Month: May 2023

Heartbreaking loss for The Bahamas

 Home|Sports|Heartbreaking loss for The BahamasSports

Team placed fourth in CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championships

Simba FrenchSend an emailMay 15, 2023 470 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

 The Bahamas men’s national beach soccer team finished fourth at the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championships, with a 3-2 loss to El Salvador at the Malcolm Park Beach Soccer Stadium in Nassau, New Providence last night. CONCACAF

Team Bahamas was on the cusp of qualifying for the Beach Soccer World Cup in Dubai, but a goal by Mexico with 54 seconds left in regulation broke the hearts of the hosts and their fans on Saturday. Mexico won the match 3-2 in the semifinals of the CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) Beach Soccer Championships to punch the second ticket to the 2023 FIFA (International Football Federation) Beach Soccer World Cup, set for November 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The Bahamas settled for fourth place after falling to El Salvador 3-2 last night. The tournament wrapped up last night, but Team Bahamas and their fans will not forget the semi-final match against Mexico.

The Bahamas’ head coach, Alexandre Soares said that the Mexico game was a good and competitive match against the third ranked team in CONCACAF.

“We need to play more and get more experience, but we were amazing in the tournament. We played at a high level. We had a possibility to win against Mexico, but they scored three times,” Soares said.

The Malcolm Park Beach Soccer Stadium in Nassau, New Providence, was loud on Saturday as Bahamians came out in full support for their team. The Bahamas had the momentum in the third period which they started down 2-1. They kept attacking the Mexican’s goal looking for the equalizer and possibly more. The Bahamas eventually got the ball past Mexican goalkeeper Gabriel Macías on a header from Wood Julmis for the 2-2 scoreline at the 6:45 mark. Julmis was on the back post to get the header on a Lesly St. Fleur shot.

The game appeared to be going into extra time and possibly penalty shoot-out as either team could not score. Macías saw an opening in The Bahamas’ wall after he and his defenders tried to find scoring options under the minute mark. Macías got a well-placed kick that went to the bottom right corner of the goal and past Bahamian goalkeeper Michael Butler to put them up 3-2.

“Macías is one of the best goalkeepers in the region. He did not have a shot in the second period and the one time we gave him the space. He punished us for it,” Butler said.

The Bahamas tried to find another equalizer, but they were unfortunate in their endeavors as their World Cup dreams were put on hold for another two years. The Bahamas’ captain, Christie said that it was a very somber locker room after the game.

“The team was very prepared and wanted to win but, unfortunately, we lost the game in the final minute. … It is heartbreaking because we worked so hard for so many months preparing and training and take time off from work and be so close just 54 seconds left before going into overtime with the momentum in our favor. Unfortunately, one silly mistake and the game is over,” Christie said.

Christie was happy with the fans’ support and looking forward to the fans coming out and supporting them in the future.

It was a rough start for The Bahamas in the semi-final matchup against Mexico. Jean ‘Sunny’ scored an own goal at the 8:18 mark to put Mexico up 1-0 in the first period. At the 2:39 mark in that same period Edgar Portilla put Mexico up 2-0 at the 2:18 mark on a free kick.

Butler scored a goal of his own in the second period at the 1:17 mark for the Bahamas’ first goal of the game to cut into the deficit 2-1.

“It was an emotional goal,” Butler said. “I wanted the fan to get behind us and it always starts with me. I’m starting to realize that I am one of the core members of the team so that goal was huge.”

It was the second time the two teams faced each other. Mexico won the first meeting in the group stage 5-4.

The Bahamas made history on Friday past when it became the first English-speaking Caribbean nation to make the semi-final in the history of the tournament. They upset defending champions Panama 4-2 to set up the semi-final matchup with Mexico.

Christie liked that the younger guys like James Thompson and the Julmis brothers Evelt and Wood stepped up in the tournament.

“It is about the younger generation and the new guys coming up. I tip my hat off to them,” Christie said. We have three of four guys that are 21- and 22-year-old players that are playing at a high level against experienced teams and players. It shows we have a very bright future in beach soccer. The team is improving. We no longer go to tournaments to compete, but we go to win. We are now considered one of the top teams and threats in CONCACAF. It shows the growth in the sport and team. We want to be a powerhouse in the region.”

The United States of America won the tournament with a 5-0 victory over Mexico in the final last night.

This is the third time in 10 years The Bahamas hosted the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championships.

https://thenassauguardian.com/heartbreaking-loss-for-the-bahamas/

Chisholm to see specialist about turf toe injury

 Home|Sports|Chisholm to see specialist about turf toe injurySports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailMay 16, 2023 275 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

 A trainer and Miami Marlins left fielder Bryan De La Cruz help center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. after an injury during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Saturday, May 13, 2023, in Miami. AP

Bahamian professional baseball player with the Miami Marlins Jasrado ‘Jazz’ Chisholm Jr. is dealing with a turf toe injury, and can find himself back on the injury list again.

