As of Monday, June 5, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#THE ninth edition of the 2023 HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl will return to Bahamian soil on Saturday, December 16.

#The event is set to kick off at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium at 11am to commence the start of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Football bowl season.

#The event will be televised by ESPN and it will be the earliest kickoff start time in its nine-year history.

#Lea Miller-Tooley, executive director of the HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl, talked about her excitement surrounding December’s football extravaganza.

#“It’s an honour to be the very first game of bowl season,” she said.

#“It’s an action-packed time of year for college football, and the HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl delivers a unique atmosphere with two great teams enjoying a week in one of the most beautiful locations in the world,” she added.

#The bowl game will feature teams from the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and Conference USA (C-USA).

#The HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl is just one of 17 bowl games owned and operated by ESPN events.

#In last year’s game, for one of the longest running international bowl games in college football history, the University of Alabama (UAB) Blazers took down the Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks 24-20.

#The Blazers won after their Reynard Ellis responded with a defensive tackle on the Redhawks’ receiver Jalen Walker at the two-yard line, disrupting any late game offence as time winded down in the game.

#For the Blazers it was their second consecutive bowl game win as they previously took home the win of the 2021 Independence Bowl against Brigham Young University (BYU).

#Other previous bowl game winners include the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders who defeated the University of Toledo Rockets in 2021.

#The University of Buffalo bested the University of North Carolina 49ers in 2019.

#Additionally, the Florida International University (FIU) Panthers got the victory over the Toledo Rockets in 2018.

#The Redhawks won in 2017, Old Dominion claimed victory in 2016, Western Michigan got the win in 2015 and Western Kentucky in 2014.

#The HomeTown Lenders will once again serve as the title sponsor of the Bahamas Bowl for the second consecutive year after last week’s announcement.

CLASS A winners ‘New Legend’ celebrate their victory during the 54th annual Long Island Regatta closing ceremony in Salt Pond, Long Island, on Saturday.

As of Monday, June 5, 2023

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Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Philip Davis enjoys a dance and the camaraderie at the Long Island Regatta.

Governor General Sir Cornelius A Smith, far right, makes a trophy presentation to David Knowles, Skipper of ‘New Legend,’ winner of the Governor General’s Cup Race.

Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs Clay Sweeting gives remarks during the closing ceremony.

Photo Gallery

54th annual Long Island Regatta

SCENES of the 54th annual Long Island Regatta in Salt Pond, Long Island, on Saturday. Photos: Patrick Hanna/BIS

RESULTS

#CLASS A

#New Legend – 1st

#Ruff Justice – 2nd

#Ed Sky – 3rd

#CLASS B

#New Susan Chase – 1st

#Lady Sonia – 2nd

#Lonesome Dove – 3rd

#CLASS C

#Sassie Sue – 1st

#Bul Reg – 2nd

#Captain Lauren – 3rd

#THE 54th annual Long Island Regatta came to a close on Saturday in Salt Pond, Long Island, with the New Legend, New Susan Chase and Sassi Sue all emerging as the divisional winners.

#The New Legend carted off the top prize in Class A, followed by Ruff Justice and the Ed Sky in that order.

#The New Susan Chase was declared the winner of Class B with Lady Sonia second and the Lonesome Dove coming in third.

#And Sassie Sue was the champion in Class C. Bul Reg got second and Captain Lauren was third.

#Among the dignitaries on hand for the regatta were Governor General CA Smith and Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis.

#The regatta followed the successful hosting of the National Family Island Regatta in picturesque George Town, Exuma, last month when the Bahamas Government declared sailing as the national sport.

#Davis, in his 2023 budget communication, alluded to the fact that his government will provide the necessary funding to ensure that the sport takes its prominent place in the country.

#Sailing will be one of the sports contested during the return of the sixth Bahamas Games, one of the events to mark the country’s 50th Golden Jubilee Independence anniversary celebrations in July.

As of Thursday, June 1, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) is set to host the combined Age Group Trials and Kids Athletics Championships starting today at 5pm. The three-day meet will run from Thursday to Saturday at the original Thomas A Robinson stadium.

