FIVE STRAIGHT – The Bahamas’ 36-member team won their fifth consecutive championship title at he CARIFTA Swimming Championships in Curacao.

As of Tuesday, April 11, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#Mission accomplished.

#The Bahamas’ 36-member team to the CARIFTA Swim Championships in Curacao returned home with their fifth consecutive championship title and a pair of recordbreaking performances from two of the four co-team captains Rhanishka Gibbs and Nigel Forbes.

#In producing its best ever performance, Team Bahamas collected a total of 85 medals and accumulated 1,113 points to literally dominate the four days of competition as they celebrated and look forward to a six-peat when the championships is staged in the Bahamas at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex in 2024.

#In their 85 medal package, Team Bahamas unwrapped 37 gold, 27 silver and 21 bronze, 32 more than their nearest rivals, Cayman Islands, who got second with 25 gold, 16 silver and 12 bronze for their total of 54, while Trinidad & Tobago rounded out the top three with 22 gold, 16 silver and 16 bronze for their total of 54. With their 1,113 points, Team Bahamas out-distanced the Cayman Islands by 361 points as they trailed with 752. Trinidad & Tobago completed the top three with 534.

#Bahamas Aquatics’ president Algernon Cargill had nothing but praise for the team.

#“The team’s performances were outstanding. The swimmers all fought hard, responded to the call and acted as the defending champions,” Cargill said. “We are appreciative of all the support we have received from home and far away and the support of our sponsors, inclusive of the BOC and the government of the Bahamas.

#“For next year, we will be going after anther title at home. We don’t expect the team’s dynamics to change too much and we are confident of winning again.”

#Coach Travano McPhee called it a dominating performance that all those in attendance and supporting the athletes in Curacao were very proud off.

#“These swimmers made history again becoming the five-peat champions and showed they are the best CARIFTA swim team in the history of these games,” McPhee said. “The 85 medals is the most medals ever brought home and most points scored, speaks for itself. This is, if not, the best team we have ever had, it’s definitely one of the best.”

#According to McPhee, the strengths were in the 11-12 age groups, adding that they didn’t show any weaknesses

#“The plan was executed from day one,” he proclaimed. “The plan for next year is to win these games for a sixth straight tome and what other way to do it than in the front of a loud and supportive crowd,” McPhee said. “I encourage all Bahamians to come out and support our great athletes as the Bahamas will host the 2024 CARIFTA Games.”

#Gibbs, in breaking one of the two games’ records in the girls 15-17 50m breaststroke in 32.88 seconds as she led by example.

#“My performances weren’t really well. They weren’t what I expected, but it’s all about the process,” said Gibbs, who brought some experience as a member of last year’s Commonwealth Games team in Birmingham, England. “This just tells me what I need to do as I back home and work harder. I will come back stronger next year.”

#As for Team Bahamas, Gibbs said the entire team’s performance was amazing.

#“They came out, they worked really hard for it and they got what they deserved. I am extremely proud of them,” she summed up.

#Forbes, a native of Grand Bahama, established the other CARIFTA record in the boys 15-17 100m butterfly in 54.73. It was one of two gold medals for Forbes, who picked up the other in the 200m IM in 2:06.72.

#He also secured a bronze in the 50m butterfly in 25.08.

#One of the workhorses for Team Bahamas was Saleste Gibson, representing the girls 11-12 100m division. She powered her way to seven gold medals in the 100m butterfly in 1:09.11; 200m freestyle in 2:20.49; 50m butterfly in 30.02; 400m freestyle in 5:06.29; 50m freestyle in 28.69; 200m individual medley (IM) in 2:43.24 and 100m freestyle in 1:03.23.

#She lost her only race in the 200m butterfly where her time of 2:55.18 placed her in the silver medal spot behind her team-mate and gold medalist Skyler Smith, who touched the wall first in 2:51.60.

#“My performances were a little bit of what I expected. I wasn’t expecting to do as well as I did and so I was really surprised at my outcome, but I worked very hard to achieve this outcome,” she stated.

#She wrapped up her performance by carting off the high point award for her age group, something she admitted that she was thrilled to receive.

#“I was very surprised and I was filled with excitement and joy when I got that award,” she added.

#On the other side of the coin, David Singh, competing in the boys’ 11-12 division, captured six gold and a pair of silver medals. His gold medal haul came in the 50m backstroke in 31.15; 400m IM in 5:24.80; 400m freestyle in 4:46.23; 400m freestyle in 4:46.23; 200m IM in 2:29.75; 50m breaststroke in 34.63 and 100m breaststroke in 1:16.03.

#Singh also had to settle for a pair of silver in the 100m backstroke in 1:08.99 and the 200m backstroke in 2:35.65.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/apr/11/five-peat-bahamas-carifta-swimming-champions/?news

As of Wednesday, April 12, 2023

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Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis and Lord Sebastian Coe.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#LORD Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics, admitted that there’s no better place to stage the World Relays than in The Bahamas where it got its genesis in 2014.

#The Bahamas hosted the next two editions in 2015 and again in 2017 before relinquishing it in 2019 to Yokohama, Japan, only to watch it move to Chorzow, Poland in 2021.

#World Athletics awarded the Bahamas the rights to host the next edition last year.

#Speaking to journalists while here for another appearance at the CARIFTA Games over the weekend at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, Coe said World Athletics is excited that the World Relays are coming back home.

#The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations won the bid to host the World Relays for the third time in either April or May, 2024.

#“When I joined the Council in 2003, we had a discussion on the implementation of a World Relays. It took us too long to get there. No sport can sit on something like that for 11 years from the initial discussion to the delivery of the championships,” he stated.

#“The first edition in 2014 was outstanding. We had another one a year or so later, but sadly we couldn’t continue that continuity (in the Bahamas), but we’re back and we’re really delighted.”

#Coe commended former councilwoman Pauline Davis for her tenacity to get the first edition here and now the Bahamas Government saw fit to bring it back.

#“For me, it makes sense to have that continuity,” Coe stated. “We have a great stadium, we have great fans, but it’s an ambitious world. It’s a world where more and more of our federations want to stage events.

#“The World Relays are really religion in this part of the world. I understand that. I stood at the third change over at the beginning of the straight last night and the atmosphere was outstanding. The relays contribute to that. So having the World Relays in this part of the world will help to cement it.”

#After he experienced his first taste of the Bahamas in 2014, Coe said he’s been back regularly for meetings with the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) and previous CARIFTA Games.

#“This is an island that understands track and field. Pauline Davis was my collegiate on the World Athletics Council for many years, so if I wasn’t fully aware of how important track and field is in the Bahamas, then she reminded us on the hour, every hour in the press conferences and in the council meetings.

#“So this is the first event every year that goes into my calendar and I’ve not missed one since 2015, only the two that we lost through Covid.”

#Back for his second games here after attending the first one in 2018, Coe said he was constantly asked if the sport would miss Usain Bolt when he retired.

#He declared, yes, but the future of the sport is at CARIFTA. That is why he makes it a point to keep it as a staple to attend every year.

#“I competed in my career with many athletes in the team that came through the CARIFTA Games,” he stated. “I know that experience is huge and they take it through their careers. It’s a very important building block, so it’s a very important part of our development in the sport.”

#As proof in the pudding, Coe revealed that within one year of becoming president of World Athletics, they made an additional grant to NACAC to help deliver the games.

#“At World Athletics, we treat these games very seriously because they are a part of the development programme,” Coe said.

#“I want to see them grow. I want to see them because even more central in the development of the young athletes. And I would like other area associations to look at them as a model moving forward.”

#Coe, a four-time Olympic middle-distance runner from Great Britain, said although running is the staple diet in the Caribbean, he has seen a lot more athletes starting to excel in the field events at CARIFTA, which only bodes well for the future of the games.

#“I’m delighted that over the years that I’ve been coming to the CARIFTA Games, I’ve witnessed many athletes taking part in field events and I’ve witnessed a lot more athletes not just excelling in the sprints, but I’ve watched some really good middle-distance running and some marginally long-distance events as well.”

#Coe commended Anderson Peters, who was here for the games and supporting Grenada in their bid to host the next CARIFTA in 2024, which they were successful in achieving.

