Three-day event comes to nation for the first time

MEMBERS of Speed Capital, The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) and the National Sports Authority (NSA) gathered at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium for the announcement of the inaugural Speed Capital International Championships this upcoming weekend.

As of Thursday, June 15, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#Speed Capital is bringing its international championships to The Bahamas for the first time. The three-day event is set to take place starting at 6pm on Friday and will continue until Sunday, June 19 at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium.

#The championships will host 600 athletes from eight different countries including The Bahamas. Athletes will commute here from Grenada, Aruba, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Canada, United States of America, and Barbados. Competitors will range from ages 5-18 at this weekend’s inaugural meet.

#Luke Robinson, chief executive officer of Speed Capital, talked about why The Bahamas was chosen at the destination for the International Championships.

#“For us it was reciprocal. The Bahamian cohort of athletes that has been actively coming to our events in Florida has surpassed roughly about 300, so when we were looking at creating an international event, naturally it was home for us to come back to The Bahamas and show the same level of support that they have shown us in the States,” Robinson said.

#He added that he also wanted to introduce an experience to The Bahamas that is second to none in terms of the technology that they plan to use at this weekend’s three-day international championships.

#With 600 athletes prepared to compete and 225 of them coming from the USA, it was imperative for Speed Capital to introduce technology that makes the track meet go quicker and more efficiently.

#Derrick Greene, director of operations for Speed Capital, talked about the technology that will be utilised June 16-18 to eliminate the hold ups at the track meet.

#“We have scanners, computers, we have technology. So what we did was take that out of the hands of the people and put it in the hands of our technology,” Greene said.

#The scanners will allow for multiple athletes to be checked into their respective races and events in a shorter time frame.

#“I can scan 20 girls for a 400 metre event in 51 seconds I can check them in have them lined up in their heats in 51 seconds [and] that’s great,” he said.

#Greene said the technology works alongside the timers, not against it, therefore, if a meet is too far ahead of schedule they can slow it down or if a meet is running behind schedule, there are technological measures that can ensure that the event gets back on track or ahead of it.

#“I can scan a person or heat and if somebody is missing or the heat is low I will be able to change the heat immediately – hit a button, upload it to the timer, the timer sees the heat change [and] lane change automatically in the system [and] within a couple seconds that’s going down the track,” he said.

#The meet will also see the introduction of a real-time check in system which allows coaches to see the status of athletes as it changes in terms of them being checked in for races in a timely fashion.

#Robinson added that these technological advancements have allowed them to wrap up meets with more than 1,000 plus participants by 3pm.

#The inaugural meet is supported by The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) and National Sports Authority (NSA).

#Moses Johnson, general manager of the National Sports Authority (NSA), said he does not believe the Speed Capital International Championships will be a one-time event.

#“We look for a multi-year partnership that we can bring these type of activities to the shore of paradise as we partner with the NSA and BAAAs for this event – especially for kids 5-15, that’s where you find the next Stevie Gardiners and Shaunae Miller-Uibos,” Johnson said.

#Robinson said Speed Capital is 100% committed to multi-year events in The Bahamas and it is not a one and done.

#“The natural matriculation process is going to take place year after year we will get bigger and we will get better and continue to improve . . . the best thing we can hope to look for is healthy participation, the kids having a great time and from there we can continue our partnership with NSA and the BAAAs,” the CEO added.

#The various local and international athletes will compete in all events except the pole vault this weekend.

#Interested individuals can pay a fee of $20 per day for adults – children five and below are free. The event starts at 6pm tomorrow, 9.30am on Saturday, and noon on Sunday.

As of Thursday, June 15, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#Four Seasons Race Management will host their second seasonal fun/run walk this Saturday at Goodman’s Bay Beach. The event is under a theme that will allow persons to participate in bikini tops or bareback which is optional. The fitness event will get underway at 6am and the first place male and female finisher will receive a cash prize of $100.

#The fun run/walk will be open to all demographics including pets and is geared towards having a collective fun time on the beach.

