “amazingly successful event.”

#While the meet was originally scheduled for 2021 to help bring some economy to Grand Bahama in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, he said he’s glad that they finally got it off the ground two years after the shutdown by COVID- 19. “There’s so much I’ve learnt this weekend,” said Henfield, one of the country’s top basketball trainers. “Track and field is new to me, but there’s so much that I learned in the planning of this event over the past four years.”

#Henfield said they already have 12 verbal commitments for next year with the numbers expecting to double, but he’s not sure if he’s ready to take on that many. He just wants to see where it goes because Grand Bahama pulled out all the stops to make it happen. “If there’s one word I can describe this experience here, it’s ‘hungry.’ The people here are hungry and ready to get back to work and to be gainfully employed. So we’re happy that we were able to bring a little of that to the economy here.”

#Not only did the fans, who showed up in great numbers, get to watch the visiting athletes compete against some of the members of the University of the Bahamas, they also got to see their own local high school athletes in action as many of them are preparing to travel to New Providence this weekend for the joint National High School Championships and final CARIFTA trials.

#• Here’s a look at the top three finishers in the events contested during the meet:

#100m – Camryn Dickson, Texas A&M, 11.81; Neysia Howard, Arizona, 11.96; Mikayla Hayes, Oklahoma, 12.14.

#Women’s 200m – JaylaJa Jamison, South Carolina, 23.28; Jermaisha Arnold, Texas A&M, 23.38; Charokee Young, Unat-Texas A&M, 23.57.

#Women’s 400m – Jania Martin, Texas A&M, 52.56; Jahnile Registre, South Carolina, 53.28; Aallliyah Francis, South Carolina, 53.29.

#800m – Sylvia Chelangat, South Carolina, 2:05.99; Alisa Lyesina, Arizona, 2:06.02; Yazmine Wright, Oklahoma, 2:08.12.

#Women’s 1,500m – Svenja Sommer, South Carolina, 4:35.25; Sailor Hutton, Arizona, 4:36.81; Gabi Barrara, Oklahoma, 4:40.38.

#Women’s 3,000m – Julia Abell, Texas A&M, 9:59.58; Abbey Santoro, Texas A&M, 10:00.23; Grace Plain, Texas A&M, 10:00.41.

#Women’s 100m hurdles – Jaiya Covington, Texas A&M, 13.74; Talle Bonds, Arizona, 13.80; Taylor McKinnon, Vanderbilt, 14.76.

#Women’s 400m hurdles – Ashonti Warner, Oklahoma, 57.38; Daneeshaa Davidson, Oklahoma, 57.91; Elena Kelety, South Carolina, 58.19.

#Women’s 4 x 100m relay – Texas A&M (Jania Martin, Leeah Burr, Camryn Dickson and Jaiya Covington) 44.33; Oklahoma (Kennedy Blackmon, Eva Kubickova, Amanda Obijaku and Mikayla Haynes) 44.50; Arizona (Neysia Howard, Jenica Bosko, Lauryn Ford and Taylen Wise) 44.85.

#Women’s 4 x 400m relay – Texas A&M (Leeah Burr, Sanu Jallow, Kennedy Wade and Joniar Thomas) 3:34.10; Oklahoma (Ashonti Warner, Jenna James, Alyia Green and Jade Arkinson) 3:39.72; Vanderbilt (Nicole Anderson, Taiya Shelby, Kaira Brown and Allyria McBride) 3:54.23.

#Women’s 4 x 800m relay – South Carolina (Elena Kelety, Sylvia Chelangat, Kieley Gayle and Grace Zamrowski) 8:56.91; Vanderbilt (Taiya Shelby, Nicole Anderson, Kaira Brown and Allyria McBride) 9:01.03; Vanderbilt (Lainey Phelps, Julia Rosenberg, Emma Curry and Mackenzie Culpepper) 9:20.15.

#Women’s hammer throw – Ava David, Arizona, 58.83m; Abby Moore, Oklahoma, 57.93m; Geraldine Udo, Oklahoma, 55.53m.

#Women’s javelin throw – Katelyn Fairchild, Texas A&M, 53.40m; Lianna Davidson, Texas A&M, 52.25m; Erin Tack, Texas A&M, 44.86m.