#Since the return of the sport in the post COVID-19 environment, Coe said he’s been to every continent to watch the sport as it made its comeback in a grand way.

#“I think the athletes have shown massive resilience during that really difficult time,” Coe pointed out.

#“We pay tribute to them because without the athletes, we don’t have an event. It would have been so easy for many of the athletes to hide away during that period and maybe not even come back into the sport.

#“Many sports suffered, many sports stopped competition…Athletics didn’t. And that’s in large part due to the creativity of our member federations, but above all, and beyond all, the athletes showed massive resilience, and fortitude and focus during an incredibly difficult period.”

#Using the Toyko Olympic Games, albeit in the bubble and the World Athletics in Eugene, Oregon last year and the on-going Diamond League as an example, Coe said the athletes returned stronger than they did prior to Covid-19.

#He noted that with the return of the World Relays to the Bahamas, they hope to further develop their presence here in this part of the world.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/apr/12/lord-sebastian-coe-pleased-have-world-relays-back-/?news

Former Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia “Mother” Pratt, HO Nash principal Andre Nairn and Melissa Spann join in the cheque presentation to coach Patricia “Pattie” Johnson.

As of Wednesday, April 12, 2023

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Coach Pattie Johnson holds up her alma mater Fort Valley shirt she received from Melissa Spann.

Coach Pattie Johnson and three of her HO Nash Lions players model the new uniforms they received from Melissa Spann.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#WITH so many persons she helped to groom through the Lions girls’ basketball and volleyball programme at HO Nash, former deputy prime minister Cynthia “Mother” Pratt said it was good to see at least one person come back and say “thank you” to coach Patricia ‘Pattie” Johnson.

#Despite the rain pouring down, Melissa Spann hosted a limited version of a reception celebration for Johnson yesterday morning in the music room at HO Nash.

#A humble, but jovial Johnson said the event was a good opportunity for the current members of the Lions’ den to appreciate what they can accomplish when they learn to “share” and work with each other.

#“I’m thinking that because someone helped me, I’m just doing what they did,” said Johnson, who noted how she got her start in sports with the late Anita Doherty. “So I’m just riding on someone’s wave.

#“I’m not thinking that we are doing something outstanding here, but because someone assisted me, I was able to give back, so that is my cry. I’ve been here a very long time. I get the smiles, I get the thank you. I get all kinds of thank you.”

#Spann, a member of the graduating class of 1996, said she was delighted to give Johnson the “flowers” that she deserves for the role she played in instilling the “discipline” that has been the hallmark of her coaching career that spun from 1990 at HO Nash.

#“Ms Johnson has made such a profound impact on my life as well as all of the students who came across her path here at HO Nash,” said Spann, who went on to attend Johnson’s alma mater. “She loves it here at HO Nash and so putting this together was an honour of mine. This is just a small token for my love and appreciation for what she has done for all of us.”

#After presenting a cheque of $2,000 to Johnson, Spann also used three of the current members of the Lions girls’ basketball and volleyball teams to model the uniforms that she donated to HO Nash.

#HO Nash’s 1993 graduate Anastasia Sands, who follows in the footsteps of Johnson as a highly respected coach with the St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine, also made some presentations to Johnson for the role she played as a “mother” figure to so many of her players.

#“Coach Johnson has been more than a gem. She has been so much to so many of us.

#“She has been a mother to us and even when our families forsake us, she has been there for us,” Sands stressed. “She has been there for us no matter what.”

#Even one of her male players, Darvin Johnson – a 1996 graduate – also took the time to say “thanks,” along with Keyara Jennings, a member of Johnson’s current class of 2023.

#The majority of them reflected on the days they spent in practice, the jammed-packed car rides to games and the conch salads they ate and the chocolates that they had to sell in order to help pay their ways to go to tournaments abroad.

#In her speech, Pratt talked especially about the many sacrifices that Johnson would have made to support her players, yet many of them have yet to return to say “thank you” to her for her tremendous efforts.

#“Today was an eye opener to me,” said Pratt, who spoke about her involvement with Johnson and Jeannie “Bubbles” Minus from the days they travelled to the United States to attend coaching seminars.

#“What this young lady has done for Pattie is tremendous because we have so many players who have become professionals right here in the country and they have not taken the time to come back and say thanks.

#“But this young lady decided to come back from the United States and to do it.”

#Pratt, one of the country’s most versatile former athletes, said it was so encouraging to see some of the players whom Johnson groomed in attendance to show their support for the job she did with them.

#Johnson said while she was able to get so many of her players off to college to earn a degree, she only wanted to make sure that they make something out of their future.

#As for her future in coaching at HO Nash, Johnson, who is going through her health challenges, said she has about five years before she officially retires, but she may only be looking at staying for three more years.

#“As long as God allows me to get up every morning and I’m feeling free and have the ability to do it, I will continue,” she said.

#During her tenure as a coach, Johnson has won just about every title, including the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association, Father Marcian Peters and the national titles.

#She has also coached at the international level where she was the first Bahamian woman to win a title. But in all of her achievements, Johnson said she will always cherish the time she spent with the Lions in their Lions’ den at HO Nash.

Lavardo Deveaux

As of Wednesday, April 12, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#QUARTER-miler Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown, triple jumper Leevan ‘Superman’ Sands and sprinter Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie were all impressed with the level of support they saw for the Oaktree Medical Center’s 50th CARIFTA Games.

#The trio of superstars, now coaching at the collegiate level in the United States, were among a list of elite active and retired athletes on hand over the weekend to view the games at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

#Brown, who served as one of the colour commentators for the international broadcasting team, said it was good to be able to give back in a much-needed way.

#“Watching the next generation perform out here showed that we are on the right track and so it’s going to be an environment. There’s nothing like being back at home,” Brown said. “It’s so good to see the new generation of competitors, who I just saw a couple years ago growing up as babies, are now taking stage and performing at this high level. It speaks volumes to where we are heading as a country.”

#Having staged the inaugural Chris Brown Invitational in 2015, Brown said he got to see and feel what happened over the weekend with the stadium jammed-packed.

#“It’s always good to see the stadium packed, especially coming out of COVID,” he said. “We’ve been blessed and so we can’t forget the victims of Hurricane Dorian and what we went through with the pandemic.

#“It just speaks a lot of volume for what we are now doing as a people as we break bread together and walk and talk without wearing the masks and everything else. It’s good to see the athletes competing at such a high level again.” At 44, Brown said he remembered when he laced up his spikes and represented the Bahamas at CARIFTA, winning bronze in both the 400 and 800m in 1997 in Bridgetown, Barbados. But after earning several world indoor medals in the 400m and running on numerous 4 x 400m relay teams at the Olympics and World Championships, Brown said he’s not completely retired yet.

#“I’m actually hoping to come home and see what happens at the Bahamas Games,” he pointed out. “I’m excited that the games is coming back. Even if I decide to just put on a nice fun run, I might just do something for the home crowd and call it a day.”

#In his capacity as the head coach at Clayton State, Brown said they had about 19 male and 13 female athletes qualified for the Peach Belt Conference, scheduled for Embry-Riddle University in Daytona Beach, Florida from April 20-21.

#“We have a good group of athletes doing very well and everybody is excited about the success that they are having right now,” Brown stressed. “We just want to keep them focused so that they can continue to do very well.”

#Hopefully, they will have some athletes go on to compete in the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships, scheduled for May 25-27 in Pueblo, Colorado.

#As one of the six Bahamians to win the Austin Sealy Award as the most outstanding athlete, Ferguson-McKenzie this would go down in her memory as the “one of the best” CARIFTAS she’s ever witnessed.

#“This is amazing. 2023 and Come GOLD with me, the Bahamas and the athletes, we really went gold on this one,” Ferguson-McKenzie said. “They did great.

#“Just being here and being in this atmosphere, as a former athlete, seeing the way how the athletes on this year’s team performed, was just fantastic.”

#It was in 1995 in the Cayman Islands that Ferguson-McKenzie earned the Austin Sealy award after she secured the gold in the under-20 girls 100 and 200m and running on the winning 4 x 100m relay team.

#But being in the stadium and watching Team Bahamas perform, Ferguson-McKenzie said it brought back a lot of memories of her days as a competitor.