Team Manager Skip Schumaker announced on Sunday that Chisholm will see a specialist, following which, a decision will be made on his immediate future.

The Marlins’ 25-year-old starting centerfielder and leadoff batter sustained the injury in the eighth inning of a baseball game for the Marlins against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday, trying to chase down a shot to the gap off the bat of Cincinnati’s Henry Ramos. He was in full pursuit of the ball but missed, and crashed into the wall in left center field. After staying down for a few minutes while being examined by team trainers, Chisholm had to be helped off the field and missed the rest of the game. He was later diagnosed with a right foot contusion.

The Bahamian spark plug for the Marlins was having a strong game up to that point, turning in his seventh multi-hit performance of the season. However, the RBI double from Reds’ right fielder Ramos, on which Chisholm was injured, gave the Reds a 5-4 lead, and they went on to win, 6-5, giving the Marlins their first one-run loss of the year after winning their previous 12 such contests.

In a game in which Chisholm homered and stole a base, recording numbers seven and 14 respectively, the Marlins blew a late lead, dropping to third in the National League East Division of Major League Baseball (MLB). They lost the first two against the Reds, 7-4 and 6-5, before winning 3-1 at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, on Sunday, and are third in the division with a 20-21 win/loss record. The Atlanta Braves lead the way at 25-15, the Philadelphia Phillies are second at 20-20, and the Marlins are just a half game behind the Phillies at 20-21. The New York Mets are just a half game behind the Marlins at 20-22. The Washington Nationals bring up the rear in that division with an 18-23 record. 

Chisholm’s productivity numbers have been a bit down this season, on average, but his 14 steals are among the league leaders in that department. Also, he was starting to produce at the plate.

In the weekend series against the Reds, Chisholm had three hits in eight at-bats, including home-runs in consecutive games for the second time this season. On Friday, he was 2-for-5 with a RBI (run batted in) and a run scored on his solo shot. He came back on Saturday and had another home-run in three at-bats before suffering the untimely injury. Marlins’ right fielder Jesús Sánchez also left the game early due to an injury. He suffered a sore right hamstring while making a diving catch on a fly ball in the top of the first inning.

As for Chisholm, for the season, he is batting .229 with seven home-runs, 16 RBIs and 16 runs scored. He has a slash line of .229/.291/.403 over 159 plate appearances this season. He also has 14 stolen bases, currently tied for third in the majors, and has been caught stealing just twice.

Last year, he had a batting average of .254 with 14 home runs, 45 RBIs and 39 runs scored before getting injured and sitting out most of the season with a stress fracture in his lower back.

The Marlins host the Nationals for three games starting today and then go on a 16-game road trip out west starting with three games against Bahamian Antoan Richardson and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California, this weekend. Richardson is a first base coach with the Giants.

https://thenassauguardian.com/chisholm-to-see-specialist-about-turf-toe-injury/

Camperdown teams sweep Interscholastic Equestrian League spring term competition

Camperdown teams sweep Interscholastic Equestrian League spring term competition

FIRST PLACE CEC Blue Marlins, shown from left to right, Connor Watkins, Hannah D’Aguilar, Trainer Kimberly Johnson, Kaitlyn Russell, Marlo Pinder and Kelsey Pyfrom.

FIRST PLACE CEC Blue Marlins, shown from left to right, Connor Watkins, Hannah D’Aguilar, Trainer Kimberly Johnson, Kaitlyn Russell, Marlo Pinder and Kelsey Pyfrom.

As of Thursday, May 18, 2023

#THE Camperdown Equestrian Centre Blue Marlins emerged triumphant as champions in the final show of the Bahamas Interscholastic Equestrian League (BIEL) competition season, which took place at Camperdown Equestrian Centre last weekend.

#The CEC Blue Marlins finished with a total of 38 points, while the CEC Sand Dollars and the two-time Champion Mariposa Gold Drops battled for second place, tied just one point behind.

#In the end the home side took all the top honours, as the Sand Dollars won an over-fences tiebreaker to finish as Reserve Champions with 37 points, while the Gold Drops had to settle for third place. The Mariposa Monarchs, competing one rider short, finished in fourth.

#Strong performances from all the riders meant that just seven points separated the top four teams.

#The third and final leg of this year’s BIEL Interscholastic competition featured a total of 30 student riders from different schools. Riders competed under the watchful eye of USEF ‘R’ Judge Robert Robold, a former alternate for the German Show Jumping Team and past president of the East Coast Hunter-Jumper Association. Robold took time to dispense comments and advice to riders and their coaches, Kimberly Johnson (coach of the CEC Blue Marlins and CEC Sand Dollars) and Erika Adderley (coach of the Mariposa Gold Drops and the Mariposa Monarchs.)

#BIEL was founded in 2017 and is sponsored by Equestrian Bahamas, the national federation for equestrian sport.

#The league consists of a series of three competitions, from which a national championship is awarded.