#The combined hosting of the events will feature the under 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 divisions.

#Athletes of the under 13 and 15 divisions will be vying to qualify for a spot on the eight-member age group team expected to compete at the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Championships in July.

#Mike Sands, president of the NACAC, talked about the importance of the kids’ athletics programme in The Bahamas. “Kids Athletics is the foundation to the success of any programme, when you build your foundation it also is designed to inspire the next generation of athletes to continue on,” Sands said.

#Sands added that NACAC lends its full support to the event as athletes look to qualify for the age group championships slated for July 15-16 in the Dominican Republic. “A lot of athletes in our area got their international debut through the age group championships.

#“The names that come to my mind are Debbie Ferguson, Kim Collins and Veronica Campbell, those are just a few names that started and were inspired from age group [championships] to continue on,” NACAC president said.

#For the NACAC age group qualifiers, two girls and boys will be selected from the under 13 and 15 divisions.

#Athletes of the under 13 division will compete in a pentathlon and the under 15 division will compete in seven events for the heptathlon.

#The under 13 girls will compete in the 60 metre race, high jump, long jump, ball throw and 800m.

#Meanwhile, the age group combined events for the under 13 boys will include the 60m, high jump, long jump, ball throw and 1000m.

#Additionally, the under 15 girls will compete in the 60m hurdles, 80m, high jump, long jump, ball throw, shot put, and 1000m.

#However, the boys will take on the 80m hurdles, 80m, high jump, long jump, ball throw, shot put and 1200m.

#The athletes will be given the opportunity to participate for their clubs, schools or unattached. With the competitors coming from the various track clubs in New Providence, Grand Bahama and other Family Islands, expectations are high for the level of competition on display at this weekend’s three-day meet.

#BAAA President Drumeco Archer talked about the anticipation surrounding the combined event.

#“It is always fun to see them and it amazes you when you see the quality of athletes. We seem to produce athletes in every sporting discipline at the highest level for such a small country,” Archer said.

#He said that the association acknowledges that there are not enough meets at the age group level so they wanted to create a championship event for them to be given the focus.

#He added that parents come to track meets to watch their kids perform, therefore, he believes this is the one opportunity where you will have the full engagement of the track community.

#“These group championships is an important event for us, it is a showcase for one of the BAAAs assets of the federation. We hope to grow this area of our sport,” Archer said.

#The age group trials will take place today at 5pm and on Friday starting at 12:30pm.

#For persons interested in watching the under 7 through 15 athletes compete and qualify for the age group championships, the entry fee is $15.

As of Thursday, June 1, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#CENTREVILLE Primary School students have made great strides since partaking in The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s (BLTA) Play Tennis programme for the spring session.

#The group of kids have been spending their Saturday mornings at the National Tennis Centre (NTC) courtesy of their very own physical education teacher, Sherline Moss.

#The primary school students have been training at the tennis facility since early May and have steadily improved their basic tennis skills.

#Although the school is no stranger to the sport as their debut to the programme was in 2017, the physical education teacher talked about how the BLTA got the primary school back on board this time around.

#“This would actually be the second time that Centreville Primary has been involved in an initiative like this.

#“Our first time would have been in 2017 where impact tennis came onto campus and conducted a course for eight weeks during my PE classes,” she said.

#Moss added that when Michelle Armbrister reached out to her and the school’s principal as a means to sponsor the students to the Play Tennis programme, she saw it as an opportunity for them to rekindle the flame and get the kids acclimated to another sport outside of the school’s curriculum.

#The goal of the BLTA is to expose tennis to those who normally do not have access to the sport, to teach them the basic fundamentals, and to spark and develop their interest in a fun, educational way.

#After a month on the tennis courts at the NTC, Moss has noticed some impressive improvements by the students of her school as a result of BLTA’s community programme.

#“They are becoming more comfortable with the movements of the game, are better able to manipulate the tennis racquet.

#“So I am happy about that and they have been more and more excited week after week about having to come out and get some practice in,” the teacher said.