#“Always great memories, especially seeing so many of the former athletes from the Bahamas like Chris (Brown), (Dame) Pauline (Davis), Tamar (Cherubim) and Eldece (Clarke), just to name a few,” Ferguson-McKenzie said.

#“It was good memories, but the athletes today are making memories for themselves. So I’m just soi happy to see that.”

#Now retired after a career that spun with her winning a medal at just about every international level from the youth, junior, senior and elite at the Goodwill Games, Commonwealth Games, Pan American Games, World Championships and Olympics, Ferguson-McKenzie is currently on staff as an assistant coach at the University of Kentucky with Bahamian head coach Rolando ‘Lonnie;’ Greene, who was also in town for the games.

#“As coaches, you are always improving yourself,” she pointed out. “Coach Lonnie Greene and his staff are doing an amazing job at the University of Kentucky and I’m just happy to be a part of it,” she lamented.

#“We’re getting better. We’re trying to move up to the number one spot and so we’re keep trying to get better and we are pushing ourselves.”

#During the meet, Ferguson-McKenzie said they were able to view some of the athletes from around the region in both the under-17 and under-20 divisions with the view of getting them signed for the Wildcats’ athletic programme. But she could go into any specific details.

#“People don’t realize it, but I actually got sprinter Lacarthea Cooper at New Mexico Junior College,” Ferguson-McKenzie said. “I’m happy to see her now performing. I’m very proud of her. I’m hoping that we will be abler to get her in Kentucky very soon.”

#Sands said his only regret is that CARIFTA was not held at home when he competed.

#“I think if they had it, I probably would have broken the world record because everybody know I love the crowd and the support I saw out here, it’s just amazing,” said the Bahamian male national triple jump record holder.

#“I am really pleased to see how the Bahamian people came out and supported this event. I’ve never seen this since the first World Relays (in 2014). This is amazing. I am here recruiting for Florida State and I get the chance to enjoy myself at home at the same time.”

#As for the performances, Sands said there were quite a few that caught his attention.

#“We have a lot of young ones coming up and we have some under-0 athletes who are also doing very good,” he said. “I don’t want to say too much, but we have some interest in some of them. We will see how it work out.”

#Although he acknowledged that he never announced his retirement from the sport, Sands said he went into a spell after the passing of his father Leevan Sands Sr, who was his biggest motivator.

#“I felt a little off from my training, but I knew I wasn’t done,” he said. “Now I am coaching and I am feeling good. But if I get a chance to jump into a meet, I feel like I can do it. I did a meet a couple weeks ago and jumped 15.25m.

#“So imagine if I could a lot of effort into training, I know I would be able to at least compete at the Commonwealth Games level. But I haven’t decided whether or not I will retire as yet. I will see how it goes with my coaching.”

#On the staff of Florida State, Sands said he’s looking to see if there is any talent for the Seminoles where they are coming off some great performances during the indoor season.

#“One of my long jumpers was third at NCAA this year. This was his first time going to nationals and he turned in a huge PB of about eight metres,” Sands said. “I’m proud of them,. They put in the work, so I’m looking forward to some great things from them.”

#Sands said he’s also looking at the possibility of getting some more Bahamian athletes recruited to join him at Florida State.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/apr/12/new-generation-athletes-speaks-volumes-where-we-ar/?news

GOLDEN MOMENT: From left to right are under-17 girls 4×100 metre relay gold winners Darvinique Dean, Bayli Major, Shayann Demeritte and Jamiah Nabbie. Photo: Moises Amisial/Tribune Staff

As of Wednesday, April 12, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#As the curtain came down on Team Bahamas’ hosting of the Oaktree Medical Center’s 50th CARIFTA Games at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium on Monday night, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg was delighted to welcome home the five-peat CARIFTA swimming team.

#The 39-member swim and open water team came home from Curacao on a chartered flight just in time to take a victory lap before the jammed-packed stadium that cheered loudly behind the rhythmic sound of junkanoo for the impressive second place finish by the 80-member track team.

#“My voice tells you about the excitement that I had cheering for these track and field athletes,” said Bowleg during the closing ceremonies as the Bahamas passed the baton on to Grenada for the hosting of the 50th CARIFTA track team in 2024.

#“Also, there were times when my director of sports would share with me the live clips from the swimmers in Curacao. I just want to say that the Bahamian people enjoyed the performances of both the CARIFTA track and the swim team and we celebrate with them. We are proud to be Bahamians.”

#As the swim team claimed their fifth consecutive title as they completed their competition on Monday morning with the open water swim after the pool competition ended on Sunday, Bahamas Aquatics wanted to know if they will finally get the financial support from the Bahamas Government.

#“The mere fact that we decided to host the next CARIFTA Games and give them the respect that they deserve, it tells you that we understand what they are doing,” Bowleg stated.

#“We understand that it is a sport that is going places and as an archipelago nation surrounded by water, but together, we are an ocean by ourselves. “We are the best in the pool and they will get to see the necessary upgrades at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex, but we are also looking forward to putting down an Olympic size pool in Grand Bahama to ensure that we will continue the development of swimming in the country.”

#In stating that the Bahamas won the two CARIFTA events combined, based on their medal counts, Bowleg said the Bahamas Government salutes the athletes and swimmers just by the presence of Prime Minister Philip Davis and two former PMs Perry Christie and Hubert Ingraham and the other dignitaries on hand for the joint celebrations on Monday night.

#And while the renovations are ongoing with the repairs at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium as the ninth edition of the Bahamas Games returns in July and the World Relays returns next year, Bowleg revealed that they are going to ensure that the Betty Kelly Kenning Complex is ready for CARIFTA next year during the Easter holiday weekend.

#“There needs to be some work done in the pool room down low and they need a new pump and heater systems added,” he pointed out. “We have already started the process of getting those things in there.

#“I can assure you that the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex will be a class arena to see next year when we host the CARIFTA swimming. We will have to add extra seating as well because the complex won’t be able to host the people who are expected here next year.”

#This will mark the fifth time that the Bahamas will host the CARIFTA Swimming Championships, the last being in 2017. The other times the event was hosted here was in 2001, 2004 and 2012.

#In winning this year’s title for the fifth time, Team Bahamas also got two games record breaking performances from Rhanishka Gibbs and Nigel Forbes, along with a few divisional high point awards from Saleste Gibson, David Singh and Skyler Smith.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/apr/12/bahamas-2nd-41-medals-nine-gold-12-silver-and-20-b/?news

 Home|Sports|Gibson, Singh put on show in CuraçaoSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailApril 12, 2023 205 5 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Bahamas, as a team, dominated the 36th CARIFTA Swimming Championships on its way to a fifth consecutive victory and seventh in the past eight meets. Leading the charge for The Bahamas in the pool were Saleste Gibson and David Singh who took home the high point awards for the 11-12 girls and boys divisions, respectively.

The Bahamas also had Rhanishka Gibbs and Nigel Forbes setting records in their races in the 15-17 girls and boys divisions, respectively.

Gibson scored a whopping 75 points. She was the one being chased for all but two of her seven individual races at the Sentro Deportivo Kòrsou – Pisina Enith Brigitha in Willemstad, Curaçao, from April 6-9. The Bahamas also had the second-best swimmer in that division with Skyler Smith coming away with 45 points.

“I am happy and proud of myself to win the high point award and all that I accomplished,” Gibson said.

Singh won the 11-12 boys division high point award by amassing 73 points. Singh, Gibson and Smith accounted for 16 individual gold medals for The Bahamas.

“I am very grateful to participate in my second year of CARIFTA. I have been training hard and I am happy to win the high point,” Singh said.

Gibson swam in nine individual races and four relay races. Individually, she swam the 50 meters (m) backstroke, 100m butterfly, 50, 100 and 200m freestyle, 50m fly, 200m individual medley (IM), 200m fly and 400m free. She finished fourth in the 50m back and swam away with the silver in the 200m fly. In the other individual events, she won gold.

“My performance was great,” Gibson said. “I was proud of myself and what I did over the four days. It was a great experience for me. I think that with the help of my coach, I worked hard to get to this position.”

She won the gold in the 100m fly with a personal best time of 1:09.11 to get her winning performances underway.

