WINNING WAYS: The C.H. Reeves Raptors celebrate yesterday after winning the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) junior track and field championships. Photo: Tenajh Sweeting

As of Friday, March 10, 2023

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DENIM Stuart won the under 15 boys’ 200 metres finals.

CH Reeves head coach Varel Davis with GSSSA championship trophy. Photos: Tenajh Sweeting

SHOWN, left to right, Neveah Stuart, Fredricka Auguste, Whitney Guerrier and Rayniece Gibson.

CH Reeves Raptors juniors celebrate their GSSSA title win.

#By TENAJH SWEETING

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#The C.H. Reeves Raptors destroyed the competition in convincing fashion to win the 2023 Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) junior championships.

#The Raptors, who are no strangers to the first place position, remained atop team rankings for two consecutive days with a final score of 533. The S.C. McPherson Sharks tried to keep up with the defending champions but came in 186 points behind the winners for a score of 347. The H.O. Nash Lions finished the GSSSA junior division championships in third place with a team score of 229.33, barely holding off the Tigers of A.F. Adderley. The Tigers finished in fourth with 228.50.

#As day two of the GSSSA championships wrapped up, there was lots of action for the juniors on both the track and field.

#The Raptors set the standard for the junior division as they were able to defeat their competitors in the under 15 boys’ 200m dash.

#Denim Stuart, who emerged victorious in numerous races at yesterday’s meet, came out on top with a time of 24.47. Second place finish belonged to D.W. Davis’ Delvon Barton who clocked 24.92.

#In third was the H.O. Nash Lions’ Johnathon Higgs who ran a time of 25.03.

#De’Ante Joseph, winner of the under 13 boys’ 800m finals, bested the competition with a time of 2:43.29.

#Joseph was followed by Kaiden Newbold of the L.W. Young Eagles who notched 2:43.58. Joseph of the Raptors was joined by fellow teammate Jermaine Moxey for third who ran 2:49.48.

#Joseph was one of the GSSSA’s highest male individual scorers for the under 13 division. He ended the track and field championships with an individual score of 38 points which was a big help to the reigning champions.

#Varel Davis, GSSSA president and head coach of the Raptors, talked about how impressed she was with the way the young Raptors competed at this year’s meet.

#“I am very impressed when you look at C.H. Reeves children, at the end of every race we are the only team probably standing up tall. I taught them that you gotta finish and you gotta finish strong and go hard,” Davis said.

#The athletes seemingly followed their coach’s advice as they dominated in both the under 13 girls and boys 4x400m relays.

#For the under 13 girls the relay team of Neveah Stuart, Rayniece Gibson, Whitney Guerrier, and Fredricka Auguste blitzed the competition with a time of 5:00.86. The Raptors were followed behind by the Lions relay team who clocked 5:31.68. The T.A. Thompson Scorpions finished the relay in third place.

#Fredericka Auguste, the fourth leg runner of the under 13 girls’ relay team, talked about how it felt to come out on top.

#“I feel so excited, thank you for all my coaches for supporting me and all my teammates,” Auguste said.

#For the boys’ relay team Travon Moncur, Kevin Sinsurin, Jermaine Moxey, and De’Ante Joseph gave it their all in the finals. The boys’ team ran a scorching time of 4:43.59, leaving the competition to fend for first and second place. The Sharks relay team came second with a time of 5:05.11 and the Scorpions placed third with 5:07.96.

#With her young athletes solidifying the victory in the relay finals, Davis talked about how happy she was with this year’s GSSSA title defence. She said she was worried about how the athletes would compete after the pandemic but she credited hard work and practice for why they are the champs once again.

#The Raptors not only took care of business on the track but they emerged as winners in field events also. In the under 13 boys’ high jump, Kevin Sinsurin came first after jumping 1.27m. Also, in the under 15 girls javelin throw, Rania Douglas notched a throwing distance of 16.57m in the event’s finals. The junior school will now go into celebration mode after this GSSSA victory.

#Despite a strong showing from the reigning champions the Sharks took a bite out of the competition to secure second place overall.

#Alliyah Coleby, winner of the under 13 girls 200m dash, secured the victory for the Sharks. She ran a time of 29.34 to edge out the rest of the competitors. Cashanique Rolle of the Royals placed second and the Sharks’ Devonique Pratt placed third.

#Coleby was thankful for the 200m win. She said it felt good to win and for the hard work she put into her race to finally pay off.

#In the under 13 boys 200m finals, Gilberto Bain emerged on top after running a time of 28.11. Bain was joined by the Lions’ Dylan Delahey and Johnathon Linton who placed second and third respectively.

#The Sharks once again brought home a win in the under 13 girls 800m finals as Trenae Scavella clocked 2:52.50 in the race.

#Sharks’ head coach Neketa Sears-Knowles talked about how it felt to place second at the GSSSA meet.

#“C.H. Reeves is hard to beat no doubt [but] I am extremely proud of the performances that the kids have done over the past two days in fact they even surprised me so I am very pleased with the performances so we’ll take that,” Knowles said.