#Teams are comprised of school-aged riders from across New Providence.

#BIEL competitions are perennial favourites among junior riders because of the team emphasis and the unique format, based on collegiate competition rules, in which riders and horses are matched by random draw. This provides riders with the exciting opportunity to show their skills in the ring while riding unfamiliar horses, preparing them for the rigours of intercollegiate competition.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/may/18/camperdown-teams-sweep-interscholastic-equestrian-/?news

Special Olympics: Bahamas Athletes ready for the world

As of Thursday, May 18, 2023

#By TENAJH SWEETING

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#SPECIAL Olympics Bahamas athletes are ready to go for the 2023 Special Olympics World Games which is less than one month away.

#The games are set for June 17-25 in Berlin, Germany, for the first time and will see competition across 24 sports. Special Olympics Bahamas has been competing in the World Games since their first appearance in 1979 and will field seven athletes at next month’s competition.

#The athletes will compete in the bowling, swimming and track events. With the athletes undergoing physical training for the competition since October of last year, director of the organisation Gilbert Williams talked about the preparation with less than 30 days remaining.

#“We started off with weekly training for our track athletes [which] has picked up to at least twice a week, bowlers a bit of a challenge there but they have been getting in some training at the Icons entertainment centre,” Williams said.

#The director added the bowlers have been training twice monthly but they also got the opportunity to get additional training for a weekend at a bowling camp in Florida which consisted of 15 games.

#Meanwhile, the swimmers have been utilising the beach and the South Beach pool as well as the pool at the Fox Hill Community Centre.

#The athletes are also coming off a World Games training camp which they took part in a week ago. Ahead of next month’s games, Williams said although the group of athletes have an extra push it’s still business as usual because they train and compete all year long. “I think all of the pressure if there is any pressure comes prior to team selection where everybody is doing whatever they can to try and ensure that they are a part of the final team that is selected but once that selection process takes place, I think athletes breathe a sigh of relief,” he said.

#At this year’s 50th CARIFTA games, Special Olympics Bahamas had six of their athletes participate in the 100m and 200m track events. The events not only served as a feel good moment for the athletes of the global organization but also were used as a measuring stick to determine their progress in terms of training in preparation for the World Games in Berlin.

#Athletes to be on the lookout for next month will include Deron Forbes (200m, 400m, and 4x400m relays), the team’s youngest member Justin Miller (100m, 200m, 4x400m relays) and bowling singles and doubles competitor Austin Green who competed in the 2019 World Games in Abu Dhabi.

#Although the director noted that expectations will be high for the Special Olympics athletes to secure medals he simply wants them to try their best in Berlin and everything else will fall into place.

#“We [are] already extremely proud of all our athletes for pushing themselves to the point where they actually have been selected to participate to represent the country. Hopefully it will all pan out where their best is not just good enough for us but is good enough for the Bahamian public,” Wiliams said.

#The team will leave for competition on June 11 to participate in the host town program in Papenburg, Germany.

#Persons are encouraged to follow the Special Olympics Bahamas social media pages during this year’s Special Olympics World Games in Berlin and also subscribe to their YouTube channel for coverage of their athletes in action this June.

#For persons that wish to interact with the athletes ahead of their travels they can meet them at this weekend’s Community Grill at the Church of God and Christ from 11am to 3pm.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/may/18/special-olympics-bahamas-athletes-ready-world/?news

GSSSA sudden death playoffs underway

DEFENCE FIRST: The second-seeded Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves faced off against third-seeded RM Bailey Pacers yesterday during the GSSSA soccer sudden death playoffs.                                                                                      Photo: Tenajh Sweeting

DEFENCE FIRST: The second-seeded Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves faced off against third-seeded RM Bailey Pacers yesterday during the GSSSA soccer sudden death playoffs. Photo: Tenajh Sweeting

As of Thursday, May 18, 2023

#By TENAJH SWEETING

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#With the soccer nationals looming in the background, the junior and senior teams sudden death playoffs kicked off yesterday for the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA).

#Teams not only competed to punch their ticket to the soccer championships on Friday but also hoped to solidify their spot at next week’s Samuel P Haven Jr High School Soccer Nationals.

#On the day, eight games were played across the two divisions which saw the HO Nash Lions, CH Reeves Raptors, CR Walker Knights, RM Bailey Pacers, SC McPherson Sharks, Government High School Magic and Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves.

#Seniors

#The CR Walker Knights senior girls once again reigned supreme. The senior school has been impressive all year, most recently collecting their seventh straight victory at the GSSSA track and field championships, and the seniors girls’ volleyball championships.

#The Knights have now asserted their dominance in soccer. The Lady Knights entered this year’s soccer playoffs with an unblemished record. On the year, the team has scored 39 goals in total with only one scored on them the entire season. The team continued to roll on as they defeated the fourth-seeded CI Gibson Rattlers 2-0.