It was another victory for the swimmer in the 50m fly when she almost went under the 30-second mark. She powered her way to touch the wall in 30.02 seconds. It was another personal best time for her.

Gibson had a good swim in the 200m IM and she came out on top with a personal best of 2:43.24. She attributed her performance to improving her times in the back and breaststroke events.

In the 100m free, Gibson went into the final with a heats time of 1:05.41. She swam a much faster time in the final when she finished the race in 1:03.23.

It was a straight final in the 200m fly and she was able to come out on top in a time of 2:55.18.

Gibson lowered her personal best of 5:07.73 to 5:06.29 in the 400m free which was also a straight final.

Her final individual gold medal came in her final individual race of the meet – the 50m free. In that race, she posted a personal best time of 28.69 seconds.

Gibson swam in four relays – the 400m free, 400m medley, mixed 400m free, and 200m free. She helped those teams to win their races.

Singh outdid Gibson in terms of the number of races he swam in – 10 races. He secured the gold medal in the 50m back, 200 and 400m IM, 50 and 100m breast and 400m free for a total of six gold medals. He won silver in the 100 and 200m back events. He was fourth in the 50m fly and false started in the 200m breast race which wasn’t revealed until after he touched the wall first by about four seconds.

“It feels great to bring in all those points. Last year, I only won one medal and this year, I was able to score all of these points and win gold medals,” Singh said.

After his disqualification in the 200m breast, Singh had a good start in the 50m back and swam a personal best of 31.15 seconds to win that race and grab his first gold medal of the meet.

He then won the gold medal in a grueling 400m IM and came out with a personal best of 5:24.80.

After swimming the 400m IM in a personal best time, he also touched the wall first in the 200m IM in a personal best time, finishing in 2:29.75.

It was another quick race for Singh when he posted 34.63 seconds to win the 50m breast.

Singh was back in action in the pool in the 400m free and he was untouchable as he powered his way to winning that race in 4:46.23.

The 100m breast, in which he got his final gold medal, featured him powering through to win that event in 1:16.03.

Singh was impressive in the 11-12 boys relay and mixed relay races, helping them to be undefeated. Those relays were the 400m free, 400m medley, 400m mixed relay and the 200 free relay.

Smith swam in her first ever CARIFTA, but it did not look so in the pool as she quietly came away with three gold medals.

She got gold in the 100m back, 200m fly, and 200m back events. The 100m back featured saw the 11-year-old dropping her time to 1:14.19 for the victory.

Smith changed strokes and went into the 200m fly race in which she came out on top in 2:51.60. Her final gold medal came in the 200m back in which she obliterated her personal best time of 2:46.09, swimming a new personal best of 2:39.41.

She was also a part of the 400m medley relay team with Gibson that won gold.

Gibbs broke the CARIFTA record in the the 15-17 girls 50m breast in the preliminaries of that event on Saturday morning, touching the wall in 32.29 seconds. The 50m free final featured her posting a time of 32.88 seconds to win the gold medal. She also went on to win the 100m breast in a personal best of 1:14.74.

This CARIFTA was Forbes’ final one, having aged out. He left his name in the record books for the 100m fly, posting a time of 54.73 seconds.

Kimiaya Saunders was brilliant in the 11-12 girls category, coming away with two individual gold medals. She won the 50 breast with a time of 36.95 seconds. Her second individual gold came in the 100m breast when she touched the wall first in a time of 1:23.10.

The Bahamas never trailed in the meet as they secured their fifth straight title with 1,135 points.

Placing second was the Cayman Islands with 752 points. Trinidad and Tobago placed third with 534 points. The Bahamas was able to cart off the most gold medals (37), most silver medals (27), and most bronze medals (21) at the meet for a total of 85 medals.

The Bahamas will host the 37th edition of the championships in 2024.

https://thenassauguardian.com/gibson-singh-put-on-show-in-curacao/

 Home|Sports|Vanderpool turned in a sensational performance in the pole vaultSports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailApril 12, 2023 615 5 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Brenden Vanderpool had one of those special performances at the 50th Oaktree CARIFTA Games this past weekend that will have spectators talking about it for years to come.

The only disappointing aspect of the event is that most of the fans in attendance left after the under-20 boys 4×100 meters (m) final on Saturday night, not sticking around for the mixed 4x400m relay or the open boys pole vault final and, coincidentally, The Bahamas won both events. Perhaps, they didn’t know what was to come.

The CARIFTA Games wrapped up on Easter Monday night at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium in Nassau, The Bahamas.

Vanderpool certainly didn’t let the sparse crowd take away from his performance as he rose to the occasion and put on a show for those in attendance. The Bahamian pole vaulter broke a 36-year-old national record that belonged to his father Brent Vanderpool and also erased the CARIFTA record.

Last year at the CARIFTA Games, Vanderpool soared 4.35m (14’ 3-1/4”). This year, he was nearly a meter higher, jumping an astonishing 5.06m (16’ 7-1/4”). The old national record of 4.89m (16’ 0-1/2”) was set by the older Vanderpool in 1987 – one of the oldest national records on the books – and the former CARIFTA record of 5.05m (16’ 6-3/4”) was established by Thiery Baptiste of Martinique in Nassau in 2018.

The Bahamian star pole vaulter is coached by his father whose national record he broke. It will likely go down as one of the all-time great stories of succession in sports in The Bahamas.

“This feels fantastic. I’m ecstatic. Praise be to God,” exclaimed the younger Vanderpool on Saturday night. “I just have to give credit to my dad and my coach Brent Vanderpool. He’s my mentor and my image. It’s an honor to break his national record. I think I was able to put a smile on his face because I was able to prove myself and get it done. I can’t forget my mom, too. She was by my side straight through. I’m just so ecstatic right now. I was finally able to do it and it feels great.”

On Sunday night, Vanderpool entered the competition at 4.30m (14’ 1-1/4”) and cleared it on his first attempt. He then passed on his next four heights before challenging the 4.55m (14’ 11-1/4”) position. By this time, there were just two jumpers remaining in the competition – Vanderpool and Jeremiah Felix of St. Lucia. Felix passed at 4.55m and went over the bar on his first attempt at 4.60m (15’ 1”) to put the pressure on Vanderpool, or so he thought. Vanderpool cleared 4.55m on his second attempt, then went over the bar on his first attempt at 4.70m (15’ 5”) to retake the lead. Felix had no response.

Vanderpool put the icing on the cake, passing at 4.75m (15’ 7”) before going after the national and CARIFTA record at 5.06m. It was a spectacular display of pole vaulting as he cleared it on his first attempt to seal the gold, and new national and CARIFTA record. Even more remarkable, at just 18, Vanderpool still has a year of eligibility left at the CARIFTA Games. He is expected to go after a third straight CARIFTA title at the 51st CARIFTA Games in St. George’s, Grenada, next year.

The Bahamas got two medals in the pole vault competition as Tyler Cash finished with a best 

clearance of 4.45m (14’ 7-1/4”) for the bronze medal. Felix won the silver, bowing out at 4.60m. Cash was ecstatic with the bronze.

“You don’t experience things like this on a regular basis. I’m here representing my country and it feels amazing,” he said. “I have to give love to my mom, my family and my friends at home. I’m ecstatic to be here competing and to come out with a medal is a blessing. I’m trying to make it to the Olympics one day. Brenden broke the record and we celebrate him, but next year, I’m going for that gold,” he added.

Cash, too, has a year of eligibility remaining.

In one of the hurdles events in the evening session on Easter Monday, The Bahamas got an additional gold medal as the original gold medalist Demario Prince of Jamaica was disqualified for what was later revealed as a false start. The infraction was brought to the attention of officials late Monday evening and Prince was subsequently disqualified.

Otto Laing was fantastic for The Bahamas, crossing the finish line in a blazing personal best time of 13.49 seconds in the under-20 boys 110m hurdles. He was originally regarded as the silver medalist, but was later upgraded to gold based on the disqualification of the Jamaican athlete.

“I wasn’t expecting to see that time on the clock seeing that my PR (personal best time) before this was half of a second slower. To run that time on the big stage is crazy. I’m ecstatic,” said Laing after his race. “That’s only through God. No matter if it is raining or what the weather is like, if you have to run, you have to run and that is what I did. I showed up when it matters and I’m glad with that.”