#Women’s shot put – Payden Montana, Oklahoma University, 56-4 (17.17m); Paige Low, Oklahoma University, 53-101/2 (16.42m); Mackenna Orie, Arizona, 52-9 (16.08m).

#Women’s pole vault – Cassidy Bradshaw, Oklahoma, 13-1 ½ (4.60m); Ava Riche, Texas A&M, 12-1 ¾ (3.70m); Heather Abadia, Texas A&M, 12-1 ¾ (3.70m).

#Women’s long jump – Symone Washington, Oklahoma, 20-4 (6.20m); Jenica Bosko, Arizona, 19-11 ¾ (6.09m); Joniar Thomas, Texas A&M, 13-81/2 (6.01m).

#Women’s high jump – Alexa Porpaczy, Aruizona, 5-10 ½ (1.79m); Talie Bonds, Arizona, 5-10 ¾ (1.79mm); Emma Gates, Arizona, 5-7, 1.70m.

#Women’s triple jump –

#Men’s 100m – Anthony Greenhow, South Carolina, 10.66; Trayvion White- Austin, Arizona, 10.67; Demarius Smith, unattached, 10.76.

#Men’s 200m – Zarik Brown, Oklahoma, 21.02; Jordan Chopane, Texas A&M, 21.02; Muzuri Mattar, Oklahoma, 21.05.

#Men’s 400m – Edward Richardson, South Carolina, 47.01; Carl Hicks, Arinoza, 47.14; Isaac Davis, Arinoza, 47.37.

#Men’s 800m – Isaac Barrera, Oklahoma, 1:54.27; Aidan Hatton, South Carolina, 1:54.32; Cade Russo, Arizona, 1:54.76.

#Men’s 1,500m – Rogerio Amaral, South Carolina, 3:54.80; Iker Sanchez Lopez, Arizona, 3:55.15; Cooper Quigley, Arizona, 3:56.97.

#Men’s 3,0000m – Gavin Hoffpauir, Texas A&M, 8:40.49; Cooper Cawthra, 8:40.55; Eric Casarez, Texas A&M, 8:41.38.

#Men’s 110m hurdles – Filip Demsar, South Carolina, 14.15; David Warmington, Oklahoma, 14.73; Zachary Extine, Arizona, 14.77.

#Men’s 400m hurdles – Felipe Medrado, Texas A&M, 58.03.

#Men’s 3,000m steeplechase – Colin Caso, Oklahoma, 9:50.29.

#Men’s 4 x 100m relay – Oklahoma (Josh Bour, Carter Cukerstein, Zarik Brown and Muzuri Martar) 39.40; Arizona (Trayvion White-Austin, Brian Limage, Carl Hicks and James Onanubosi) 39.81; South Carolina (Blair Brooks, Filip Demsar, Emory Floyd and Anthony Greenhow) 40.11.

#Men’s 4 x 400m relay – Texas (Sam Presnal, Cutler Zamzow, Omajuwa Etiwe and Christian Rosales) 3:11.58; South Carolina (Filip Demsar, Anthony Greenhow, Jackson Junkins and Gatlin Lawson) 3:11.58; Arizona (Carl Hicks, Isaacs Davis, Trayvion White- Austin and Lynicc Lopez) 3:13.34.

#Men’s 4 x 800m relay – Texas A&M (Cooper Cawthra, Chandon Chhikara, Gavin Hoffpauir and Victor Zuniga) 7:47.35; South Carolina (Rogerio Amaral, Aidan Hatton, Jack Mensch and William Spencer) 7:53.21.

#Men’s hammer throw – Jordan Geist, Arizona, 73.94m; Ben Ryer, Oklahoma, 59.16m; Alessio Pirruccio, Texas A&M, 54.93m.

#Men’s javelin throw – Sam Hankins, Texas A&M, 70.59; Jared O’Riley, Arizona, 69.15m; Julian Stoicoviclu, Texas A&M, 63.04m.

#Men’s shot put – Bryce Foster, Texas A&M, 62-83/4 (19.12m); Youssef Koudssi, Arizona, 61-113/4 (18.89m); Dylan Targgart, South Carolina, 60-11 (18.57m).