#Knowles had a lot to be proud of as the Sharks’ young athletes came in first and second in the under 15 girls 75m hurdles. Kelisha Tanelus and Jamya Satchel placed first and second respectively.

#In more action from the Sharks, Emmit Smith emerged victorious in the under 15 boys 800m finals.

#With CH Reeves comfortably defending their reigning GSSSA title for the junior division, the C.R. Walker Knights will look to do the same on the final day of the meet.

#The Knights remain atop team rankings with a team score of 300 followed by the C.V. Bethel Stingrays with 235. The R.M. Bailey Pacers are right behind the fold with 187.50 and will look to edge out the C.I. Gibson Rattlers who trail closely behind for 4th place.

#The final day of the GSSSA track and field championships will start at 9:30am this morning as the senior schools will look to crown a champion.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/10/ch-reeves-raptors-win/?news

As of Monday, March 13, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#THE New Providence Basketball Association (NPBA) playoffs is set to commence 7pm tonight at the A.F. Adderley Gymnasium between the division one and two teams.

#The first game to get the NPBA playoffs underway will feature the RC Liquors Eagles versus the D2 Rebels. For division one, the first seed of the Vince Ferguson Division the Discount Distributors Liquors Rockets will look to make a statement against the fourth seed TMT Giants.

#The last time the two teams faced off, the Rockets defeated the TMT Giants 87-73 in a 14-point beat down. The TMT Giants will look to pull off an upset against the undefeated Rockets. These games will kick start a long week of playoff games within the respective divisions.

#James Price, president of the New Providence Basketball Association, talked about his expectations of this year’s playoff matchups.

#“I expect it to be some good series, especially the two and three [seeds] in division one with the Shockers and the University of The Bahamas and the Leno Regulators and Sand Dollar they should be some good series,” Price said.

#This year’s division one playoff matchups will include the D1 Rebels vs the Commonwealth Bank Giants, the University of The Bahamas Mingoes vs Caro Contractors Shockers, Leno Regulators vs Sand Dollar, and the TMT Giants vs D1 Discount Distributor Liquors Rockets.

#The Commonwealth Bank Giants, first seed in the John Archer Division, will look to take home a championship in this year’s playoffs.

#Giants head coach Perry Thompson Jr talked about the team’s mindset heading into the matchups. “As a programme our expectations are always high. Our goals are always to win a championship, we are not worried about any team outside of our own,” Thompson said.

#He added that the main priority of the powerhouse team is to simply remain as healthy as possible going into the NPBA playoffs.

#For the division two playoffs, match ups will include Cyber Tech Blue Marlins vs D2 Discount Distributor Liquors Rockets, and the R C Liquors Eagles vs D2 Rebels.

#Despite a decline in the amount of fans in attendance at the games, Price said the NPBA will have some incentives for the playoffs so that fans can have some enjoyment.

#The games are scheduled to take place March 13-18.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/13/npba-playoffs-start-today/

As of Monday, March 13, 2023

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#THE University of The Bahamas men’s basketball team dropped to the Leno Regulators 76-63 in an inconsequential New Providence Basketball Association game Saturday night at The A.F. Adderley Gym.

#Erquantae Edgecombe led The Mingoes with 18 points and 10 rebounds while Gabriel Styles scored 11 points in the game that didn’t have any impact on either team’s position in the standings.

#Zachery Pennerman scored 24 points for The Regulators and Kemsey Sylvestre scored 23 for The Regulators.

#The Mingoes started the game off strong going up 6-0 early in the first quarter capped by a Justin Burrows layup assisted by Delano Armbrister. The Regulators cut the lead and tied the game at 6-6 and ended the quarter up 18-14.

#The Regulators held the lead for the rest of the game even though The Mingoes cut the lead to three points with 5:02 left in the fourth quarter. Off a defensive rebound, Delano Armbrister had the brilliant pass to Erquantae Edgecombe to pick up the easy lay-up to put the score at 62-59. The Regulator then went on a 9-0 run and ended the game 76-63.

#“We were right there with five minutes to go but we couldn’t seem to string together enough buckets in order to take the lead,” head coach Bacchus Rolle said. “We also didn’t get the defensive stops that we wanted to either. The Regulators are a tough team and played really good out there tonight. We just didn’t make the stops when we needed it.”

#Despite winning the rebounding battle – 58 compared to The Regulators’ 51 – The Mingoes couldn’t convert the rebounds into points.

#The Mingoes now move on to play The Caro Contractors Shockers in the first round of the playoffs. The first game is set for 8:30pm Wednesday March 15 and game two is set for 7pm on Saturday, March 18. Both games will be played at the A.F. Adderley Gym.

#The Shockers beat the Mingoes in both meetings this season. The Shockers won 76-56 November 26, 2022 and 67-58 on January 13, 2023.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/13/mingoes-regulators-advance-npba-playoffs/?news

GREAT Britain’s Harry Ford, centre, celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a three-run home run against Canada in the fourth inning of a World Baseball Classic game yesterday. (AP Photo/Godofredo A Vásquez)

As of Monday, March 13, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#GREAT Britain, stacked with a group of Bahamian coaches and players, suffered their first two losses over the weekend in Pool C of the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s 2023 World Baseball Classic at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona.