It was a wet and soggy night as scattered rain occurred all night. Laing didn’t let that stop him as he got a blazing start and came through for the impressive personal best time. The other Bahamian in that race, Tayshaun Robinson, who beat Laing at the ICS Security Concepts Bahamas National High School Track and Field Championships/CARIFTA Trials two weeks prior, was originally fifth in the race but upgraded to fourth after the disqualification. He was timed in 14.05 seconds.

In the longer hurdles on Easter Sunday, Darvinique Dean and Shimar Bain won medals for The Bahamas.

Dean rebounded from an eighth-place finish in the under-17 girls 400m the night before to win a silver medal in the under-17 girls 400m hurdles on Sunday. She stopped the clock in 1:02.50, about a half of a second off her personal best time.

“After my performance in the 400, I was torn down a bit and just hungry,” said Dean. “Even though I didn’t come first, I got a medal and I’m happy with that.”

Jamaican Jody-Ann Daley won the gold in 1:01.05 and her teammate Rhianna Lewis won the bronze medal in 1:02.61. The other Bahamian in that race Bayli Major finished fourth, just outside of the medal picture, in 1:02.92.

“This is both of our (Dean and Major) first CARIFTA, and hats off to her as well. She did an amazing job. I’m sure there is many more to come for both of us,” said Dean.

Major said she went out there, did her best and will refocus and certainly go much faster next time.

In the under-20 boys version of the 400m hurdles, Shimar Bain made sure he won a medal in his final CARIFTA Games, finishing third in 52.48 seconds. Jamaican Roshawn Clarke won the gold in 49.92 seconds and his teammate Antonio Forbes secured the silver with a time of 51.72 seconds.

“This is my last CARIFTA and I wanted to leave with something, especially with this CARIFTA being at home. I was also looking for a PR (personal best time) and I was able to get it, so I’m grateful for that,” said Bain.

This year’s CARIFTA Games will be remembered as one of the more action-packed and engaging editions of the event in its history. There were concerts, shows, gatherings and even a fun run/walk, the “Let’s Move Bahamas” CARIFTA Fun Run/Walk, surrounding the 50th Oaktree CARIFTA Games.

The Bahamas finished second to Jamaica for a fourth straight time, winning nine gold, 12 silver and 20 bronze for 41 total medals. Jamaica won CARIFTA track and field for a 37th straight time, collecting 38 gold medals, 21 silver and 11 bronze for 70 total medals. Trinidad and Tobago was third behind Jamaica and The Bahamas with five gold medals, seven silver and 10 bronze for 22 total medals.

https://thenassauguardian.com/vanderpool-turned-in-a-sensational-performance-in-the-pole-vault/

 Home|Sports|Kamera following in her brother Keyshawn’s footstepsSports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailApril 12, 2023 344 5 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Bahamas has a pair of gems in the javelin event for youth girls that was apparent at last year’s CARIFTA Games and even more profound at this year’s 50th Oaktree CARIFTA Games.

Reference is to new CARIFTA record holder in that event in the under-17 girls category Kamera Strachan and former record holder Dior-Rae Scott. They excelled at CARIFTA for the second year in a row, this time winning gold and silver for The Bahamas.

After finishing fourth last year, while watching her brother Keyshawn Strachan set a new CARIFTA record in the under-20 boys division, Kamera returned with a vengeance at this year CARIFTA Games at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium in Nassau, The Bahamas.

She let the javelin fly for 46.07 meters (m) – 151’ 2” for the gold medal and new CARIFTA record on Easter Monday morning. The old record of 44.57m (146’ 2”) was set by her school, club and national teammate Scott in Kingston, Jamaica, last year.

“I feel great. Last year, I came fourth and I was sad about that, but this year I set my mind that I was going for gold and the record and I was able to do that,” said Strachan. “It feels great to be following in his footsteps,” she added about her brother Keyshawn who just threw a world-leading throw of 84.27m (276’ 5”) in the men’s javelin at his first collegiate meet a little over a week ago.

“Hopefully, I could live up to what he is able to achieve. I just wanted to represent my country well and get the gold and I was able to do that,” said Strachan.

She took the lead from early in the competition, turning in a throw of 45.60m (149’ 7”) to initially break the record and set the tone for the rest of the event. In the second round, Strachan extended her lead, taking the record to 46.07m. She was over 40m (131’ 3”) on each of her remaining throws.

Scott was fantastic as well, particularly on her third round effort when she turned in a massive personal best throw of 45.13m (148’ 1”). Naya Jules, of St. Lucia, won the bronze medal with a throw of 42.92m (140’ 10”).

“I’m happy that I was able to get a personal best out of this and I’m more than happy and proud of my teammate,” said Scott. “It wasn’t exactly what I expected but I’m still proud of myself. I’m happy to come out with a medal. I believe that we (Kamera and herself) will continue to grow in this sport. We’ll train harder and continue to try to get better. I have to thank God, both of my coaches – Corrington Maycock and Laquel Harris, and also thanks to my mother and the rest of my family and friends.”

The experience was even more gratifying for Strachan as it was her brother Keyshawn who presented her with her gold medal on Monday. The under-17 girls javelin was the only event of the weekend in which The Bahamas finished first and second.

The most innovative event on the CARIFTA schedule this year, the mixed 4x400m relay, produced another gold medal for The Bahamas. The Bahamas’ team of Javonya Valcourt, Lacarthea Cooper, Tumani Skinner and Shimar Bain, in that order, won gold in 3:24.62. Grenada was second in 3:27.22 and Jamaica won the bronze medal in 3:29.25.

Valcourt and Cooper were the silver and bronze medalists from the under-20 girls 400m the night before.

“I just wanted to put the team in a good position and I feel I was able to do that,” said Valcourt about her opening leg performance. “It was great coming together with these guys and the mixed relay was well-received. I hope they keep it.”

Cooper said she enjoyed the experience as well. Whereas Valcourt had all girls on her leg, Cooper was matched up against boys on her leg but she kept her composure and responded well.

“Running with the boys was a different experience for me and I was like what’s going on, but I just had to stick with the plan and run my race. After I settled in, I just ran my hardest and I knew my teammates would pick me up,” she said.

Skinner was tasked with bringing The Bahamas back in contention and he did just that, leading them into second.

“All I was saying on my leg was that I have to do my part to help lead us to a gold. We were behind so there was a lot that needed to be done, but we got it done and won the gold. It’s a good feeling,” he said.

Bain, the veteran leader of the team, chased the Grenadian female runner in front of him, erasing about a 75-meter lead. He passed the Grenadian athlete right after the 200-meter mark and powered home the rest of the way.

“From the CARIFTA Trials, all I was saying was that I have to find a way to get a gold in my last CARIFTA, and this was it. That is all I wanted and now I have it,” he said.

One of the more controversial relays on Sunday night was the under-20 boys 4x100m final. Team Bahamas’ lead-off runner Zachary Evans initially failed to get out of the blocks, citing that it was difficult for him to hear the gun with the noise in the stadium. After a call back of the athletes, the officials allowed the race to go on with The Bahamas taking part. It looked like Evans flinched in the blocks on the first go-around and couldn’t adjust to get a clean start at the crack of the gun. The Bahamas’ team of Evans, Adam Musgrove, Zion Campbell and Carlos Brown Jr., in that order, went on to finish second in that race in 39.78 seconds. Jamaica won the gold in 39.68 seconds as DeAndre Daley anchored the Jamaican team to victory, passing Brown in the final 15 meters of the race. Trinidad and Tobago finished third in 40.83 seconds.

It was one of the more thrilling races of the three-day meet.

“I feel like I could have gotten out a bit better, but I still went out there and executed,” said Evans. “We came out of it with a silver medal so I feel it’s a great accomplishment. The crowd noise got to me at the beginning and it was a lil hard to hear so I was a bit confused. I’m glad that the officials realized that and gave us an opportunity run again.”

Musgrove said he is grateful for the medal winning performance. He won bronze medals in the under-20 boys 100 and 200m.

“There is that part of you where always want to win, so I’m a bit disappointed with that, but I’m happy that we were able to run hard and come out with a medal,” he said.