#Her final message to all local physical education teachers was to give it a try, particularly for the primary school students, and to take advantage if the opportunity presents itself to get them exposed to sports other than basketball and volleyball as persons are willing to invest in the children.

#Perry Newton, president of the BLTA, reminded the public that the association does not only offer a youth Play Tennis community programme but there are sessions for adults as well.

#“Our overall introductory programme for beginners is our Play Tennis programme that initially catered to ages 5-18 but we have since added an adult portion which allows parents to take advantage, while their kids are being taught tennis, they can learn how to play the sport as well,” Newton said.

#The president said the main focus of BLTA is to make tennis a family sport so that parents, kids and other relatives can play against each other to have a family-oriented activity.

#The introductory cost for adults is $7 and classes are held on Saturday mornings at 9am.

Ras Jesse Delancy added another feather to his cap when he was selected last week as the 2023 Division II National Player of the Year. The Division II National Player of the Year is awarded to the nation’s best player on a NCAA Division II men’s volleyball team during the regular season.

As of Wednesday, May 31, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#Ras Jesse Delancy, in completing his sophomore year at Benedict College, added another feather to his cap when he was selected last week as the 2023 Division II National Player of the Year.

#The Division II National Player of the Year is awarded to the nation’s best player on a NCAA Division II men’s volleyball team during the regular season.

#While Division I and Division II schools compete for the same national championship and individual awards, this award is the only national player of the year solely for Division II players.

#“This was like the icing on the cake,” said Delancy about his latest achievement. “This gave me a different feeling because this wasn’t based on my conference, but it was on all division II schools, so I had a wide range of competition. It was a little different.”

#A voting committee of about 30 men’s volleyball coaches and volleyball media members from around the nation determined the winner of the Division II National Player of the Year.

#The top three vote-getters were named finalists for the national honour.

#Delancy, who played with several Bahamians including Donovan Wilmott, Clint Forbes, Terran Walkin and Zion Beckford, received 30 votes to edge out the runner-up Concordia opposite Uriel Batista by nine votes. Daemen outside attacker Zach Schneider finished in third place with 17 votes.

#“When I found out I was a finalist against two other players, my confidence just rose to another level. I just felt that I had it,” Delancy said. “Then it came out and I was actually the winner. It just confirmed how I felt before the announcement was made.”

#This is the seventh year that Off the Block has presented the Division II National Player of the Year.

#Off the Block is a national award winning website that launched in 2011 and is the nation’s leader in college men’s volleyball coverage.

#Delancy had a nation-best 5.38 kills per game average and had seven matches with at least 20 kills, including three matches with more than 30 kills. Among those top offensive performances from Delancy featured a season-high 36 kills in a conference victory against Fort Valley State.

#The sophomore also had a career-best .318 attack percentage and was third in the conference averaging 0.33 aces per game to help Benedict reach the SIAC Tournament semifinals.

#“I still think I underperformed,” he said. “I know there are some aspects of my game that I need to improve upon. If I strengthen these, I know I would be a much better player. But that’s what I am working on the most right now.

#“I’m not really worried about the attacking aspect. It’s more the skills, like my service3 receiving, my blocking and my service. Once I get that down pact to a more consistent level, I know I would be unstoppable.”

#Now home from school as he prepares to work out with the local players for the sixth Bahamas Games and the CVC Volleyball Tournament, Delancy said he’s looking forward to transferring to the University of Charleston in West Virginia in August where he hopes to improve on his game.

#“I can’t play division one because you have five years to be eligible and I wasn’t aware of that rule,” said Delancy, who just surpassed that clause even though he’s only played volleyball for the past two years.

#“Charleston is a good fit for me because we will still get to play division one schools, including the University of California- San Diego, who reached out to me. So I will still get some division one exposure.”

#At Charleston, Delancy said he hoped to carry the same intensity level and to help them win the NCAA Division II title.

#“For the first time this year, Charleston was ranked nationally as one of the top 15 schools for division one and two,” Delancy pointed out. “So they have an amazing coach and a great programme, so I know once I get there and I put in the same effort and work on the things thatI need to work on, I can get to where I want to go.”