#In the matchup, the Knights got to work early as they secured their first goal off a ferocious kick to the back of the net by Shenell Stewart. With the Rattlers battling hard to get a goal on the board against the undefeated team, the Knights once again scored a goal, this time by Valtinique Simmons.

#The Lady Knights narrowly got the ball past the opposing team’s goalkeeper to thwart their chances of a comeback and book their ticket to the championships on Friday.

#Knights’ head coach Dan Weithtman talked about the team’s playoff win.

#“It feels good the girls have worked hard, they are undefeated and have scored 39 goals this season which is astronomical for soccer so we are really proud of them and our defence has only let up one goal in the first five minutes of the first game,” the coach said.

#He added that the team is looking forward to Friday’s championships and his message to the team is the same as always staying focused, and not taking any teams lightly. He believes that once his team sticks to the strategy, they will have a good chance.

#In game two, the Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves fell to RM Bailey Pacers 1-0. The lone goal was scored by Pacers’ Janea Ariste.

#She snuck past the Timberwolves defence and had a clear route to the net as the ball zipped past the opposing team’s goalkeeper.

#The Timberwolves were unable to respond in the game. The Pacers will now look to take on the first-seeded CR Walker Knights this Friday.

#Robert Johnson, head coach of the Pacers, said it felt unbelievable to get the win because they avenged an early season loss to the same team. He added that the team was hoping to match up against the Timberwolves and they stayed steady, focused and disciplined to get the win.

#The coach said he feels confident about his team’s chances against the Knights after only losing 0-1 to the team earlier in the season.

#Once the team stays focused and sticks with the team work, he will look forward to seeing where it takes them.

#For the senior boys, the Knights team once again took care of business. The third-seeded team toppled the second-seeded Timberwolves in a matchup that ended 3-1. The Knights senior boys will now face off against the first-seeded Government High School Magic.

#The Government High School secured their spot in the GSSSA soccer championships after closing out the Pacers’ senior boys 2-1.

#Juniors

#The HO Nash Lions’ junior girls comfortably defeated the Timberwolves 2-0. The Timberwolves lost three out of their four playoff games in yesterday’s sudden death rounds.

#The fourth-seeded Raptors’ junior girls came out on top against the first-seeded DW Davis Royals to upset the team 3-2 after penalties. The Raptors will now look to carry the momentum into Friday’s championship showdown against the Lions.

#The first-seeded Sharks’ junior boys wrapped up the fourth-seeded LW Young Golden Eagles in a match that ended 3-1.

#The top seed will now take on the junior boys of Anatol Rodgers on Friday.

#The Timberwolves got their first playoff win of the day as their junior boys closed out the DW Davis Royals 2-0.

#The GSSSA soccer championships will commence at 3:45pm at the Roscow A L Davies Field this Friday.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/may/18/gsssa-sudden-death-playoffs-underway/?news

Anya James first woman to be elected president of BFA

AN HISTORIC MILESTONE: Anya James is the first woman to be elected as the Bahamas Football Association’s (BFA) newest president at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday night.

AN HISTORIC MILESTONE: Anya James is the first woman to be elected as the Bahamas Football Association’s (BFA) newest president at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday night.

As of Friday, May 19, 2023

#By TENAJH SWEETING

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#Anya James is the first woman in history to be elected as president of the Bahamas Football Association (BFA).

#The newfound title and position came after the association’s Annual General Meeting held on Tuesday night at Breezes Resort Bahamas.

#James was elected to her new position following a 5-4 presidential vote over Sam Thibaud. She previously served as vice president for the BFA with Anton Sealey formerly positioned as president. Sealey opted not to run in this year’s election and now it’s James’ turn to lead the BFA for the next four years.

#The newly-named president talked about her historic feat for the BFA.

#She said that she is very excited about being the first female president of the BFA and one of her goals is to increase the number of participants in football in the form of players, coaches and referees.

#Additionally, James said she wanted to increase the BFA’s presence in the Family Islands.

#Although she already made history being named the first female vice president, and now president, she is also only the fourth woman to serve in the position for the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) in the region.

#James will not be without help as her council members are Dion Peterson, John Joseph, Gavin Christie, Frankie Edmond, and Andrè Moss. The council will also include Daria Adderley who will join James which makes it two women on the council for the first time in BFA history.

#Women have been making waves in the sport recently as Annisa Albury was the first Bahamian woman to referee at the Beach Soccer Pre-World Cup and also Krystal Evans who has served as a FIFA assistant referee since 2019.

#As more women make their names in the sport, James had this message for them. “My message to younger women is do not settle just because you are a woman, dream big and follow your passion [and] try to surround yourself with other women who can and will straighten your crown and encourage you to achieve your goals,” the president said.

#In regards to football, she also encouraged more women to take on leadership roles in the sport.

#After serving as vice president previously, she said she wants to encourage stakeholders to continue to engage in respectful dialogue for the benefit of all in the sport.