Campbell ran a strong third leg for The Bahamas, handing off to anchor leg Brown with a slight lead for the home country.

“I just want to give God all the thanks and praise for allowing me to run the third leg like I was able to and give us a chance,” said Campbell. “I’m grateful that we all came out of the race healthy and with a medal. We’ll take that.”

Despite getting passed on the home stretch, Brown said he was pleased with the performance and grateful for a medal.

“I just wanted to get out and finish strong. Unfortunately, I had a lil issue with my hamstring and that hampered me a bit, but I’m still grateful that we were able to come out here and win a medal,” he said.

Brown and Musgrove were second and third respectively in the under-20 boys 100m final. Daley, who passed Brown in the relay, false started in the semifinals of the under-20 boys 100m and was subsequently disqualified. Davonte Howell, of the Cayman Islands, won the gold in the under-20 boys 100m in 10.30 seconds.

The Bahamas finished second to Jamaica for a fourth straight time in CARIFTA track and field, winning nine gold, 12 silver and 20 bronze for 41 total medals. Jamaica won CARIFTA track and field for a 37th straight time, collecting 38 gold medals, 21 silver and 11 bronze for 70 total medals. Trinidad and Tobago was third behind Jamaica and The Bahamas with five gold medals, seven silver and 10 bronze for 22 total medals.

https://thenassauguardian.com/kamera-following-in-her-brother-keyshawns-footsteps/

 Home|Sports|The Bahamas shines at CARIFTASports

A pair of records highlight Team Bahamas’ performance at 50th Oaktree CARIFTA Games

Sheldon LongleySend an emailApril 11, 2023 443 12 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

At the end of a thrilling weekend of competition, the 50th Oaktree CARIFTA Games will be remembered as one of the most action packed, engaging and all-inclusive editions of the junior regional sports meet in its history.

The action on the track and in the field was complemented with a lively cultural village and there was a grand opening ceremony, an upscale tea party for regional and global guests, and the ‘Let’s Move Bahamas’ CARIFTA Fun Run/Walk in which World Athletics President Lord Sebastian Coe served as the patron and also participated in the event.

The holiday weekend was capped off by fantastic performances on the track and in the field at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium in Nassau, The Bahamas.

The Bahamas finished second to Jamaica for a fourth straight time, winning eight gold, 13 silver and 20 bronze for 41 total medals. Jamaica won CARIFTA track and field for a 37 straight time, collecting 39 gold medals, 20 silver and 12 bronze for 71 total medals. Trinidad and Tobago was third behind Jamaica and The Bahamas with five gold medals, seven silver and 10 bronze for 22 total medals.

Kaden Cartwright got the gold medal haul started for The Bahamas with a huge throw of 64.07 meters (m) – 210’ 2” – in the under-20 boys javelin on Saturday. Dorian Charles, of Trinidad and Tobago, won the silver medal with a throw of 61.58m (202’) and Cameron Thomas of Grenada won the bronze with a throw of 60.12m (197’ 3”).

“It feels pretty good. I just want to thank God, my parents and my coaches. I came out here, trusting in my training and trusting the process. I’m proud of what I was able to do. To win the gold is a special feeling,” said Cartwright.

Jamiah Nabbie was special, winning gold in the under-17 girls 100m, matching a personal best time of 11.67 seconds, and striking also striking gold in the 200m with a time of 23.67 seconds. In the 100m, Naomi London of St. Lucia finished second in 11.72 seconds and Alexxe Henry of Trinidad and Tobago claimed the bronze medal in 11.81 seconds. The other Bahamian in that event, Shayann Demeritte failed to make the final, running 12.26 seconds in the semifinals. She was 11th overall.

“I wanted to go a bit faster, but I tripped twice and just had to do my best to recover. To come here, not run my best race, and still have a personal best time shows that I could definitely go faster. It also shows that hard work pays off. I’m glad that I was able to win the gold and to do it at home is a good feeling,” said Nabbie.

In the under-17 girls 200m, Nabbie was sensational again, winning her second individual gold medal of the 50th Oaktree CARIFTA Games. Nabbie was once again followed by St. Lucia’s Naomi London in second, crossing the finish line in 23.72 seconds. Natrece East, of Jamaica, won the bronze medal, finishing in 23.85 seconds.

Nabbie also compete in the long jump and finished fifth with a leap of 5.40m (17’ 8-1/2”) Her teammate Tylah Pratt finished seventh with a leap of 5.30m (17’ 4-3/4”).

The Bahamas finished with gold and bronze in the under-17 boys 200m as Cayden Smith came through for the gold in 21.70 seconds and Andrew Brown claimed the bronze in 22.03 seconds. Splitting the Bahamian duo for the silver medal was Ethan Sam, of Grenada in 21.96 seconds.

In the under-20 girls 200m, Amari Pratt won a bronze medal for The Bahamas, finishing in 24.17 seconds. Sanaa Frederick, of Trinidad and Tobago, won the gold medal in 23.60 seconds, and Kenyatta Grate, of the British Virgil Islands, was second, finishing in 24.11 seconds.

In the under-20 boys version of that race, Adam Musgrove won a bronze medal for The Bahamas, finishing in a personal best time of 20.96 seconds. It was a 1-2 sweep for Jamaica as Malique Smith-Band won the gold in 20.69 seconds and Javourne Dunkley secured the silver medal in 20.88 seconds.

The Bahamas came up short of the medal stand in all of the 800m events.

In the short hurdles, The Bahamas got a silver medal from Otto Laing and a bronze medal from Quinton Rolle.

Laing came through for silver in the under-20 boys 110m hurdles, crossing the finish line second in 13.49 seconds. Jamaican Demario Prince won the gold medal, finishing in 13.37 seconds, Laing was second, and Jamaican Shaquane Gioordon, finished third in 13.54 seconds. The other Bahamian in that race, Tayshaun Robinson, was fifth in 14.05 seconds.

In the under-17 boys 110m hurdles, Rolle won a bronze medal in 14.49 seconds. As it was for the under-17 girls and under-20 girls, it was Jamaican 1-2 sweep as Kahiem Carby won the gold medal in 13.49 seconds and Shakir Lewis secured the silver in 14.20 seconds. The other Bahamian in that race, Kenny Moxey Jr., was fourth in 14.58 seconds.

After chasing the national record and CARIFTA record for a couple years, Brenden Vanderpool finally got the breakthrough he was searching for, on Saturday night, winning gold in the open boys pole vault with a height of 5.06m (16’ 7-1/4”), breaking both records. The old national record of 4.89m (16’ 0-1/2”) was set by his father Brent Vanderpool in 1987 and was one of the oldest national records on the books. The old CARIFTA record of 5.05m (16’ 6-3/4”) was set by Thiery Baptiste of Martinique in Nassau in 2018. The Bahamas also got a bronze medal in that event as Tyler Cash leapt 4.45m (14’ 7-1/4”). Jeremiah Felix, of St. Lucia, spilt the two Bahamians with a leap of 4.60m (15’ 1”) for the silver medal.

Not to be outdone, Kamera Strachan endured a tough battle with her teammate Dior-Rae Scott and emerged as the new champion and CARIFTA record holder in the under-17 girls javelin. She had a massive throw of 46.07m (151’ 2”) for the gold medal to surpass the record setting throw of 44.57m (146’ 2”) from Scott in Kingston, Jamaica, last year. Scott settled for the silver this time with a personal best heave of 45.13m (148’ 1”) and Naya Jules, of St. Lucia, won the bronze medal with a throw of 42.92m (140’ 10”).

It was the only event of the weekend in which The Bahamas finished first and second.

The Bahamas won a couple of gold medals in the relays on Saturday night.

The under-17 boys 4x100m relay team of Trent Ford, Andrew Brown, Cayden Smith and Ishmael Rolle, in that order, won a stunning gold medal in 41.46 seconds. Jamaica was second on the track, but was later disqualified. Grenada ended up with the silver medal, crossing the finish line in 41.95 seconds, and Trinidad and Tobago won the bronze medal in 42.51 seconds.

The first mixed 4x400m relay in CARIFTA history proved to be a welcomed addition for Team Bahamas as the quartet of Javonya Valcourt, Lacarthea Cooper, Tumani Skinner and Shimar Bain, in that order, won gold in 3:24.62. Grenada was second in 3:27.22 and Jamaica won the bronze medal in 3:29.25.