#Deancy, 23, even predicted that Charleston could be one of the most feared schools next year and he intends to make his presence felt just as he did at Benedict College.

#He is the son of Felicity Ingraham-Darville and Eugene ‘Paco’ Delancy. His elder brother is Ras Elijah, a golfer who has played on the national team. His other siblings are Malia, Emmanuel, Victory and Victorious and they are considered to be his biggest fans, along with his grandparents golfer Agatha and Eugene Delancy Sr and Agatha Watson and Allan Ingraham, Bahamas Hall of Fame footballer, rugby and basketball player for the Beck’s Cougars.

As of Wednesday, May 31, 2023

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CHERISH WALKER

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#CHERISH Walker is not your ordinary student-athlete.

#This 16-year-old phenom has been a versatile athlete for the Knights and a high academic achiever in the classroom at CR Walker Secondary High.

#She brought a lot of that tenacity from her humble beginnings at Oakes Field Primary and with the SC McPherson Junior High School where she starred for the Sharks.

#“I started dancing when I came out of the womb, and I was born on the track,” said Walker in trying to describe how she got involved in some of her favourite sporting activities, although she lists her hobbies as singing, dancing, swimming and reading.

#“I started competitive track and field at the age of four or five, the same as dancing.”

#With a 3.9 grade point average, Walker plans to take her talents to the University of Missouri St Louis in August where she hopes to major in data science.

#While her focus is on academics, Walker said she plans to pursue her athletic career as well in whatever sport she can become part of. She considers gymnastics her favourite sport where she is a member of the Paradise Gymnastics Academy.

#Although a late bloomer in the sport in 2019, she moved up the ranks from level one without any experience. Her biggest accomplishment came at the Atlantis Crown Invitational where she got the All-Around gold and finished first in every event. Three months later, she competed in her first international tournament where she got first all-around and captured gold in all of her events.

#A couple months later, she was elevated to level six where she secured a third place all-around. She also was placed in the America’s top 100 gymnasts where she was pegged at number 30.

#“I feel very proud of myself since I didn’t have as much training as the other gymnasts did and I was still able to excel and achieve all that I have,” Walker said. “I felt like I took a big step and I succeeded.”

#As for track and field, Walker held her own in just about every event she competed in as a member of the Ambassadors Track Club, headed by coach Fritz Grant.

#“I feel accomplished in that as well because even though it wasn’t my first love, I still took the time out to run because it was fun, and I love to do it and I felt I did good in that aspect as well.”

#Additionally, she is a very competitive swimmer, but she also runs track from the 100 to the 800 metres as well as swims and plays soccer. Her latest feat came last week when she played with her Knights team-mates as they won the Bahamas Football Association’ senior girls title at the National High School Championships.

#She credits a lot of her success to her mother, Cherrise Walker, whom she admits pushes her to the limit. Her sister, Vanaillan Walker, has been a big inspiration as a former athlete and a math wizard.

#Cherry Walker, who serves as an official in the Bahamas Association of Certified Officials, said it was roller coaster ride moving from one sporting event to so much social and Church activities that she was more exhausted than her daughter, but she admitted that her efforts were not in vain.

#“She had me going on the road and on the road from the Bahamas National All-Stars to dance, so whenever something comes up, and now she wants to get into junkanoo, so it’s something that I have to be there and support her,” Cherry Walker said.

#“With the accolades she has achieved, I just want to ensure that she obtains the best for her life. She adapts to everything and every situation she finds herself in as she goes after what it is she wants to achieve.”

#Vanalllan Walker, a former track star, who also played soccer, golf and softball, is now a teacher at the Patrick J Bethell High School in Abaco. Cherrise Walker said she’s proud of both of her daughters as she constantly stressed to them both to “impact and empower” the people around them.

#“I just thank God for having kids like them,” she said. “UI can see how God is moving through them. We hear about how parents talk about their children being rebellious. I try to instill in them to please God and everything else will fall into place for them.”

#During her ninth grade, Cherish Walker said she remembered how her mother took her and her sister to New York where they met Mother Delores from Africa at the United Nations. Also, during that visit, Walker said she made a presentation on while Colombia should choose a woman as their president.