#Marcel “Bop” Major, owner of four seasons race management, talked about the purpose of these types of events.

#“Events like these are very important because people are becoming more health conscious and if you are healthy you tend to have a better quality of life, you are able to sleep better, think better, and perform better…so it makes you a more well rounded person when you decide you want to do some form of exercise,” Major said.

#He added that the event is going to be very exciting for families, children, and pets.

#There are two routes for the event – Route A and Route B. The first route allows participants to start east by the parking lot on the sand and complete one mile heading west on the sand at Goodman’s Bay. Route A will be a total of two miles going east to west and back. Meanwhile, Route B is the completion of Route A twice which is four miles.

#The event will not only have a racing component but competitors can partake in extracurricular activities as well. Beach activities will include beach volleyball, frisbee throwing, a best beach body and best abs contest.

#The BikiniTop and Bareback Beach Fun/Run Walk participants will also lend a hand to a worthy cause.

#All proceeds from the event will go to Erin Brown for Disability Advocacy & Inclusion Management.

#“Every race that we stage we have a charitable component and part of the proceeds goes to charity. We identified Erin Brown because she is an athlete and is doing some great work in the community so we searched around for a suitable person…she’s a great person and her advocacy deserves and requires some help and we are happy to assist,” Major said.

#Although event organisers have up to 120 persons registered, they are encouraging more people to sign up for Saturday. The cost of registration is $20 per person and it will come with a “swag” bag. Interested individuals can sign up at www.fourseasonsracemanagement.com or call 804-8595.

#However, if none of those avenues are suitable they will be hosting a packet pickup from 12 noon to 7.30pm on the eastern side of the field on Goodman’s Bay Beach this Friday. Persons can bring cash or card to sign up in-person. The last-minute option to register will allow participants to sign up from 5am before the race on Saturday if necessary.

#The event is sponsored by Bahamas Brewery, Global Insurance Agency Ltd, Thompson Trading Co Ltd, and Bahamas Wholesale Agencies. Event organisers are encouraging more local companies to sponsor before or after the event by visiting the website or contacting the number directly.

As of Thursday, June 15, 2023

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Ezthia Maycock

Clinton Laguerre

Alexis Brown Jr

Johnathon Fowler

#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#The Red-Line Athletics track club saw a few of their star athletes cross the stage at the St Augustine’s College graduation ceremony yesterday. The newest members of the class of 2023 celebrated their milestone in front of family, friends, and guardians at the Atlantis Imperial Ballroom. The Red-line Athletes included Alexis Brown Jr, Clinton Laguerre, Tumani Skinner, Johnathon Fowler, Ezthia Maycock, Jadyn Demeritte, and D’Angelo Collie. The athletes are preparing for the next step as they venture into early adulthood.

#Tito Moss, head coach of Red-Line Athletics, talked about how proud he was of the class of 2023 athletes.

#“I am really ecstatic and I am really proud of them,” Moss said. “What we are working on at Red-Line is to get as many of them as possible off to school. We have about 9 or 10 of them graduating and so far have gotten six of them sorted for college, so for us it’s good that they are finishing at this level and getting ready to matriculate to another level.”

#One of the many athletes that will be studying abroad is Johnathon Fowler. The young athlete has had quite the year on and off the track. On the track, Fowler was one of the four members on the under 20 4x400m relay team that set a new Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) record earlier this year. Also, he competed at CARIFTA for the first time as part of the historic 80-member Team Bahamas. Recently, Fowler competed with his fellow clubmates at the 2023 Penn Relays in Philadelphia. However, the sprint athlete’s prowess did not only exist on the track as he graduated with honours (cumulative average 3.00 to 3.49).

#Ezthia Maycock embodied the definition of a student athlete. She graduated with honours alongside Fowler and D’Angelo Collie, who also collected the award for Physics. Additionally, she won the 2023 academic award for religion. In sports, Maycock was a member of Team Bahamas and also competed at the Penn Relays for SAC’s 4x400m team.