#After losing a 6-2 decision to the defending champions United States of America on Saturday, Great Britain came back yesterday for game two, but this time Canada went on a offensive tear in a 18-8 slug-fest for their first game played.

#Great Britain, with Antoan Richardson serving as a bench coach and Albert Cartwright on first base, juggled its batting order after the loss to the Americans, but they didn’t have enough fire power to pull off their first win against Canada. “The team had some good moments and some bad moments,” Cartwright said. “Tournament play is tough because we don’t know what you are going to get from your players and you only have a few games to adjust to be able to compete.”

#Despite the two losses, Cartwright said the players are having good at-bats and they are grinding it out to keep Great Britain in the games.

#On Sunday, right fielder Chavez Young moved up to lead off, went 1-for-2 with two base on balls (walk) and three runs scored, centre fielder Trayce Thompson, who had a big outing against the USA, was 1-for-1 with a walk, a strike out, a RBI, a run scored and was even left on base once.

#Third baseman BJ Murray was 1-for-2 with two walks, a strike out and a run scored.

#D’Shawn Knowles had one of the key moments of the game against Canada when in the top of the third with one out, he came in to pinch hit with a RBI double that plate Murray for a 6-5 deficit for Great Britain.

#In the fourth with one-out as well, Harry ford hit a three-run homer, sending both Young and Thompson for a 10-8 deficit.

#Canada came back in the bottom to produce six runs and they went on to hold Great Britain scoreless the rest of the game, while they added a run in the fifth and sixth to preserve the big win.

#In their match-up against the USA, Great Britain trailed 5-1 and the Bahamian connection came through as D’Shawn Knowles, pinch hitting for Jaden Rudd, tripled and scored on Seymour’s RBI ground out.

#Great Britain got on the scoreboard in the first inning after third baseman BJ Murray struck out, leading off the game and centrefielder Trayce Thompson cracked a flyball to left centre field for a solo homer for a 1-0 lead.

#After fielding a grounder for the third out on the USA to keep them scoreless in the bottom of the first, second baseman Anfernee Seymour singled on a ground ball to shortstop Trea Turner, deflected by pitcher Adam Wainwright.

#That put Jaden Rudd to second as Great Britain threatened again to score, but Murray was called out on strikes.

#Thompson, who passed up an opportunity to play professional basketball like his father Mychal ‘Sweet Bells’ Thompson and brothers Klay and Michael Thompson, came back to lead off the third with a double to left field.

#Matt Koperniak flied out to right field that sent Thompson to third, but catcher Harry Ford grounded out and right fielder Chavez Young field out to Mike Trout to leave Thompson stranded on base.

#After scoring a pair of runs in the third to go ahead 2-1, the USA added three more in the fourth and one in the eighth before Great Britain added their final run in the seventh.

#Thompson led Great Britain’s attack by going 2-for-4 with a RBI and run scored, while Seymour was 1-for-3 with a RBI.

#Knowles, who stayed in the game to play left field on the defensive end, was 1-for-2 with a run scored.

#Great Britain will be back in action today at 12:30pm against Colombia and against Mexico on Tuesday at 7pm.

#“We need to throw strikes and play defence,” was what Cartwright prescribed for Great Britain.

#“We have the offence to put up a cricket number every once in a while, but being able to play defence and throw strikes will give us the opportunity to win some games.”

#The Bahamians are playing for Great Britain because the Bahamas was unable to field a team to go through the qualifying process. However, the Bahamas Baseball Association is currently trying to rectify the situation.

#With the amount of professional players now in the pipeline in the Major League Baseball, the BBA will begin its trek to qualifying the Bahamas for a spot in the World Baseball Classic by participating in its first WBSC’s tournament later this year.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/13/bahamian-players-suit-great-britain-suffer-two-los/?news

As of Monday, March 13, 2023

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Photo Gallery

Powerade Potcakeman Triathlon

#BAARK! – Bahamas Alliance for Animal Rights and Kindness – completed its 10th Annual Powerade Potcakeman Triathlon on March 5 and it was a resounding success.

#Launy Duncombe of Freeport, Grand Bahama, a CARIFTA triathlon team member, emerged as the overall male winner with a time of 1:04:38, followed closely by Jorge Marcos with a time of 1:04:57, and rounding out the top three finish was Simone Bertoldo, last year’s winner, with a time of 1:06:44.

#In the female category, the overall winner was Kami Roach, also a CARIFTA triathlon team member, clocked in the winning time of 1:12:30. Sylvia Bateman of Freeport, Grand Bahama, and the assistant coach for the last CARIFTA triathlon team finished second with 1:13:25 and Suzy Eneas, last year’s winner, rounded off the top three finish with a time of 1:13:39.