#With her previous experiences as team manager in 2014 for the under-17 boys national team and as an executive for the Dynamos Football Club, she will look to make her mark in the BFA as president.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/may/19/anya-james-first-woman-be-elected-president-bfa/

USA tops Mexico 5-0 for beach soccer title, Bahamas 4th overall

The USA won the beach soccer title last night, beating Mexico 5-0.
Photo: Austin Fernander/Tribune staff

The USA won the beach soccer title last night, beating Mexico 5-0. Photo: Austin Fernander/Tribune staff

As of Monday, May 15, 2023

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#The Bahamas men’s national beach soccer team came so close to booking their ticket to the United Arab Emirates for the 2023 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.

#But before a large crowd of spectators on hand at the Malcolm Park beach soccer facility, Mexico left them grounded with a hard-fought, 3-2 victory in the feature game played in the semifinal matches of the CONCACAF Championships on Saturday night.

#Mexico, the four-time CBSC champions who took advantage of a stunning own goal from the Bahamas and another from Edgar Portilla in the first of three periods, prevailed to join the United States on the trip to Dubai.

#The USA avenged their defeat to El Salvador two years ago by dethroning the defending champions with a 5-2 victory in the other semifinal game.

#As the championship came to a close yesterday, defending champions El Salvador nipped the Bahamas 3-2 as Kyle Williams and James Thompson scored for the Bahamas.

#El Salvador got a pair of goals from Jason Urbina and another from Heber Ramos to snatch third place in the team rankings from the Bahamas.

#Thompson said they gave their all right to the end but, like they did the night before against Mexico in their semifinal matchup, they fell short against El Salvador in their finale yesterday.

#“How far we made it was a dream come through,” Thompson said. “It’s just a true testament of how hard we worked as a team, We definitely know what we need to do to get to the next level.

#“We were very close to getting to the World Cup. It’s always a childhood dream. It’s just a shame we let the opportunity slip away, but we know what we have to do for the next one.”

#Despite the loss, it was the best showing ever for the Bahamas in the CONCACAF Beach Soccer competition.

#The USA wrapped up the championship by clinching the title with an impressive 5-0 whitewashing of Mexico. Gabriel Silvera booted in a pair of goals and Nick Perera, Tomas Canale and Ricardo Carvalho added one each.

#It was still a memorable championship for the Bahamas.

#On Saturday, after trailing 2-0 to Mexico, the Bahamas got on the scoreboard, thanks to a goal from goalkeeper Michael Butler to cut the deficit to 2-1 at the end of the second period.

#Wood Julmis came through with the 2-2 equalizer in the third. but Mexico put the icing on the cake as their goalkeeper Gabriel Macias booted in the final goal in the final minute to begin their celebrations.

#It was a painful loss for Team Bahamas, losing it down the stretch, but team captain Gavin Christie lamented it will be one that will propel the team even further in the future.

#“It’s kind of heartbreaking because the team worked so hard for so many months, preparing, training, time off jobs and to be so close,” Christie said. “With 30 seconds to go, we had the momentum in our favor, but unfortunately one silly mistake and the game was over.”

#Christie, however, thanked the Bahamian public for their tremendous support.

#“We heard them, we felt them, so we thank them for all of their support,” he quipped. “We just encourage them to continue to support beach soccer. We have a very good team, We just continue to support the team.”

#At this stage in the game, Christie said the Bahamas no longer go to the tournaments to compete, but to win. Considered one of the top teams in CONCACAF, he said it shows the growth of the sport and they only hope to improve.

#Butler admitted that it was a tough pill to swallow.

#“It was pretty tough. It was a really tough game. Obviously, we didn’t get the results that we wanted, but the team went out there and gave it 100 percent,” he said.

#On scoring the goal for the team, Butler said it was what the doctor prescribed because it was contagious as the Bahamas got another to level the score.

#But he admitted that Mexico’s goalkeeper is considered to be one of the best in the region and the one time the Bahamas “gave him the space,” Butler said Macias “punished us.”

#Renowned Brazilian coach Alexandre Soares, who guided the team through the tournament, said they played a very experienced team, but he was proud of the effort the Bahamas produced against them.

#“The team is amazing. They play with a high quality,” said Soares, who noted that the young players played exceptionally well. “The future is very bright for them,”

#In Friday’s semifinal match after a day’s rest at the completion of the round robin play, the Bahamas clinched its spot in the semifinal with an impressive 4-2 win over Panama in their quarter-final match-up.

#Kyle Williams and Gary Joseph pushed the Bahamas up 2-0 with their pair of goals in the first period. Panama responded with a goal from Nagdiel Del Rosario and Luis Quintero before Williams added another for a 3-2 Bahamas lead at the end of the second.

#The lone goal in the third came from Michael Williams on a goalkeeper’s insurance boot to seal the deal as the Bahamas moved one game closer to getting to the World Cup.