#She talked about how it felt to balance being both an astute student and focused athlete.

#“I have learned to divide my time between school and practice,” she said. “Sometimes it could be stressful but I always had to remember my goals that I am working towards and to never give up.”

#Ultimately, Maycock said it felt amazing to graduate and was glad that her journey was successful. She thanked the track club for allowing her to experience things she never had before and said she hopes to apply everything she learned at her school in life and college.

#Tumani Skinner is known for his impressive stints at the 34th BAISS track and field championships and in the crowd-pleasing under 20 4x400m mixed relay at the 50th CARIFTA games. Skinner also participated in this year’s Penn Relays.

#After participating as a Redline athlete for four years, he talked about the happiness surrounding his newest accomplishment and time at the track club.

#“It feels great and I feel [a] huge relief of having finished my high school journey … Redline has molded me into a stellar athlete and allowed me to achieve things [that] I didn’t know were possible. It has taught me discipline and social skills,” he said.

#He started off running the 100-metre and 200m races. However, as time progressed he added the 400m race to his arsenal and has broken records in that event and in the 4x100m relays. As he embarks on his new journey, the athlete will pursue a degree in environmental science while working hard to become a professional division one athlete. Skinner said that he is grateful to be a part of great institutions such as SAC and Redline and one day he will pass on the experience and knowledge that was given to him.

#Similar to Fowler and Skinner, Clinton Laguerre is ready for the next step in his life journey. The SAC student contributed to breaking the under 4x100m BAISS record. Additionally, Laguerre represented SAC along with his teammates and schoolmates at the 2023 Penn Relays. He was also selected as a member of Team Bahamas once again.

#Laguerre reminisced on his previous graduations leading up to the big one.

#“I am very excited that I am walking out of the doors of high school I remember when I was walking on stage at my preschool graduation and here I am today walking on a bigger stage,” he said.

#He added that although he is a Red-Line Athlete he is still grateful for his start with Star Trackers in the ninth grade upon his arrival from Abaco. Nonetheless, after joining Red-Line he felt very welcome and offered a special thanks to the coaching staff who encouraged and supported him every step of the way. Laguerre is now in pursuit of his studies in computer technology and information systems and will look to obtain his goal of being the first to acquire a degree in his family. He has not made a final decision on a college yet but is in correspondence with multiple coaches and universities.

#Alexis Brown Jr joined Red-Line Athletics last year as a 400m and 800m distance runner. The 17-year-old represented the track club as one of 20 members at the Texas Tech High School in January. He talked about how it felt to finally be done with high school.

#“I feel phenomenal, this has been on my mind since grade ten and to finally do it is unbelievable,” Brown said.

#Although Brown has not made a decision on a college as yet, he said Redline Athletics has been keeping him on the right track and always stressed the importance of school for a track athlete, which made him want to be a better version of himself. Therefore, he thanked SAC and the track club for guiding him through his high school life.

#“I know I want to major in computer science [and] I want to continue to strive to be the best version of myself whether on the track or off, my goal is to be the best Alexis I can be,” he said.

#Coach Moss expects his athletes to now celebrate their newfound successes and believes some of them have a real chance to make it to the professional level. His last word of advice to them was continue to work hard, perfect their craft, and remain disciplined as the responsibility now belongs to them.

 Home|Sports|Bahamas Games set to unite people through sports and cultureSports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailJune 15, 2023 45 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

With just under three weeks remaining to the start of the sixth edition of the Bahamas Games, here is an outlook on how significant sports is to the nation.

With thousands of young athletes leaving high school annually to transition into college, sports has become one of the major avenues that allows many young Bahamians to get a tertiary education, where they may not qualify financially.

For a small island developing nation like The Bahamas, there is a lead on the world stage and at the Olympic level, coming first per capita with the number of gold medals won. There are eight gold medals in the history of The Bahamas at the Olympics. For a nation with a population of less than 500,000, this is an outstanding feat that Bahamians should certainly be proud of.