#As a government high school student-athlete, Walker said she can make the case that people should not judge them because of whether they go to a private or public school but look at them at their achievements.

#As the deputy head girl at CR Walker, Walker said she doesn’t feel any peer pressure to do what she has done.

#“It isn’t any pressure. Once you have your mind set on what you want to accomplish, nobody can take that away from you,”: she pointed out. “I know that all these worldly things that are lined up with what I want for my future, I just have to distance myself away from them and focus on what I have to do.”

#As she prepares to leave for college, Cherry Walker said she will miss Cherish just as she did with Vallanillan, who is ten years older. But she is confident that she has instilled in her the will of God and is pleased to know that she is heading in the right direction.

#“I know I’m going to miss being home,” Cherish Walker said. “But I am looking forward to what is ahead of me.”

As of Wednesday, May 31, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#VERSATILE Denisha Cartwright capped off another fantastic year at Minnesota State by adding another NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships title and a pair of five finishes to her résumé over the weekend.

#“I felt pretty great going into each event. I felt that all my hard work this season paid off and just trusting the programme and my coach,” said Cartwright after her performances.

#“It was what I expected. I just wanted to come into this championship and do my best and put it all on the line.”

#Cartwrigjt won the women’s 100 metre hurdles in 12.94, well ahead of her nearest rival Kiara Smith, a junior at Missouri Southern, who did 13.13.

#Cartwright, however, had to settle for second in the 200m in 23.10 as Duvonne Franklin, a senior at California, was the winner in 22.77. And in the 100m, Cartwright placed fourth in 11.13. The race was won by Franklin in 11.09.

#“They were all personal best performances.

#“I enjoyed them all honestly but my favourite is hurdles, what’s next is to rest up and get ready for this summer,” Cartwright said.

#Cartwright, who represented the Bahamas at the C0mmonwealth Games last year, is expected to come home to compete in the Bahamas Association of Athletics Associations’ Nationals in a bid to qualify for the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, August 19-27.

#The 23-year-old former volleyball player is also eager to compete in the Bahamas Games, scheduled for July 6-14.

As of Monday, June 5, 2023

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Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis delivers the Budget communication in the House of Assembly. Photo: Moise Amisial

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#LOOK for the construction of a new 50-metre pool in Grand Bahama and the development of various facilities throughout the Family Islands during this fiscal year of the Progressive Liberal Party’s tenure in office.

#The promises were made by Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis during the Budget 2023 report to Parliament last week in the House of Assembly. It’s expected that the government will allocate more than $20 million for the three-headed ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.

#During his address, Davis, the Minister of Finance, said as a part of our commitment to investing in young people, sports and the arts, his government has also budgeted to host the CARIFTA Triathlon Championships in August, the CARIFTA Swimming Championship in 2024 and the return of the World Relays in 2024.

#“The hosting of these sporting events plays a crucial role in our ‘Sports in Paradise’ initiative, as it not only celebrates athleticism but also creates a platform for aspiring Bahamian athletes to shine,” Davis said.

#“This in turn can lead to a plethora of opportunities and avenues for their future success.”

#As for the construction of the new pool in Grand Bahama, Davis said because of his long association with swimming, it will come as no surprise that he’s very excited that we have made provision in this budget to construct a 50-metre pool in Grand Bahama.

#And the Member of Parliament for Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador made it quite clear of his desire to see the development of the sporting facilities in the Family Islands.

#“The facility in Cat Island is already near completion and serves as a benchmark for other facilities throughout The Bahamas,” he stated.

#Just last month at the National Family Island Regatta in George Town, Exuma, the Bahamas Government announced that while they proclaimed sailing as the national support, Davis assured the sailors that his government has set aside funding in this budget to develop it.

#In the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, Davis said they appreciate that numerous civic and non-governmental organizations are facing persistent challenges in resuming their usual operations.

#But he charged that this budget contains increased allocations for independent schools and children’s homes to be able to function in the manner that they should prior to the pandemic.