#The sprint relays, which are always a crowd favourite, did not disappoint this year. The overall winners of the Male Sprint Relay were the “East Side Eagles” consisting of Justin Higgs, Giles Sawyer and Geren Albury with a time of 1:07:24. “Tri’ing Hard” with Ragh and Ragil Cordova, clocked in a second-place finish with 1:11:08.

#In the Mixed Sprint Relays, “St. Andrew’s School” with Giada Bertoldo, Gordon McKenzie and Robert Holcombe, were victorious with a time of 1:03:15.

#“Slow Down for What,” Cameron Roach, Felix Neely and LeiLei Lightbourne took second place with a time of 1:05:42.

#Rounding off the third-place finish was “Session Box” with Maggie Shehan, John Mollen and Amanda Darville with a time of 1:12:48.

#SunCash, a bronze sponsor, provided gift cards to the overall winners.

#• Below are the top three winners of the various age groups:

#Male 16 – 19 Female 16 – 19

#1st Enea Gervasini – 1:09:17 1st Erin Pritchard – 1:14:44

#2nd Barron Musgrove – 1:12:49

#3rd Jason Cates – 1:13:24

#Male 20 – 29 Female 20 – 29

#1st Justin Higgs – 1:13:27 1st Arianne Evans – 1:32:30

#2nd Michael Holowesko – 1:16:23

#3rd Kohen Kerr – 1:29:01

#Male 30 – 39 Female 30 – 39

#1st Daniel Freire – 1:13:31 1st Wima Stefanutti – 1:23:57

#2nd Peter Wagner – 1:15:31 2nd Britt Christensen – 1:29:31

#3rd Ferhat Sen – 1:29:11

#Male 40 – 49 Female 40 – 49

#1st Cameron Roach – 1:07:52 1st Ilaria Gervasini – 1:21:16

#2nd Andrew Ratcliffe – 1:10:17 2nd Samantha Cartwright – 1:35:57

#3rd Daniel Belton – 1:11:41

#Male 50 – 59 Female 50 – 59

#1st Simon Townend – 1:11:15 1st Sarah Farrington – 1:33:55

#2nd Sean Farrington – 1:11:35

#3rd Edward Bethel – 1:15:51

#Male 60 – 69 Male 70+

#1st Gerald Wathen – 1:24:02 1st Ulrich Filser – 1:32:36

#Winners of the Puppy Category:

#Boys 8 & Under Boys 9 – 10 Girls 9 – 10

#1st Caiden Bain – 6:48 1st Stafford Sweeting – 6:46 1st Hailey Cunningham – 10:19

#2nd Alan Gervasini – 8:04 2nd Fraser Menzies – 6:55

#3rd Kai Weightman – 8:37 3rd Lyall Menzies – 7:39

#Winners of the Junior Category:

#Boys 11 – 12 Girls 11 – 12

#1st Sibby Fynn Potter – 22:56 1st Nai’a Belton – 25:26

#2nd Lauchlan Menzies – 22:59 2nd Veranique Strachan – 27:37

#3rd Kendrick Cargill – 34:48

#Boys 13 – 15 Girls 13 – 15

#1st Malcolm Menzies – 34:12 1st Taylor Knowles – 50:14

#2nd Ayden Bain – 37:06 2nd Chelsea Smith – 59:34

#3rd Jayden Smith – 42:47

#Official times for all participants can be found on https://www.raceprompt. com/the-potcakeman-triathlon-2023/. The event is sanctioned by the Bahamas Triathlon Association and is a qualifier for the CARIFTA Triathlon in August.

#The triathlon features a 750m swim, 12-mile bike and 5K run. There are also two junior categories (ages 11-12 and 13-15) and two puppy categories (ages 8 and under and 9 – 10). The triathlon is a family-fun event that has grown over the last 10 years, attracting participants from the USA, Canada, Mexico, Panama, and the UK. This year’s race attracted a participant from Finland.

#The triathlon was brought to you by the generosity of its sponsors. Title Sponsor: Powerade, Gold Sponsors: JS Johnson, Purina, FX Pro, Think Simple, Dunkin’ Donuts; Silver Sponsors: Albany, Modernistic Garden and Pet Supplies, Freak Show, and Tito’s Vodka/Jimmy’s Wine and Spirits; Bronze Sponsors: Panama Jack, Odyssey Aviation, FYP, Ports International, Callendars & Co, Caves Village Vet, Terrain Landscape Architects and SunCash. Special thanks to our Race Crew, Swim Cap and Race Bag sponsors: Damianos Sotheby’s, The Shoe Village, Think Simple; Junior/ Puppy Aquathon sponsor: Dunkin’ Donuts; Event Providers: Bahamas Waste, BASRA, Dasani, Nassau Rowing Club, Polar Ice, Bahamas Red Cross, Rotary Club of East Nassau, Graham Real Estate, Windermere Salon and Spa, The Pets Kitchen, Lyford Cay International School and Raffle Donors: Custom Computers, Cycles Unlimited, Powerboat Adventures, SunBum, The Ocean Club, The Shoe Village, Bon Vivants, Windermere Salon and Spa, Panama Jack, and Baha Mar Resort Foundation. Funds raised from the Potcakeman Triathlon will go to support the operational costs of Baark!