Bahamians have left a significant impression in professional sports, with Bahamians performing at the world and Olympic levels in numerous sporting disciplines, including basketball, baseball, track and field, swimming, boxing and sailing, to name a few.

Although competitive, events like Junkanoo have always galvanized the Bahamian people and helped them see the best in one another as they cheer on their fellow Bahamian athletes.

The Bahamas Games, first established in 1989 under the then sports minister Peter J. Bethell, was designed to evolve and revolutionize this spirit of national unity through sports while finding the most gifted athletic treasures and bringing them to center stage.

The succession planning for the games to run every two to three years was engineered to allow young Bahamians to develop their athletic prowess, allow the nation to invest in their development and allow each individual to change their economic status by acquiring an education, even if they did not go into the professional ranks.

The vision of the Bahamas Games was founded by those with a forward-looking mentality of how we as a people could move the nation ‘forward, upward, onward and together’ while investing in future leaders and nation builders and providing them with the support and resources needed to develop as a people while leaving a positive indelible impression on the world.

The games incorporate various sporting disciplines, enabling athletes from throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to not just participate but have an opportunity to develop new relationships and friendships with teammates or competitors they may not have known or interacted with previously for any number of reasons.

Each island in The Bahamas possesses its own unique brand and style that adds to the national whole. Yet sports, regardless of difference, provides an opportunity for national patriotism and understanding.

The upcoming Golden Jubilee Bahamas Games will be held from July 7-15. The opening ceremony will be held on Saturday, July 8, leading into the nation’s 50th Golden Jubilee Independence Celebrations.

This edition of the Bahamas Games will 

incorporate 14 disciplines with various venues with 10 islands or island groupings preparing to put on a spectacular show.

The secretariat will soon announce tickets and merchandise availability, and the public is encouraged to support the Bahamas Games, which is unique to Bahamians as a people and The Bahamas as a nation.

The excitement for this upcoming games is building, and everyone can participate and learn more about the games by going to the Golden Jubilee Bahamas Games website, thebahamasgames.org or visiting their social media handles for Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @thebahamagames or TikTok and YouTube @thebahamasgames.

Every Tuesday, and this Thursday, June 15, at 6 p.m., the public is encouraged to tune into the Hype Tuesday show streamed live on the Bahamas Games Facebook and YouTube channels to say who they feel will win the upcoming games and which team they support.

For more information on how to participate in the Bahamas Games or general information on the event, the public is asked to please call (242) 322-1029/69 or send an e-mail to the address info@thebahamasgames.org or bahamasgamessecretariat@gmail.com.

 Home|Sports|Strachan to run in Oslo todaySports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailJune 15, 2023 69 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Bahamian female sprinter Anthonique Strachan is hoping to continue what has been a fantastic season for her, running in the Wanda Diamond League Meet in Oslo, Norway, today.

Strachan, who at 29 is having the best season of her life, will be the only Bahamian in action at the Bislett Stadium in the Norwegian capital today. The meet will get underway at 5:30 p.m. local time, 11:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) here in The Bahamas.

Strachan will line up in the women’s 100 meters (m) at 3:30 p.m. today. She will run out of lane two.

It’s a loaded field as five of the eight women have run under 11 seconds this year.

Headlining the field is world silver medalist and Olympic bronze medalist Shericka Jackson, of Jamaica. She will run out of lane five. Former world championships silver medalist and Diamond League winner Dina Asher-Smith, of Great Britain, will run out of lane four, and two-time world championships medalist Marie-Josée Ta Lou, of the Ivory Coast, will run out of six.

Jackson and Ta Lou are tied for second on World Athletics’ top performance list for 2023 behind American Sha’Carri Richardson with identical season’s best times of 10.78 seconds. Richardson has run 10.76 seconds this year. Asher-Smith and Strachan have clocked 10.98 seconds and 10.99 seconds, respectively.