#Men’s discus throw – Youssef Kopudssi, Arizona, (55.18m); Zach Landa, Arizona, (52.56m); Ethan Sanders, Texas A&M, 52.20m.

#Men’s high jump – Carter Bajoit, Texas A&M, 6-11 ½ (2.12m); Kobe Franklin, South Carolina, 6-6 ¾ (2.00m); Jaidyn Brown, University of the Bahamas, 6-0 ¾ (1.85m).

#Men’s long jump – Reinaldo Rodrigues, Arizona, 24-9 ¾ (7.56m); Ricky Smith, Oklahoma, 24-5 (7.44m); Blair Brooks, South Carolina, 23-11 ¾ (7.31m).

#Men’s triple jump –Brandon Green, Oklahoma, 51-6 (15.70m); Blair Brooks, South Carolina, 47-10 1/ 2 (14.59m); Kunle Akinlosolu, Oklahoma, 45-7 ¼ (13.90m).

#Men’s pole vault – Zach Davis, Texas A&M, 15-11 (5.85m); Gregston Connor, Texas A&M, 15-11 (4.85m); Jack Mann II, Texas A&M, 15-5 (4.70m).

#Age Group Division

#Girls 100m – Shatalya Dorsett, 12.57; Phebe Thompon, 13.05; Kianna Henchell, 13.27.

#Boys 100m – Tervon Clarke, 11.43; Michael Riley, 11.44; Aiden Kelly, 11.65.

#Girls 400m – Quincy Penn, 57,33; Shaniyah Addwerkey, 1:00.80; Janiyah Rolle, 1:01.71.

#Boys 400m – Akerman Bowleg, 49.79; Javano Bridhgewater, 50.03; Jayden McGregor, 50.77.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/20/texas-m-aggies-win-island-relays-bahamas/?news

Mississippi head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin reacts after winning against Stanford during the second half of a second-round college basketball game in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 19, 2023, in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Josie Lepe)

As of Monday, March 20, 2023

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#By JANIE McCAULEY

#AP Sports Writer

#STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Sobbing as she received hugs from friends, family and administrators, Mississippi coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin tried to grasp the magnitude of her team’s stunning win against top-seeded Stanford when someone reminded her there’s more basketball to be played.

#Her two young daughters danced for joy on the floor.

#Her proud father provided a shoutout to everybody back home in The Bahamas.

#Her team posed at midcourt and shouted, “Seattle!” That’s where the Rebels are headed next.

#Madison Scott hit a pair of free throws with 23 seconds left that gave Mississippi the lead for good, Angel Baker scored 13 points, and the Rebels delivered on their declaration to get defensive, stunning top-seeded Stanford 54-49 on Sunday night to reach the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 for the first time in 16 years.

#“First of all just incredibly grateful. I have a lot of mentors in my life and one of my mentors would always say to me that the person with the experience is at the mercy of the one with the anointing,” the 40-year-old McPhee-McCuin said in reference to Hall of Famer and winningest women’s coach Tara VanDerveer. “He spoke that over my life maybe 10 years ago. And so to be in this situation right now, to take down an historical program like Stanford, a coach and a woman that I admire I have watched is incredible.”

Mississippi head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin gets emotional with her dad Gladstone McPhee, right, after winning against Stanford. (AP Photo/Josie Lepe)

#Behind the entire game and never with a lead, Stanford called timeout with 28 seconds left then Hannah Jump turned the ball over and Scott converted. Haley Jones lost the ball out of bounds on the Cardinal’s last possession with a chance to tie then again in the waning moments.

#Marquesha Davis hit a pair of free throws with 15.4 seconds to play as Ole Miss overcame not making a field goal over the final 5:47, going 0 for 8.

#“This is such a big accomplishment. A lot of us came here to make history and that’s what we’re doing,” freshman Ayanna Thompson said.

#These upstart Rebels (25-8) advance to the Seattle Regional semifinal next weekend, while VanDerveer’s Stanford team (29-6) is eliminated far earlier than this group envisioned — the season ending on the Cardinal’s home floor. Jones fought tears after her final game, finishing with 16 points and eight rebounds but five turnovers.