#In 2022, Baark! completed approximately 4,500 spay and neuters, its goal is to perform between 5,000- 7,000 spay and neuter surgeries annually. The five-year goal is a minimal number of unwanted dogs and cats, resulting in safer and cleaner communities.

#Baark! was founded in 2009 with the mission to carry out spay/neuter and education projects to reduce the homeless dog and cat population and end the unnecessary suffering of dogs and cats in The Bahamas.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/13/baark-10th-annual-powerade-potcakeman-triathlon/?news

As of Monday, March 13, 2023

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CHARISMA Taylor with the awards she won.

TERRANCE JONES

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#THE National Collegiate Athletic Association’s 2023 Indoor Track and Field Championship in Albuquerque, Minnesota over the weekend turned out to be a specular show for Grand Bahamian sprinter Terrance Jones and versatile Charisma Taylor from New Providence.

#The NCAA Division II Championships at the Virginia Beach Sports Center saw Minnesota State’s junior Denisha Cartwright come through with some spectacular performances as well.

#Jones, a sophomore at Texas Tech, became the first Bahamian to win the NCAA Indoor titles in the men’s 60m, while Taylor, a senior at Tennessee, came through with a couple of personal best performances with a national record in her triple dose of action.

#In his only appearance, Jones clocked 6.46 seconds in the men’s 60 metres in a season’s best and a collegiate leading time of 6.46, which was just shy of his Bahamian national and collegiate records of 6.45 that he posted last year.

#Jones, 20, led from start to finish as he ran away from his nearest rival Jordan Anthony, a freshman from Kentucky, who did 6.55.

#It was redemption for Jones, who in his debut in last year’s final got a false start. He now holds three of the top-five marks of all-time collectively.

#“It’s a big accomplishment,” Jones said in a post-race interview. “I had a lot to do last year, but this year I came back with a vengeance. I’m happy to be here.”

#Jones raced to the third fastest qualifying time of 6.54 in the preliminaries.

#For Taylor, she soared a national record and personal best of 48-feet, 10-inches or 14.88m on her second attempt in the women’s triple jump for second place with her best showing in her three events. She opened with 47-111/4 (14.61m). After scratching her next two attempts to compete in the hurdles final, Taylor came back and fouled her fifth, but finished with 45-61/2 (13.88m).

#Jasmine Moore, a junior at Florida, won with 49-7 ¼ (15.12m) for a PR, faculty and meet record as well as the world and collegiate leading times on her sixth and final attempt. She had the title wrapped up from her second attempt with 49-513/4 (15.08m). Without much time to recuperate, Taylor had to step onto the track and surged to a third place finish in the 60m hurdles in a time of 7.98. Arkansas’ sophomore Ackera Nugent won in 7.73 and Kentucky’s senior Massi Russell got the silver in a PR of 7.75.

#Taylor, 22, advanced out of the preliminary rounds on Friday with a PR of 7.91 for the third fastest qualifying time. She trailed Nugent, who posted her previous leading time of 7.72 with Russell coming in second in 7.78i.

#“I feel really good about my performance. I’m just really thankful to God and my coaches for believing in me and getting me this far,” Taylor said. “I had a rough couple of years in college, so for it to come together in my last indoor championships, just means the world to me.

#“I’ve been praying and having faith that everything would come together and that’s what happened. God’s timing is always perfect so there’s nothing that I can complain about. My performances were good. I came into the meet ready to dominate in all three events because I knew this was my last chance in college to show everyone who I am.”

#Before her double duties on Saturday, Taylor had a showdown with Kentucky’s sophomore Anthaya Charlton in the long jump on Friday.

#Popping off her best in her first attempt, Taylor ended up fifth with a PR of 21-91/2 (6.64m) and Charlton was 10th with 20-71/4 (6.28m).

#Moore’s impressive winning leap of 23-3/4 (7.02m) turned out to be the longest collegiate mark ever recorded as she broke every record for a world-leading mark.

#Taylor said her coaches told her she only had two jumps before she had to switch gears for the preliminaries of the hurdles and so she made it count. She got a PR in her hurdles, which set the stage for her for the final day of competition on Saturday.

#“The triple jump was my baby, so I knew I had to go out there and pop a big one,” Taylor said. “The first jump I knew was a big one, but when I saw 14.61, I literally could not believe it and that put my fuel under me.

#“It was the same situation as Friday where I only had two jumps, so I went out and on my second jump and did much better than the first and that got me set up for the hurdles where I got third. My coaches told me to go back to the triple jump and try to go for the collegiate record, but it wasn’t in God’s plan, so I’m happy with what I did.”

#Competing against Charlton, whom she considers to be a little sister, Taylor said she knows she didn’t get the type of performance she anticipated in the long jump, but she said she made it as one of the top 16 to make it to the nationals.

#“She has great things ahead of her, so I’m just looking forward to great things for her,” said Taylor of Charlton.