#Unfortunately, they ended up one goal short of beating Mexico in the semifinal clincher and one behind El Salvador to complete the championship in fourth place overall.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/may/15/usa-tops-mexico-5-0-beach-soccer-title-bahamas-4th/?news

Athletes on fast track at NACAC Invitational

CRUISE CONTROL: Anthonique Strachan wins the women’s 200 metre finals at the NACAC New Life Invitational in the nation’s second city of Freeport, Grand Bahama.                 
Photos by Vandyke Hepburn/BIS

CRUISE CONTROL: Anthonique Strachan wins the women’s 200 metre finals at the NACAC New Life Invitational in the nation’s second city of Freeport, Grand Bahama. Photos by Vandyke Hepburn/BIS

As of Monday, May 15, 2023

photo

SHOWN, from left to right, are NACAC president Mike Sands and Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg presenting first place finisher Anthonique Strachan, second place finisher Jada Baylark, and third place finisher Quanera Hayes with a conch shell to commemorate their finishes in the 200 metre finals.

#By TENAJH SWEETING

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#The North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) New Life Invitational saw its second hosting come to the nation’s second city of Freeport, Grand Bahama, this past weekend.

#The one-day meet got underway at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex and saw athletes break New Life records. Bahamian athletes also returned home to put on a show.

#The second edition of the meet was held as athletes not only looked to qualify for the World Championships in August but also to vie for their share of the $75,000 cash prize.

#Mike Sands, president of NACAC, talked about the second New Life Invitational event.

photo

SHAWN Thompson soars to a height of 7.57 metres in the men’s long jump.

#“I am very happy with the way it turned out. It would have been nice to have more fans but in terms of the quality of the meet, I am very happy, ” Sands said.

#He said the meet was designed to cater to all of the NACAC area athletes and that the focus was also placed on Bahamian athletes as they were committed to place one in every event where possible.

#Overall, he added that he was very happy and satisfied with the way the Bahamian athletes performed and the event served as a motivational incentive for them to know where they are and what they now need to do.

#Among the Bahamian athletes at the NACAC New Life Invitational were Grand Bahamians Donald Thomas and Alonzo Russell. Also, Anthonique Strachan, Shakeem Hall-Smith, Adam Musgrove and Tamara Myers of North Andros.

#TRACK

#For the Bahamas, Anthonique Strachan brought home the first place finish in the women’s 200m finals with a time of 22.59 to beat her competitors. Both second and third place finishers were from the United States of America (USA). Jada Baylark wrapped up second in 23.10 and Quanera Hayes came behind with 23.20.

#Strachan talked about how it felt to get the win on Bahamian soil.

#“It’s always a joy to compete [at] home in The Bahamas, especially Freeport. They have a tremendous track and they always have great crowd interaction and people do come out here to support and watch,” Strachan said.

photo

Olympic bronze-medalist Megan Tapper runs strong towards the finish line for first place in the women’s 100m hurdles finals.

#She added that the 200m race was a great race for her. She just needs to execute some things in the race so that she can make it come together when it matters which will be at the championships.

#The 2022 NACAC silver medallist said she will speak with her coach and watch the race to see what she could have improved but, all in all, it was a good one.

#For the men, Puerto Rico’s Jose Y Figueroa Acevedo emerged victorious after clocking 20.59 in the 200m finals. In addition to the win, he also surpassed Daveon Collins’ New Life record of 20.73. Ghana’s Joseph Amoah claimed second place in the race with 20.61 and also broke the previous New Life record. Third place finish belonged to CARIFTA double-medallist Adam Musgrove.

#Despite the 19-year-old competing against more seasoned competition, he said his mindset was to not be intimidated as his goal is to go as far in the sport as possible. Therefore, he wants to get used to the feeling of running with elite athletes at the junior level so when he gets to their level it would not phase him anymore.

#After running 11.34 in the 100m prelims Olympic silver-medalist Shashalee Forbes shaved 0.17 seconds off her time to get the win in the finals. She was followed by fellow Jamaican competitors Kemba Nelson and Tia Clayton. Nelson ran 11.27 and Clayton notched 11.31 in the race.

#“I felt pretty great I mean I ran a little slow out of the blocks but as a pro athlete you have to learn how to pick up and can go so apart from all that it felt really good,” Forbes said.

#Canada’s Duan Asemota ran 10.14 in the men’s 100m finals which was a personal best for the athlete. Ghana’s Joseph Amoah once again secured another second place finish this time with a run of 10.19. Trinidad and Tobago’s Eric Harrison Jr closed out the sprint in third with 10.22.

#Asemota said his strategy in the race was to make sure he stayed nice and low, not coming up too high and he knew that he could finish the race therefore, he wanted to remain relaxed, remain composed and get to the finish. He said it felt amazing to compete in Grand Bahma coming from Canada where the weather is not the best right now. Additionally, he enjoyed the hosting and facilities.