The Bahamas won silver and bronze in the under-20 girls 400m on Saturday night. Valcourt gave Jamaican Rickiann Russell a push but had to settle for the silver in a personal best time of 52.12 seconds. Cooper followed her to the line, finishing third in a personal best time of 53.12 seconds. Russell won the gold in 51.84 seconds.

“I just wanted to get out and hold it. I’m excited with the time and happy with the silver,” said Valcourt. “I knew we had a shot to come out here and win two medals and I’m just happy that we were able to do that. It’s a blessing to come here and perform the way we did for The Bahamas.”

Cooper said: “Coming on to the home stretch, I realized that I had a chance to win a medal and I just pushed as hard as I can. Hearing the crowd noise just made me want to run faster. I’m glad that we were able to get it done – winning two medals. Now, it’s on to the relay. We’re looking forward to that.”

The Bahamas also finished second and third in the under-20 boys 100m. What was suppose to be one of the marquee events of the meet was missing both Jamaicans as world junior leader Bouwahjgie Nkrumie pulled up with an injury in the heats and defending champion DeAndre Daley false started in the semifinals. In their absence Davonte Howell, of the Cayman Islands, won the gold in 10.30 seconds, and The Bahamas’ duo of Carlos Brown Jr. and Adam Musgrove settled for second and third in times of 10.38 seconds and 10.44 seconds respectively.

“I just wanted to get out hard, keep my composure and push as hard as I can,” said Brown. “After sustaining a lot of injuries, to be able to come out here and perform like this is a good feeling. We got medals out of it and I’m happy with that. It’s a good feeling.”

Musgrove said: “This is an amazing feeling, and to do it in front of the home crowd is crazy. I dreamt about this moment since I started running track. I want to say thank you to God, to my coach, my family and everyone who supported me through this journey. Last year, at the CARIFTA Trials, I didn’t make the final, so to come back this year and be on the podium at CARIFTA, it’s a great feeling.”

In the under-17 boys 100m, Ishmael Rolle won a silver medal, finishing in a personal best time of 10.62 seconds. Jamaican Tramaine Todd won the gold in 10.52 seconds, Rolle was second, and Ethan Sam, of Grenada, finished third in 10.71 seconds.

“Well the key was not to worry about the competition and just run my race and I was able to do that. It’s a personal best time and a silver medal and I’m happy with that,” said Rolle.

In the under-17 boys 400m on Saturday, Andrew Brown ran a personal best time of 48.68 for the bronze medal. Nickecoy Bramwell, of Jamaica, won the gold medal in 47.86 seconds and Jaylen Bennett of St. Kitts and Nevis claimed the silver in 48.59 seconds. The other Bahamian in that race Zion Shepherd finished fourth in 49.30 seconds.

“The race was good for me. I came out of it injury free and I was able to run a PB (personal best time) – can’t ask for anything more than that. I thank God and everyone who supported me along the way. I was ready to run so I just came out here and did what I had to do,” said Brown.

In the under-17 girls 400m hurdles the following day, Darvinique Dean won a silver medal with a time of 1:02.50. Jamaican Jody-Ann Daley won the gold in 1:01.05 and her teammate Rhianna Lewis won the bronze medal in 1:02.61. The other Bahamian in that race Bayli Major finished fourth, just outside of the medal picture, in 1:02.92. Dean was eighth overall in the 400m the day before, finishing in 58.25 seconds.

In the under-20 boys version of the 400m hurdles, Shimar Bain made sure he won a medal in his final CARIFTA Games, finishing third in 52.48 seconds. Jamaican Roshawn Clarke won the gold in 49.92 seconds and his teammate Antonio Forbes secured the silver with a time of 51.72 seconds. Bahamian Clinton Laguerre didn’t start the event.

In the under-17 girls 1500m, Erin Barr won a bronze medal for The Bahamas, finishing in a huge personal best time of 4:54.09. Ashlyn Simmons, of Barbados, won the gold in 4:51.65 and Dena-Marie Barby of Curacao claimed the silver in 4:52.57.

“My coach told me to get close to the front from the beginning. That’s what I did,” said Barr. “I feel like I was able to execute the way I wanted to run it and it feels good to get a medal. I knew I had to be strong and run faster than I did at the CARIFTA Trials. It feels very good to bring home a medal for my country. I just went out there and ran my kind of race to the best of my ability and it paid off.”

In the open girls 3000m, Akaya Lightbourne won a bronze medal for The Bahamas, finishing in 10:47.01. Jamaican Kaydeen Johnson won the gold medal in 10:41.11 and Attoya Harvey, of Guyana, won the silver medal in 10:45.74.

In the open boys octathlon, Lavardo Deveaux battled Jamaican Courtney Williams right down to the last event over the two days of competition, but had to settle for the silver with 5,197 points. Williams won the gold with 5,253 points after going into the final event, the 1500m, with just a two-point lead. Jauza James, of Bermuda, finished third with 4,850 points.

In the under-17 boys shot put, Reuben Bain won a bronze medal for The Bahamas, finishing with a best throw of 13.78m (45’ 2-1/2”). Jamaican Ronaldo Anderson won the gold medal, with a throw of 15.52m (50’ 11”) and Denzel Phillips, of St. Lucia, won the silver medal with a throw of 15.17m (49’ 9-1/4”).

Lanaisha Lubin won a silver medal for The Bahamas in the under-20 girls triple jump. She had a best jump of 12.40m (40’ 8-1/4”). Jade-Ann Dawkins, of Jamaica, won the gold medal with a jump of 13.05m (42’ 9-3/4”), Lubin was second, and Kaysssia Hudson, of French Guiana, won the bronze medal with a jump of 12.22m (40’ 1”). The other Bahamian in the field Apryl Adderley finished fifth with a jump of 11.53m (37’ 10”).

Lubin and Adderley were back in action in the under-20 girls long jump. Lubin finished fourth, just outside of the medal picture, with a jump of 5.43m (17’ 9-3/4”) and Adderley finished sixth with a leap of 5.24m (17’ 2-1/4”).

In the under-17 girls triple jump event, Bayli Major won a silver medal for The Bahamas with a jump of 11.60m (38’ 0-3/4”). Tessa Clamy, of Guadeloupe, won the gold medal with a distance of 11.67m (38’ 3-1/2”), Major was second, and Sabrina Atkinson, of Jamaica, won the bronze medal, with a distance of 11.52m (37’ 9-1/2”). The other Bahamian in the field Zoe Adderley finished seventh with a jump of 11.23m (36’ 10-1/4”).

In the under-20 boys triple jump, Laquan Ellis won a silver medal with a leap of 14.92m (48’ 11-1/2”). Jamaican World Junior Champion Jaydon Hibbert won the gold medal with a jump of 16.11m (52’ 10-1/4”). Trevon Hamer, of Guyana, won the bronze medal with a leap of 14.89m (48’ 10-1/4”). Bahamian Johnathan Rodgers was fourth, finishing with a best leap of 14.48m (47’ 6”).

Also on the final night of competition, Danielle Nixon won a bronze medal for The Bahamas in the under-17 girls discus. She finished with a best throw of 31.60m (103’ 8”). Dionjah Shaw, of Jamaica, won the gold medal with a toss of 44.37m (145’ 7”), and Clementine Carias, of Guadeloupe, won the silver medal with a throw of 32.86m (107’ 10”). The other Bahamian in the field Kenyce Scavella finished sixth with a throw of 27.55m (90’ 5”).

In the under-17 girls shot put, Terrell McCoy won a bronze medal for The Bahamas with a distance of 13.31m (43’ 8”). Dionjah Shaw, of Jamaica, won the gold medal with a throw of 14.48m (47’ 6”) and Peyton Winter, of Trinidad and Tobago, secured the silver with a best throw of 13.66m (44’ 9-3/4”). The other Bahamian in the field, Nixon, finished sixth with a throw of 12.27m (40’ 3”).