Gina Bass, of The Gambia, Ewa Swoboda, of Poland, and Daryll Neita and Imani Lansiquot, both of Great Britain, complete the field.

The meet record is 10.82 seconds, ran by American Marion Jones in 1988.

Strachan is having a 

fantastic season, running sub-11 seconds in the 100m for just the third time in her career and second year in a row. She ran 10.99 seconds at the Racers Grand Prix in Kingston, Jamaica, about two weeks ago, finishing second behind her Maximising Velocity and Power (MVP) Track Club teammate Jackson.

In the 200m, Strachan clocked a personal best time of 22.15 seconds, again for second behind Jackson, at the Rabat Diamond League Meet, in Rabat, Morocco, at the end of May. Jackson ran a season’s best time of 21.98 seconds at that meet.

Today, Strachan will compete in her Diamond League opener in the 100m.

Strachan is in a three-way tie for 16th on World Athletics’ top performance list for 2023 in the 100m and is sixth in the 200m. She will be home to contest the short sprints at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) Junior and Senior National Championships, July 5-7, at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium.

 Home|Sports|Speed Capital coming to The BahamasSports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailJune 15, 2023 150 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

In continuance of a busy track and field season locally, the Speed Capital International Championships is set for this weekend at Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium. The three-day meet will get underway on Friday at 6 p.m. and wrap up on Father’s Day on Sunday.

Speed Capital Track Commission President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Luke Robinson said they expect the inaugural meet here in The Bahamas to be lively, featuring some of the best young talent from around the region. Overall, about 600 athletes from about seven countries from around in the region, including The Bahamas, the United States, Canada and Jamaica, are expected to compete. About half of those athletes will be visiting guests, including about 125 from the United States.

The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) and the National Sports Authority (NSA) have partnered with Speed Capital, a non-profit organization based out of South Florida committed to enhancing youth athletics from an event/performance perspective, educating practitioners on the importance of balancing academics and athletics.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be here and I just wanted to thank each and every one of you for making this happen and being a participant, spectator, coach or club,” said Robinson at the press conference to announce the event yesterday. “There is a Bahamian group of athletes who have been coming to our meets in Florida and we wanted to return the favor through an international meet, showing the same level of support that they showed us. We’re starting small but essentially we have athletes from all over the region. We are going to continue to grow. One of the intentions is to give Caribbean athletes a second option of elite level competition.”

The competition is expected to rival that of the most recent CARIFTA games that was held here at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium in The Bahamas. All of the track and field disciplines, with the exception of the pole vault, in a number of youth and junior age divisions, will be contested. The entry fee is set at $20 per day, free for kids under five years of age. There are three-day passes for $45 each. The meet will get underway at 6 p.m. on Friday, 9:30 a.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday.

“My expectation is for us is to come and present an experience that is second to none,” said Robinson. “We usually average about 1,000-2,000 athletes per meet, and we’re looking to bring that kind of experience here. We will get bigger and better and we want to continue that experience here in The Bahamas. We’re asking the public to come out and enjoy the show. It will be something that The Bahamas has not seen before.”

Robinson said that they are 100 percent committed to continuing the Speed Capital International Championships, on an annual basis, here in The Bahamas.

Tito Moss, vice president of technical operations for the BAAA, said that is exactly what they envisioned when they welcomed Speed Capital to our shores.

“We are so happy that Speed Capital is here and partnering with the NSA and the BAAA in staging this meet,” said Moss. “Any time that we could be a part of any group of persons who are growing the sport, we in the federation will always be willing and welcome that. We have seen the success that Speed Capital has had with the meets in Florida and we know that they will bring that same level of success here to The Bahamas. We hope that this meet continues to grow and we look for many more to come.”

Derek Green, the director of operations for Speed Capital, said it’s an absolute pleasure for them to be here.

“One of the things that we want to do is improve technology and the experience for the fans and families that will be in attendance,” he said. “We’re going to improve the checking-in process where it is done electronically. We can speed it up or slow it down based on whatever is required. We have the ability to scan 20 girls for a 400 meters event in 50 seconds. We believe that all of these things will lead to the overall experience of the meet being enhanced.”