#Aliyah Abrams of Guyana completed the women’s 400m finals with 50.20 to edge out her competitors. The top three finishers in the race all beat Wadeline Johnathas’ previous New Life record of 51.91. Canada’s Charokee Young ran 50.45 for second and Cuba’s Roxana Gomez took third with 51.01.

#The men’s 400m finals were no different than their counterparts. The top three finishers all surpassed Deon Lendore’s previous New Life record of 45.83. The USA’s Olympic gold-medalist Trevor Stewart took home the victory in 44.92. He was followed by Jamaica’s Rusheen McDonald who clocked 45.26. Grand Bahama’s very own Alonzo Russell returned to notch 45.52 for third place.

#“I felt like it was a decent race it’s always exciting to come back home and run in front of the home crowd. I feel good about the run today and I look forward to the rest of the season,” Russell said.

#He said he is at a better place mentally and that’s why he thinks that he is seeing better results.

#In the 800m finals, the USA’s Skylyn Webb bested her competitors with 2:02.96 in the race. Second place belonged to St Vincent’s Shafiqua Maloney and third place went to Puerto Rico’s Aziza Ayoub.

#The USA once again emerged victorious this time in the men’s 800m finals. Kameron Jones sealed the victory after clocking 1:47.66 in the race. Jamaica’s Rajay Hamilton finished second witn 1:47.71 and the USA’s CJ Jones came in third with 1:47.93.

#In hurdles action, Olympic bronze medalist Megan Tapper blitzed her competitors in the 100m hurdles finals. She came in with 12.74 shaving 0.13 seconds off her prelims qualifying time of 12.87. Second place was secured by Jamaica’s Amoi Brown and third went to Liberia’s Ebony Morrison.

#After securing a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Rasheed Broadbell claimed first place this time in the men’s 110m hurdles. Jamaica’s Broadbell finished with 13.10 to break the previous New Life record of Michael Dickson. Eric Edwards Jr of the USA came second in 13.42 and Jamaica’s Damion Thomas wrapped up in third.

#The winner’s of both the men and women’s 400m hurdles finals took home first place honors and set new records at the one-day meet. For the women, Roshell Clayton ran 54.41 to beat the previous record of 54.50 held by Dalilah Muhammed. For the men, the USA’s Amere Lattin came up big with 49.18 in the race. He broke the previous record of Gerald Drummond (49.47).

#Lattin said he thought his execution in the race was great and he ran great all the way up to hurdle eight and nine but for hurdle ten he broke his stride and felt that it cost him. Nonetheless, he added that he will go back to the drawing board.

#FIELD

#Women’s pole vault- Canada’s Anicka Newell(4.56m), USA’s Rachel Baxter (4.46m) and Sophie Gutermuth (4.41m)

#Women’s Triple Jump- USA’s Keturah Orji (14.02m), Milana Hearn (13.61m), and The Bahamas’ Tamara Myers (13.37m)

#Men’s High Jump- The Bahamas’ Donald Thomas (2.26m), India’s Tejaswin Shankar (2.21m), and Jamaica’s Lushane Wilson (2.21m)

#Fellow Grand Bahamian Thomas talked about how it felt to compete back at home. He said he wanted to Thank God for bringing him this far and felt that the competition was good and he was happy to be home competing and performing in front of his people.

#Men’s Long Jump- USA’s Isaac Grimes (7.75m), Damarcus Simpson (7.67m), and Dominica’s Tristan James (7.62m)

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/may/15/athletes-fast-track-nacac-invitational/?news

Diamond Basketball clinic keeps fond memories of Jonique alive

MISSING YOU: Coach Terrance ‘Red-Eye’ McSweeney and his Diamond Basketball development programme for girls hosted a basketball clinic in memory of the late Jonique ‘Mini’ Webb at the Charles W Saunders High School on Saturday. 
Photo: Moises Amisial/Tribune Staff

MISSING YOU: Coach Terrance ‘Red-Eye’ McSweeney and his Diamond Basketball development programme for girls hosted a basketball clinic in memory of the late Jonique ‘Mini’ Webb at the Charles W Saunders High School on Saturday. Photo: Moises Amisial/Tribune Staff

As of Tuesday, May 16, 2023

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#Coach Terrance McSweeney was pleased with the turnout he got on Saturday for his Diamond Basketball development programme’s memorial for the late Jonique ‘Mini’ Webb.

#Webb, who passed away on January 19, 2020, after her battle with lupus, was honoured three days after she would have celebrated her 31st birthday on May 10.

#A basketball clinic was held in her memory at the Charles W Saunders High School, Jean Street.

#“She was involved in our programme up until the time she graduated from Jordan Prince Williams in 2006,” said McSweeney of the girls’ development programme he started in 1995.

#“Jonique was a very versatile student-athlete, who was a high achiever as a student and was very versatile as an athlete. Other than the athleticism of an athlete, for me as a coach, I look at their academic ability and she was a high achiever with a 3.85 to a 4.0 student.”