#“Some of the things we did were self-inflicted. The turnovers really hurt us,” VanDerveer said. “They’re really a tough team, they’re a lot better than (No.) 8 teams we’ve played before. Sometimes you don’t have a really good matchup.”

#Only four No. 1 seeds had lost before the Sweet 16 since 1994, with Duke the last one in 2009. Stanford did so once before, falling to 16th-seeded Harvard in the first round of the 1998 tournament.

#The Cardinal had reached 14 straight Sweet 16s and hadn’t lost in the first or second rounds since No. 10 seed Florida State shocked the fifth-seeded Cardinal 68-61 at Maples Pavilion in the second round exactly 16 years ago to the day before on March 19, 2007.

Mississippi forward Madison Scott, right, takes a shot to score against Stanford guard Haley Jones (30) during the second half of a second-round college basketball game in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday. (AP Photo/Josie Lepe)

#Cameron Brink came back from a one-game absence because of a stomach bug to finish with 20 points, 13 rebounds and seven blocked shots, but Stanford never led and tried to come from behind all night. The program’s career blocks leader, the junior star finished with 118 on the season and has 297 total.

#“Cam wasn’t 100% today but I thought she really battled,” VanDerveer said.

#Stanford had won 21 consecutive NCAA games on its home floor and is 41-5 all-time at Maples during March Madness.

#Ole Miss led the entire first half on the way to a 29-20 advantage at the break at raucous Maples Pavilion, where the crowd went wild when Brink blocked three straight shots in the same sequence by Rita Igbokwe midway through the second quarter. About two minutes later, Igbokwe grabbed at her mouth after being hit.

#The Rebels got a scare when senior guard Myah Taylor went down hard grabbing at her chest with 6:41 left in the third after colliding with Francesca Belibi while moving to defend Indya Nivar. After a short break to catch her breath, Taylor was back running the point.

#The Rebels declared from Day 1 arriving in the Bay Area they were ready to play their tenacious defense to make a mark on the NCAA Tournament. Stanford’s layups regularly rolled out. The Cardinal got called for repeated offensive fouls. They made mistakes when it mattered most.

#“It brought tears to my eyes,” said Gladstone McPhee, coach McPhee-McCuin’s father. “It’s beautiful. This is what you wait for.”

#BIG PICTURE Ole Miss: Parents Gladstone and Daisy cheered on fifth-year coach McPhee-McCuin as her team reached the second round after last year’s first-round exit by South Dakota. Her daughters, 10-year-old Yasmine and Yuri, 5, rooted the team all the way, with Yasmine yelling, “That’s my mom!” when Ole Miss came out before tipoff. … The Rebels advanced to the Elite Eight in 2007. After grabbing 24 offensive rebounds in the win against Gonzaga, the Rebels crashed the boards again to create second chances with 20 more.

#Stanford: The Cardinal also never led in the first half of 55-46 loss at USC on Jan. 15. … They had a 14-game home winning streak since a 76-71 overtime loss to No. 1 South Carolina on Nov. 20. … VanDerveer announced Jump plans to return for another year of eligibility. Jones will turn pro and Belibi has been accepted into a program at Harvard.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/20/yolett-mcphee-mccuin-and-rebels-stun-stanford-reac/?news

STUDENTS are flanked by Ministry of Education and Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture officials along with Bahamas Golf Federation executives.

As of Tuesday, March 21, 2023

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ACTING Director of Sports Kelsie Johnson-Sills speaks as Zane Lightbourne, Gina Gonzalez-Rolle and Georgette Rolle-Harris look on. Photos: Jevone Williams

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#AFTER hosting two successful events in 2021 and 2022, the Bahamas Golf Federation’s Junior Golf Association is eager to put on the third edition of the Inter-School National Golf Championships.

#This year’s event is scheduled for April 17-21 at the BGF’s 9-hole Driving Range at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex and is expected to be staged in eight different categories, ranging from the lower and upper primary schools and junior and senior high schools for boys and girls.

#In a joint announcement yesterday in the foyer of the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the Ministry of Education joined the BGF and the Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy in releasing details for the event, which was accepted into the Ministry’s curriculum in the fall of 2020.