#“This, combined with the increase in social services benefits which was a feature of last year’s budget, demonstrates this administration’s commitment to assisting the most vulnerable among us,” he summed up.

#Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg is expected to elaborate a little more on the allocations for sports when the debate on the budget takes place in the House of Assembly.

ANTHONIQUE STRACHAN

As of Monday, June 5, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#Anthonique Strachan continues to display her consistent level of success in leading a field of Bahamians competing on Saturday at the Racers Grand Prix in Kingston, Jamaica.

#In the marquee women’s 100 metre event in the National Stadium, Strachan sped to her season’s best of 10.99 seconds as she chased Jamaican MVP Club training partner Shericka Jackson, the winner of the race in a meet record time of 10.78.

#“I honestly feel no way about it. I’ve been training and working on fixing certain things,” Sttachan said. “I didn’t get a good start in the race, but I still didn’t panic. I went through the phases and got the season’s best.”

#For the second straight year as she continues her training in Jamaica, Strachan has ran under the 11-second barrier in the 100. She joined the elite field of five Bahamians to do so when she clocked her lifetime best of 10.98 last year.

#“I’m content because it wasn’t the best execution on my part,” said Strachan, who leads all Bahamian females in the sprints so far this year. “Execution wise, I am just content with finishing because I am not expecting anything time wise.”

#Her performance comes on the heels of her scantilizing personal best of 22.15 in her specialty in the 200m at the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah on May 28 where she again played second fiddle to Jackson, the winner in 21.98. “I’m not sure what’s next,” Strachan said. “I’m definitely training and trying to figure out what I can do to stay consistent,” she said. “I’m hoping to have another meet before I come home (in July).”

#Abaco native Steven Gardiner, back in fine form from an injured 2022 season, won the men’s 400m in an impressive time of 44.70, well ahead of America’s Vernon Norwood’s second place finish in 45.11.

#A week earlier, Gardiner clocked his season’s best of 44.42 for his win in Bermuda.

#The reigning Olympic Games champion has a lifetime best and national record of 43.48 that won him the World Championship title in 2019 in Doha, Qatar.

#Back in Jamaica on Saturday, Commonwealth Games champion LaQuan Nairn sliced through the sand pit with a fourth place performance in the long jump of 25-feet, 1 3/4-inches or 7.66 metres. Jamaican Tajay Gayle topped the international field of competitors with his best leap of 26-3 3.4 (8.02m).

#Grand Bahamian Donald Thomas produced a clearance of 6-8 3/4 (2.05m) that pegged him at number four on the final stat sheet. Lushane Wilson of GC Foster College soared 7-2 1/2 (2.20m) to out-duel two other Jamiacans behind him.

#Promising quarter-miler Wendell Miller, also training out of the MVP Club, had to settle for sixth place in the B final of the men’s 400m in his SB’s best of 46.86 just behind Dennick Luke in 46.54.

#Jamaica swept the top four spots led by Ravers’ Antonio Watson in a lifetime best of 44.75. South Africa’s world record holder Wayde van Niekerk showed that he’s progressing back to his tip-top shape since an injury that kept him out the spotlight after his glaring performance won the men’s final race in a meet record time of 44.21.

#GC Foster College’s Zandrion Branes was the only other competitor to dip under 45 seconds as he followed van Niekerk in his personal best of 44.90 to lead the rest of the field that featured Jamaicans and Americans.

#All of these athletes are gearing up for the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, August 19-27, but they will first have to come home and compete in the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ National Championships in July.

 Home|Sports|Nine Bahamians qualify for NCAA ChampionshipsSports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailMay 30, 2023 389 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

A total of nine Bahamians will represent their respective schools at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, set for June 7-10 at the Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.

Coming out of the east regionals in Jacksonville, Florida, six Bahamians qualified and the remainder qualified out of the west.

Leading the way among the Bahamians in the east was Charisma Taylor, a senior out of Tennessee, who qualified in three individual events and was also a member of their 4×100 meters (m) relay team which also qualified. She had her best performance in the triple jump, leaping 13.95m (45’ 9-1/4”) to win the gold at the east regionals on Saturday. It was just off her personal best of 13.99m (45’ 10-3/4”), which was done at the Southeastern (SEC) Outdoor Track and Field Championships two weeks ago, and more than 17 inches ahead of second-place finisher Titiana Marsh, of Georgia.