#McSweeney said he was delighted to host the clinic on the basketball court at Charles W Saunders where Webb would have represented the JPW Falcons basketball and volleyball teams in the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) and for Golden Gates Native Baptist Church in the Baptist Sports Council. “This is only a fitting memorial for her from the Diamond Basketball development programme,” McSweeney said. “It was also good to see the number of young girls who came out and participated in the clinic.

#“We had primary schools from Charles W Saunders, Freedom Baptist Academy and Carlton E Francis as well as girls from both the public and private schools. So we give God all of the glory for what we experienced today.”

#Edward Dean, the administrative assistant at Charles W Saunders High School and mathematics teacher who also assists in the basketball teams for the Cougars, said it was good to be a part of the clinic.

#“We have an obligation to develop all of the sports, but we also want to make sure that more emphasis is being placed on the development of the girls’ programme,” Dean said.

#“We are really pleased with the players who came out. We saw a lot of talent that needed to be developed.”

#Dean congratulated McSweeney for taking the initiative to keep the memory of Webb alive through the clinic. He said it’s about time that more of the former female players, coaches and officials are recognised for the role they played in the growth and development of sports in the past.

#“It’s just a tremendous opportunity to get so many of these young ladies out on the basketball court,” Dean said. “Normally when you pass a basketball court, you see so many young men, but we have a basketball court full of young ladies who are eager to learn the game and improve on their skills.”

#One of those young ladies was Craignisha ‘Fingers’ McPhee, a 17-year-old 12th grader at the Anatol Rodgers High School who said she decided to come out to the clinic because she knows that McSweeney has the ability to help her improve her game.

#“I want to go to the WNBA and so sessions like this will really help me to improve on my game,” Dean said.

#“I realised that I have to stay flat-footed, pay attention, key my eyes up and let the ball come to the hand so you can control the pass to your team-mates.”

#And Gabrielle ‘Chocolate’ Russell, a 13-year-old eighth grader at Charles W Saunders, who stands at 5-feet, 10-inches, said she came out to practice so that she can play better next year than she did this year for the Cougars. “I was reminded to always look up and don’t get distracted. I also learned how to shoot better and to dribble the ball better,” Russell said.

#“I think if I can stay focused, learn when to shoot and pass the ball to my team-mates, I will be in a better position to become a better player.”

#McSweeney said he saw a lot of resemblance of Webb in some of the players at the clinic. He hopes to continue to make the event an annual one where he will incorporate some other aspects of the game like three-point shooting and free throws at the end of the clinic next year.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/may/16/diamond-basketball-clinic-keeps-fond-memories-joni/?news

Red-Line Athletics: ‘We are more than just a track club’

LENDING A HAND: Red-Line Athletics track club donated a $2,000 cheque and dry goods to the Great Commission Ministries in efforts to give back.

LENDING A HAND: Red-Line Athletics track club donated a $2,000 cheque and dry goods to the Great Commission Ministries in efforts to give back.

As of Monday, May 15, 2023

#By TENAJH SWEETING

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#THE Red-Line Athletics track club is not only home to talented student-athletes but also noble citizens.

#The track club made a $2,000 donation to Great Commission Ministries this past weekend in addition to dry goods to support their cause of feeding the less fortunate.

#The track club’s third consecutive year of giving back saw them surpass last year’s amount of $1,500, making it their largest donation to date.

#With Great Commission Ministries working around the clock to provide essentials such as food and shelter to those less fortunate, Red-Line coach Tito Moss talked about how it felt to help out for the third straight year.

#“It feels good to give back, particularly partnering with a worthy cause such as the Great Commission Ministries who are doing such a huge job to society by providing 500 hot meals per day so it is a joy for us to be able to partner with them to assist,” Moss said.

#The track club has consistently given back to the non-profit organisation since their first $1,000 donation and 500 pounds of dry food in 2021.

#Their donation amount has steadily increased each year with not only the head coach, but also their athletes on board with the initiative.

#“We need the kids to understand that no matter what background they come from, no matter how much needs they may have in their life, there are still persons in society that have greater needs than themselves,” the coach said.

#He added that the goal of the club is to not only build student athletes but also to create complete productive members of society who understand the value of giving back.Red-Line athletes donated a portion of their lunch monies during March and April and the club matched whatever total they amassed in efforts to support the Great Commission once again.

#Despite only existing four years now since their debut in the summer of 2018, the track club wants to continue to give back as they expand and experience more success in the future.

#The head coach emphasized that Red-Line Athletics is more than just a track club and will continue their support of Great Commission but will also look to find more ways to be active in the community as their success does not stop on the track and field. “As we mould these student athletes into young productive members of society, we will continue to challenge them mentally, physically and emotionally and we hope that when their time is done at Red-Line, they will see the value in giving back and reaching out and pulling another up,” Moss said.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/may/15/red-line-athletics-we-are-more-just-track-club/?news