In the under-17 boys high jump, Joshua Williams won a bronze medal for The Bahamas with a clearance of 1.90m (6’ 2-3/4”). The top two finishers in that event both cleared 1.95m (6’ 4-3/4”). Michael Neil, of Jamaica, won the gold medal based on fewer knockdowns. Kaleb Campbell of Trinidad and Tobago won the silver. The other Bahamian in that event Erris Pratt finished fifth with a clearance of 1.85m (6’ 0-3/4”).

Mateo Smith was not going to be left out of the medal picture in the under-20 boys long jump. He leapt 7.44m (24’ 5”) to win the bronze. Andrew Stone, of the Cayman Islands, leapt 7.54m (24’ 8-3/4”) for the gold and Jamaican Demario Prince won the silver. He had an identical leap as Smith, 7.44m, but won the silver by means of having a better second-best leap. The other Bahamian in that event Johnathan Rodgers finished sixth with a distance of 7.15m (23’ 5-1/2”).

In the under-20 girls javelin, Vanessa Sawyer won a bronze medal for The Bahamas with a throw of 43.37m (142’ 3”). Anisha Gibbons, of Guyana, won the gold medal with a throw of 47.96m (157’ 4”) and Korann Colet, of French Guiana, claimed the silver with a throw of 45.32m (148’ 8”). The other Bahamian in that event G’Shan Brown finished 10th with a distance of 34.18m (112’ 2”).

In the relays on Saturday night, The Bahamas’ team of Dean, Nabbie, Major and Demeritte, in that order, won a silver medal in the under-17 girls 4x100m after the Jamaicans were disqualified. The Bahamas crossed the finish line third but ended up with the silver. Jamaica crossed the finish line first but were left out of the picture after the disqualification. Trinidad & Tobago emerged as the victor in 46.18 seconds. The Bahamas was second in 46.43 seconds and Bermuda ended up third in 48.12 seconds.

In the under-20 girls version of that race, The Bahamas’ team of Melvinique Gibson, Shatalya Dorsett, Quincy Penn and Amari Pratt, in that order, finished third in 45.55 seconds. Jamaica won the gold in 44.01 seconds and Trinidad and Tobago was second in 45.35 seconds.

The under-20 boys 4x100m final was one of the more thrilling races of the three-day meet. Daley anchored the Jamaican team home to the gold medal, passing Brown in the final 20 meters of the race. They won in 39.68 seconds. The Bahamas’ team of Zachary Evans, Musgrove, Zion Campbell and Brown, in that order, finished second in 39.78 seconds and Trinidad and Tobago finished third in 40.83 seconds.

The Bahamas won three medals in the 4x400m relays to close out the three-day meet.

In the under-17 girls division, the team of Major, Ta’mia Taylor, Akaree Roberts and Dean, in that order, finished third in 3:51.60. Jamaica won the gold in 3:43.43 and Barbados brought home the silver in 3:50.49.

In the under-17 boys 4x400m relay, The Bahamas’ team of Eagan Neely, Andrew Brown, Javano Bridgewater and Zion Shepherd, in that order, won a silver medal in 3:20.47. Jamaica once again won the gold medal, finishing in 3:19.04. Trinidad and Tobago won the bronze medal in 3:23.74.

In the under-20 girls 4x400m relay, The Bahamas’ team of Quincy Penn, Shatalya Dorsett, Melvinique Gibson and Nya Wright, in that order, won a bronze medal in 3:47.68. Jamaica won the gold medal, finishing in 3:33.35, and Trinidad and Tobago won the silver medal in 3:44.19.

In the final race of the meet, the under-20 boys 4x400m relay, The Bahamas’ team of Tumani Skinner, Shimar Bain, Clinton Laguerre and Philip Gray Jr., in that order, finished fourth in 3:12.96. Jamaica won the gold medal, finishing in 3:07.68, Trinidad and Tobago won the silver medal in 3:09.97, and Grenada captured the bronze medal in 3:10.59.

The three-day meet wrapped up last night with The Bahamas finishing second to Jamaica for a fourth straight time.

https://thenassauguardian.com/the-bahamas-shines-at-carifta/

 Home|Sports|The Bahamas makes history in CARIFTA swimmingSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailApril 11, 2023 441 4 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Bahamas made history in CARIFTA swimming over the weekend, winning a fifth straight title in that sporting discipline at the junior regional level.

The Bahamas never trailed at the 36th CARIFTA Swimming Championships at the Sentro Deportivo Kòrsou – Pisina Enith Brigitha in Willemstad, Curaçao, securing their fifth straight title with a record 1,135 points. Placing a distant second was the Cayman Islands with 752 points. Trinidad and Tobago placed third with 534 points.

The Bahamas also had a record number of total medals with 85, inclusive of 37 gold medals, 27 silver medals and 21 bronze medals. The four-day meet wrapped up on Easter Sunday.

The team returned home on Easter Monday afternoon and was immediately transported to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture for a welcome reception that was staged by Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg under the patronage of Prime Minister Phillip Davis.

The swim team then went to the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium to enjoy the final session of the 50th Oaktree CARIFTA Games last night.

As for the competition in Curaçao, it was a grueling four days of competition for Team Bahamas. In the end, they dominated in the pool and came away as the champions for a historic fifth straight time and seventh time in the last eight CARIFTA swimming championships.

It’s also the first time that a nation has won five straight CARIFTA swimming titles.

Team Bahamas was hoping to lift a physical trophy, but, according to sources, the organizers forgot to order a championship trophy and will provide it in the near future.

Attendees at the meet should know The Bahamas’ national anthem by now as they heard it 37 times. The Cayman Islands hauled in 53 total medals, including 25 gold. Trinidad and Tobago was ahead of the Cayman Islands in total medals with 54, but only had 22 gold.

Assistant coach for Team Bahamas Travano McPhee dove off the diving springboard and into the pool in celebration on Sunday night. He said he was elated, having been a part of all five of the victories.

“It feels great to have been a part of these victories. It is an outstanding accomplishment by The Bahamas’ swim team by winning five straight CARIFTA titles. That has never been done,” said McPhee. “Coming into our first day, we expected to come out strong and dominate like we always do. Our second day has not been our strongest of the four days in the past, but, this year, we were able to come out and bring in the most medals and points on the second day that we have ever done in these five editions. It’s a great feeling.”

The Bahamas ended the first day with an 87-point lead, then had a 161-point lead before heading into the final day with a commanding 291-point lead. They ended the meet with a 361-point margin over the Cayman Islands.

One of the team captains, Keianna Moss, who swam in her final CARIFTA, competed well for The Bahamas, having been under the weather for most of the meet. She was happy to go out with a win.

“To win CARIFTA in my final year and as a captain was great. We did our job as captains,” said Moss. “The swimmers competed strongly in each session and we were able to get a win. They listened to me and vice versa. I was not feeling that well for most of the meet but my teammates were there for me and motivated me to compete regardless. We supported each other.”

Jack Barr, who is also one of the captains who is aging out of CARIFTA, was happy that they got the win, especially in his last year. He, too, was a bit under the weather.

“The win feels nice for my last CARIFTA, especially to bring it home for a fifth straight win,” said Barr. “I am very proud of everybody on the team including those who contributed points and medals and cheered the team on. Everyone has benefitted from everyone and, in the end, we were able to bring home the victory.”

McPhee lauded the leadership of the team captains, Barr, Moss, Marvin Johnson, and Rhanishka Gibbs who stepped up to the task, he said.

“The second-day scoring shows that we are improving in areas that we needed to improve in and the swimmers have been working,” said McPhee. “Our team captains led this team and did a great job with the 11-12 age categories. It was an excellent performance from the team all around, breaking the record for most medals.”

The team is made up entirely of swimmers who have never lost a CARIFTA meet. McPhee said that Team Bahamas has a winning culture.

“These swimmers have been around winning so long. None of them have lost at CARIFTA. They came in as winners and that is all they know – to win,” he said. “I am not going to go on a limb and say this but we are going to try and maintain this for many more years to come. Our 8-10 division is very strong and shows what our future will look like in swimming. We are looking to come back even stronger.”

The Bahamas’ dominance in the Caribbean region is something to take note of as they look to defend their title on home soil next year. It was in The Bahamas where the streak started, and they will look to keep it that way and win a sixth straight title at home.

https://thenassauguardian.com/the-bahamas-makes-history-in-carifta-swimming/