#Also on Saturday, Antoine Andrews, a junior at Texas Tech, also earned All-American honours as he had to settle for sixth place in his NCAA indoor debut in 7.73. Winning the race was Giano Roberts, a senior at Clemson, in a PB of 7.55. Andrews got in with the eighth and final spot in the preliminaries in 7.67.

#And Shaun Miller Jr, competing for Ohio State in the men’s high jump, cleared 7-1/2 (2.15m) to end up tied with Slavko Stevic of Southeastern Louisiana. The winning leap was 7-41/4 (2.24m) by Romaine Beckford, a junior at South Florida.

#Wanya McCoy, a freshman at Clemson, clocked 46.07 in the preliminaries of the men’s 400m on Friday, but it was only 14th overall, leaving him short of the top eight to get into the final that took place on Saturday.

#Cartwright shines

#In her three events, Cartwright had her performance in the women’s 60m hurdles as she crossed the finish line in 8.11 for a new facility record, replacing the previous time of 8.22 that was held by Darci Khan. Coming in second was Kiara Smith in 8.21.

#“I’m happy that I still have my title in the hurdles,” said Cartwright, in repeating as champion. “The time I was looking to run didn’t happen, so with me getting better with my technique at practice, it will become much better.”

#The diminutive Cartwright also got third in the 60m in 7.31 to trail Minnesota State’s junior Mikayla Jackson, the winner in 7.20 for a meet record, while Diovonne Franklin, a senior of California, was second in 7.27.

#Cartwright won her heat in 7.29 for the second fastest time in the preliminaries.

#And in the 200, Cartwright ended up second in her heat in 23.38 for another third place finish. Alexis Brown beat her out at the tape in a meet record time of 23.26. Ayana Fields, a junior at Cal Poly Pomona, won the other heat in 23.36 for the second fastest qualifying time.

#“The 60 dash didn’t go the way I wanted it to, but that’s where my training and focus is going to be as well,” Cartwright added.

#“In the 200m, I was impressed to run a PR in the heats and in the final. I see where improvements can be made in each event and it is going to be better this outdoors.”

#The focus now switches on the outdoor season.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/13/athletes-track-overseas/?news

CHAMPIONS: The CR Walker Knights celebrate. Photo: Tenajh Sweeting

As of Monday, March 13, 2023

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#By Tenajh Sweeting

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#The C.R. Walker Knights brought home their seventh straight Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) track and field championship.

#The Knights remained atop team rankings for the entire meet and ended with a team score of 557 to wrap up the competition.

#The C.V. Bethel Stingrays capped off the inter-school competition a mere 63 points behind the defending champions with 494 for second place.

#The Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins claimed third place position with 325.50, barely edging out the C.I. Gibson Rattlers and R.M. Bailey Pacers.

#The difference between third through fifth place was no more than one point after the competitive track and field championships.

#Tia Rolle, head coach of the Knights, talked about what led to their seventh straight GSSSA win.

#“In the sprint race we did not dominate, C.V. Bethel actually dominated that event they wasn’t watching us on the field because we actually dominate the field events,” Rolle said.

#Rolle credited the all-around competitiveness of the Knights’ athletes which led to them to winning in track and field events. “When you want to compete in GSSSA you have to be an all-around team, you have to compete in every event, that’s what matters, it has to be track and field it cannot be just the track,” she added.

#Rolle’s message was received by the Knights’ athletes as they were able to emerge victorious in a number of field events on the final day of the track and field championships.

#For the under 17 boys’ triple jump, D’Jino Alteme placed first with a jump of 12.17m. He was followed by Stingrays’ Calvin Armbrister who jumped 11.98m. Third place in the event belonged to the Rattlers’ Ferdinand Jean-Noel who notched 11.82m.

#The Knights snatched another victory in the under 17 boys’ discus throw. Deangelo Delancy was the event’s best thrower with a throwing distance of 29.59m. Delancy was joined by C.V. Bethel’s Leo Bannister who tossed 27.47m. Perry Mcphee came third with 26.62m.

#After trailing by 65 points going into the final day of the GSSSA meet, the Stingrays looked to make up some ground on the track.

#In the under 17 girls’ 200m dash, C.V. Bethel’s Iesha Hanna blitzed the competitors to win with a time of 26.75. She was joined by fellow Stingray Katranel Dean who claimed second place with a time of 27.09. The pair of Stingrays beat the Knights’ Gabrielle Major who finished the short distance race in third.

#The Stingrays’ athletes Hanna and Dean both said it felt amazing to place first and second respectively for their secondary school.

#Dean revealed her mindset while competing in the race.

#“I was just thinking to myself I have to push and get off the curve and keep going straight through and give it all I have,” she said.

#The Stingrays were once again crowned winners in both the under 17 girls 400m hurdles and the under 20 400m hurdles. For the under 17 girls, Synia Lockhart came first for the senior school after clocking 1:16.54 in the race. She was joined by teammate Darranique Morris who followed behind with 1:19.73. The Stingrays were able to hold off Knights’ athlete Garanae Moss, who came third.