In between her series of jumps, Taylor competed in the women’s 100m hurdles quarterfinals and qualified out of the east regionals with the fifth fastest time. She ran a wind-aided 12.80 seconds, finishing third in her heat and fifth overall. In the preliminaries on Thursday, Taylor clocked a wind-aided 13.12 seconds.

Graduate student Taylor qualified 11th overall in the women’s long jump on Thursday, leaping 6.23m (20’ 5-1/4”). On Saturday, she ran the third leg of the Tennessee Volunteers’ women’s 4x100m relay team. They were fourth in their heat and qualified 10th overall in 44.24 seconds.

Taylor’s teammate at Tennessee, Javonya Valcourt, qualified fifth overall in the women’s 400m, running 52.31 seconds. Valcourt, just a freshman, was fourth in her heat and fifth overall. She ran 52.66 seconds in the heats on Thursday. Valcourt was also a member of the Volunteers’ women’s 4x400m relay team, and helped them qualify for the NCAA Championships. She ran the leadoff leg for the Volunteers, and they qualified fifth overall in 3:32.08. They were second in their heat and fifth overall.

Anthaya Charlton, a redshirt freshman at Kentucky, was also a double qualifier, making the mark in the women’s 100m and as a member of the Kentucky Wildcats’ women’s 4x100m relay team. In the 100m, Charlton was second in her heat and sixth overall, in a wind-aided 11.08 seconds. She ran a wind-aided 11.10 seconds in the heats.

Charlton came back in the relay and helped her team post the top qualifying time of 42.99 seconds. Charlton ran the second leg.

Megan Moss, a junior, also competed for the Wildcats and helped their women’s 4x400m relay team qualify for the NCAA Championships. She ran the second leg for the Wildcats and they completed the 1600m relay in 3:32.88 – third in their heat and seventh overall.

Moss failed to qualify in the open 400m, finishing 32nd overall in 53.87 seconds.

Ohio State junior Shaun Miller leapt 2.14m (7’ 0-1/4”) in the men’s high jump to qualify for the NCAA Championships. He matched the top qualifying jump, and nine athletes cleared that height. Miller finished second overall, based on number of knockdowns.

In the men’s 4x100m relay, Clemson Tigers’ freshman Wanya McCoy ran the anchor leg for his team and helped them qualify for the NCAA Championships fifth overall out of the east. They were second in their heat and fifth overall in 39.36 seconds. McCoy also ran the open 100m and finished tied for 12th overall in a wind-aided 10.07 seconds. He was seventh in his heat and tied for 12th overall, failing to qualify for the NCAA Championships in that event. Just the top three finishers in each heat and the next three fastest times moved on to the NCAA Championships.

McCoy ran 10.10 seconds in the heats.

Out of the west regionals at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento, California, Terrence Jones proved that he will certainly be a force to reckon with at the NCAA Championships. The Texas Tech junior was just outleaned at the tape, finishing in 9.93 seconds in the men’s 100m. He finished second overall, losing out on the top spot by one one hundredth of a second. Jones ran 10.25 seconds in the heats.

Jones came back in the men’s 4x100m relay and helped his team qualify second out of their heat and sixth overall in 39.16 seconds. He ran the anchor leg for his team.

Jones’ teammate at Texas Tech, Antoine Andrews, a freshman, qualified for the NCAA Championships by running 13.74 seconds in the men’s 110m hurdles. He was third in his heat and 14th overall. The top three finishers in each heat and the next three fastest times qualified for the NCAA Championships.

Andrews also ran 13.74 seconds in the heats.

Over in the women’s javelin, Rhema Otabor, a junior at Nebraska, qualified 12th overall with a throw of 52.10m (170’ 11”).

As mentioned, the NCAA Championships is set for June 7-10 in Austin, Texas. This will be the eighth time that the NCAA Outdoor Championships have been held in Texas, and the first time since 2019.