#Acting Director of Sports Kelsie Johnson-Sills, representing the Minister of Sports Mario Bowleg, said they are partnering with the Ministry of Education, to provide another sporting discipline for the young people of the nation to be exposed to.

#“The sport of golf teaches you discipline. The sport of golf teaches you how to be focused and honest as a player,” Johnson-Sills said.

TYLER Rolle speaks as Anthony Hinsey, Zane Lightbourne and Gina Gonzalez-Rolle look on.

#“The game is in your hands. It’s not a team shot, so every shot counts. Everything that you do is scored for you.”

#Through the sport, Johnson-Sills said the Bahamas could see its first Tiger Woods, so she encourages the young players to go out and do their best.

#One of the youngsters present was Tyler Rolle, a seven-year-old student from Nassau Christian Academy. He thanked everybody for making it possible for them to participate in the tournament.

#As a former junior golf player, pro volleyball player Byron Ferguson, the liaison officer for golf in the Ministry of Sports, said the sport has helped him in many ways to develop discipline and just to be focused.

#“I want to encourage the parents to stick with golf because it can open many doors for their children,” he said. “It’s a sport that keeps you focused.”

#Zane Lightbourne, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, congratulated the Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy and the BGF for providing the collaboration of the ministries for making the tournament available for the players to fulfil their dreams of becoming the next Tiger Woods.

#“We know that golf is identified as an individual sport but it teaches a person so much and there are so many opportunities that are available in the sport of golf,” said Lightbourne, who noted that he too enjoys playing the game.

#“We all know the name Tiger Woods and we know that when you aspire to be great, you always aspire to follow the greatest in the sport. So we encourage you to go out and be the best you can be.”

#Lightbourne, an advert basketball player, said the physical education teachers in their schools now have to learn the sport so that they can teach it to their students because it’s now a part of their curriculum and it’s an event that is on the calendar.

#Gina Gonzalez-Rolle took the opportunity to interview Aiyanna Hernandez, an 11-year-old student of the defending champions Eva Hilton Primary School.

#“I started golf when I was in grade four,” said Hernandez, one of the top performers last year. “Golf is an amazing game. It helps me a lot in school. It actually helps me to bring up my grades in school.”

#Gonzalez-Rolle said they are eager to watch the growth and development of so many young players who participated in the sport.

#“So many dreams have become a reality and really it’s just the beginning,” said Gonzalez-Rolle, who was able to assist a single parent mother in securing a golf scholarship to a division one Ivy League school for her daughter.

#Gonzalez-Rolle noted that all of their students who have received scholarships are not just excelling on the golf course, but they are doing extremely well in the classroom.

#“I put it to you that the Bahamas has been put on the map through track and field, swimming, baseball and basketball, but give us three years to the most and you will see our Tiger Rolles or Renee Sands,” she stated.

#Not only has the sport attracted students from the public and private schools, they are on the golf course competing against each other in fierce competition as golf is now a part of the school curriculum, and it will be one of the disciplines featured in the Bahamas Games this summer.

#She thanked the two ministries, the BGF, the Junior Golf Association, Georgette Rolle-Harris and Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy, the parents, the sponsors – Lightbourne Trading with M&Ms and Mars bars, R&A, Aquapure and the Baha Mar Foundation – and the media for all of the contributions they have made to the success of the tournament.

#Rolle-Harris, the tournament director, said each team will be allowed to field a minimum of three players with a maximum of five players, although only the best three schools will count.

#And the school which does not have three players, according to Rolle- Harris, can enter their players as individuals, who will be eligible to compete for the top prizes. The top teams and the top individuals, who are not already a part of the team, make it to the finals.

#“As we grow, we are increasing the numbers. In the first year, there weren’t many teams so we allowed up to 18 players per division,” Rolle-Harris said.

#“The second year, we increased to the top four teams in some cases and the top five individuals not a part of a team.

#“I believe that this year, due to the interest, we will increase to the top five teams and top 11 individuals not already a part of a team. The maximum players per division making it to the finals will be 36.”

#Rolle-Harris, however, said while they have started at the Driving Range, they hope that eventually they can take the tournament to one of the major golf courses where the competition will be intensified.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/21/inter-school-national-golf-championships-april-17-/?news