#Marquell Newbold, winner of the under 20 girls’ 400m hurdles, beat her competitors with a time of 1:17.27. She was joined by C.R. Walker’s Hope Munnings and fellow Stingray Zaria Fowler, who placed second and third.

#Stingrays’ head coach Danny Pratt said he was very impressed with the way his athletes competed in this year’s track and field championships.

#The head coach also talked about how it felt to place second on the final day of the meet.

#“We were trying to get to first place but obviously C.R. Walker proved once again to be the dominant force so coming second we are proud, second is way better than third,” Pratt added.

#The Mystic Marlins were a dark horse competitor after climbing the team rankings from as low as fifth place to claim third place position on the final day of the track and field meet.

#In the under 20 boys’ 200m finals, Terrance Deveaux of the Mystic Marlins narrowly edged out his competitors to capture first place in a tight race. The young athlete ran a time of 22.42. The Government High School’s Peter Tilusnord was not far behind, finishing second with 22.46.

#C.C. Sweeting’s Rayheem Robinson came third, notching a time of 22.76.

#Deveaux talked about how it felt to win the race.

#“It was a good race. I [have] trained with him a couple of times before so coming off the curve to the 120 I saw he tried to pull away I just stayed relax, maintained and listened to what my coach said,” he said.

#The Mystic Marlins emerged victorious once again in the under 20 boys’ 800m finals.

#Raywind Winder added more points to the team total after clocking 1:59.92 to win the race.

#GHS’ Lexicio Adderley came in second after notching 2:06:02.

#Meanwhile, Charles Maynard placed third in the race with 2:08.88.

#Despite dropping out of third place overall, the R.M. Bailey Pacers had some bright spots on the final day of the GSSSA track and field championships.

#Pacers’ Melvinique Gibson paced herself to several wins on day three of the meet.

#Gibson blitzed the competition in the under 20 girls’ 200m dash. The young athlete coasted to a victory in the race after running a time of 25.28. She was joined by second and third place finishers Marquell Newbold and Deamia Bowe.

#Gibson made some noise once again in the under 20 girls’ 4x400m relay finals. She gave her team a huge gap between the competition after running the second leg in the race.

#The winning relay team included Laquay Kemp, Melvinique Gibson, Danisha Green and Domonique Smith.

#The under 20 girls notched a collective time of 4:35.75 to edge out competitors.

#The young Pacer talked about the win.

#“It basically feels good, not just only me but me and my team, we did it as a team so everyone put their best foot forward and we did what we were supposed to do and God pulled through for us once again,” she said.

#Gibson was not the only star for the Pacers as Finley Etienne came out on top in the under 17 boys’ 200m dash with a time of 23.40. The young athlete was among the meet’s leading individual scorers, pouring in 31 points for the Pacers.

#After a competitive meet between the eight senior schools, the Knights will now look to celebrate their seventh straight GSSSA track and field championships win.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/13/cr-walker-knights-win-seventh-straight-gsssa-champ/?news

AN HISTORIC TRIPLE CROWN FEAT: Lamar Taylor displaying his three separate individual NCAA awards.

As of Monday, March 13, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#It was an historic weekend for Lamar Taylor as he posted a hat trick in winning three national titles at the 2023 National Collegiate Athletic Association Men’s & Women’s Division II Swimming & Diving Championships.

#“It’s honestly unbelievable to think that I am the first Bahamian,” said Taylor of winning the unprecedented triple crown. “I hope I am setting a great example for the younger kids so they can be better than me.”

#Competing at the Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis, Indiana, the 19-year-old Henderson State University Red Waves’ junior wrapped up his third title on Saturday with his victory in the 100- yard free in 42.30 ahead of McKendree’s senior Gregg Lichinsky, who did 42.37 for second.

#The victory came after he took the 100-yard in 45.95 with splits of 21.94 and 24.01 for his second crown on Friday as he finished well ahead of second place finisher Timothy Stollings, a senior at Findley, in 46.34.

#Henderson opened up with a victory in the men’s 50-yard freestyle in a time of 19.04 seconds with impressive 25-yard splits of 9.21 and 9.83 respectively.

#“I am very satisfied with my performance. It honestly was more than I expected,” Taylor continued. “I knew I had a great start to win the 50, but I didn’t expect to win the 100 free and back.”

#Of all three victories, Taylor said he will cherish the 100 back a little more than the others for sentimental reasons.

#“It was fun to swim against my friend Timothy Stollings. I met him in my freshman year and he has always been a good friend to me ever since,” Taylor said. “But overall, my performances were all spectacular and way more than I or anyone expected.”

#Bahamas Aquatics’ president Algernon Cargill was quite impressed with the performances from Taylor as he surpasses the list of NCAA champions with his triple feat.

#“Lamar’s outstanding performance is a testimony that there are no limits for not only him, but all swimmers that want to work hard and set dreams to achieve greatness,” Cargill said.

#“Lamar now joins Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace as Bahamians with NCAA individual titles and he is the only swimmer to win three titles in the same championships.

#“He is determined to compete with the big boys in long course metres as he now shifts his focus to qualifying for Paris 2024.”

#Paris 2024 is the next Olympic Games, but Taylor already made his international debut when he made the team that represented the Bahamas at the Commonwealth Games last year in Birmingham, England.

#Taylor said with his season over and done, he will take some time off before he starts to prepare for the long course and a shot at the World Championships later this summer where he intends to make another splash.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/13/lamar-makes-history-first-bahamian-swimmer-win-nca/

COACH Mario Ford with members of his baseball camp at Windsor Park.

As of Tuesday, March 14, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#THE Mario Ford Baseball camp made its return to Windsor Park this past weekend. It was the group’s first session back on the field as the young men looked to learn basic baseball fundamentals and skills.

#The baseball camp usually hosts sessions three times out of the calendar year. Sessions take place in the beginning of the year, during the summer, and at the very end of the year, according to Ford.

#The camp targets children between the ages of four to 15 so that they can learn the game at an earlier age and develop the necessary essentials to compete at a higher level.

#Mario Ford, head coach of the baseball camp, talked about what children can expect to learn after joining his camp.

#“We work with the kids teaching them the basics of learning how to catch, how to throw, and teaching them how to hit,” Ford said.

#Ford added that the sport is mostly repetition but it does take time, practice and consistency.

#Persons that are interested in starting at the camp or parents interested in placing their children in a camp can do so by simply showing up at Windsor Park on Saturday mornings at 9am. Persons would be allowed to sign up and register to be a part of the programme.

#Wamonceur Victor, a 14-year-old newcomer at the Mario Ford baseball camp, talked about his experience in the camp so far.

#“It has been hard but coach Mario [has] been helping me through it,” Victor said.

#Victor said he learned about the camp via a friend at his school and decided to join. He added that coach Ford is very helpful with helping you work throughout the programme and on your skills.

#Raheem Fertilien, a 16-year-old member of the camp, talked about why he enjoys the Mario Ford baseball camp. “Even if you don’t know the game, Mr Mario will help you learn it and I would recommend it to a couple other people who [are] trying to learn the sport,” Fertilien said.

#The Mario Ford baseball camp operates as a training ground for young athletes that want to pursue baseball at a higher level.

#The next session for the baseball camp will be held at 9am next week Saturday at the Windsor Park off East Street.

#Persons that are interested can show up and get started on their young baseball journey.

As of Tuesday, March 14, 2023

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A PARTICIPANT runs through an inflatable colon to complete the race.

DUVAL Munnings poses with his medal after completing the 5k run.

RACE participants Odinga Sawyer and Viorese Duncombe pose together after the race.

EVENT organiser Jackie Evans takes pictures with a race participant.

#By TENAJH SWEETING

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#THE Colon Cancer Coalition hosted yet another successful Get Your Rear in Gear (GYRIG) event in memory of the late Andrea Darville and to raise awareness for colon cancer in The Bahamas.

#With colon cancer being the second most common cancer in The Bahamas, event organisers hoped to gather lots of support from the general public for a worthy cause.

#In only year two of the GYRIG 5k fun run/walk event, organisers were able to double the amount of participants in the colon cancer awareness event, making it a success.

#The event kicked off at 6:30am sharp on Saturday at Goodman’s Bay Park with approximately 200 people joining this year’s 5k fun run/walk. Participants could be seen running or walking along the Baha Mar strip in their orange colon cancer t-shirts. Many of the participants in this year’s event decided to partake for personal reasons.

#Duval Munnings, a participant in the 2023 GYRIG run, talked about why he decided to run in Saturday’s race. “I registered in honour of my father Kevin Munnings. I lost him a year ago and I just wanted to run in his honour and his memory and also to support the cancer society,” Munnings said.

#Munnings said it felt good to give back and donate to the Cancer Society and, despite it being a difficult run, he enjoyed the fellowship among other runners.

#Similar to Munnings, Odinga Sawyer, another participant in the race, shared what made him join this year’s GYRIG 5k run.

#“It feels great. I like to support stuff like this, my brother passed from cancer and I also run so I figured if I could take part it might as well be for a good cause,” Sawyer said.

#Event organisers Emily Darville and Jackie Evans were impressed with the amount of people that came out to support the event.

#Emily Darville said a week before her sister passed away she had told her about the event idea and connected her with the director of the Colon Cancer Coalition, giving her the keys needed to make sure the event went on even in her passing.

#“I would like to think Andrea is pleased with the work I’m doing. She entrusted me with her final project GYRIG Bahamas 5k fun run/walk. I’m sure she’s smiling down on us each year, cheering us on with her vibrant smile and personality,” Darville added.

#Darville and other event organisers will seek to carry on Andrea’s legacy for years to come as they will look to host a 2024 GYRIG event. For persons that wish to keep up with the event, they can find the page on Facebook at Get Your Rear in Gear Bahamas.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/14/get-your-rear-gear-hosts-another-successful-fun-ru/?news