NSA General Manager Moses Johnson said it’s a pleasure for them to have Speed Capital here for this grand event.

“Speaking with Luke (Robinson) over the past few months, his enthusiasm and infectious attitude toward what he does was a driving point for us to partner with him and Speed Capital,” said Johnson. “We look for a multi-year partnership where we could bring these types of activities here to The Bahamas. I think that this will be a fantastic event and we hope that it continues to grow by leaps and bounds. This one will be great, but greater is coming. The NSA offers its full support.”

Grand Bahama Heats Athletics, the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture have also come on board in the staging of this meet here in The Bahamas.

Raynor Andrews Jr

As of Wednesday, June 14, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#betubbs@tribunemedia.net

#MAKING the switch from The Bahamas to the United States and from basketball to football has paid off for Raynor Andrews Jr.

#The former Noble Preparatory Academy basketball player has secured an athletic scholarship to play for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team next season. 

#On his decision to make the transition from basketball to football, Andrews Jr said it was a conversation he had with a friend of his mother, Lakeya Hamilton-Swann. The friend came to The Bahamas and advised him to move to Florida to play football. 

#After going to Miami last March for a spring training session, the 18-year-old 6-foot, 6-inches and 312 pounds Andrews Jr said he was awarded a scholarship and he begin playing on their offensive line at left tackle. 

#“I missed basketball because it was my first love,” said Andrews Jr, who played on the offensive line at left tackle where they finished with a 7-3 win-loss record for fourth place in the standings. “I got into it and now I love football much more than basketball.”

#Despite the change, Andrews Jr said he will forever be grateful to coach Geno Bullard and Noble Preparatory Academy for really preparing him for moving from the high school to the collegiate ranks. 

#“From Noble and playing basketball, all the stuff that coach Bullard prepared us for,” Andrews Jr reflected. “I already knew what I had to do to stay focused and concentrate on my schoolwork.

#“The workouts over there were different from what we had here, so I couldn’t mess up. I knew if I messed up, I may not have a second chance, so I just had to keep focused and stay on the right track because I didn’t want to come back home.”

#What was so remarkable for Andrews Jr in his journey is the fact that he never played football before leaving The Bahamas.

#“All of my coaches and everyone were surprised about how fast I caught on with everything,” he said. “But I think they felt with me playing basketball, it really helped because I had light feet, and I was quick to play at left tackle.

#“My quick reflexes really helped me, but I think I caught on pretty fast so that really helped me out a lot.”

#Andrews Jr, who spent most of his summers in Black Point, Exuma where he started to play basketball, began playing with the SC McPherson Sharks before he enrolled at Noble Preparatory Academy.

#He left The Bahamas last year to attend Miami Jackson, but instead of playing basketball, Andrews Jr got into football. He will be transferring to Miami Orleans in August before he takes off to start his collegiate career at Rutgers where he hopes to study either Sports Medical or Sociology.

#“I just feel like from the beginning of my recruiting process, this was the school that stood heavily on my mind,” Andrews Jr said. “They kept really close to my family and so when I went for my official visit, my family found out first hand for themselves and so the decision was made to go there.”

#For the past week, Andrews Jr has been back home. One of the first things he wanted to do was to indulge in some of the good old home cooking that he missed, especially from his grandmother, Marylee Strachan. 

#“I also want to focus on helping some of the guys who have been recruited to go to the United States to play,” Andrews Jr said. “I want to work out and show them that if this is what they really want, they have to go for it.

#“I didn’t have anyone there to guide me through it before I left. So I really didn’t know what to expect. But now that I’ve experienced it, I want to show them how hard it is going to be and so I want to help prepare them for it.”

#Andrews Jr is expected to return to Florida in a few weeks to begin his summer workout sessions to get ready for his final high school season before it’s off to college and eventually the pro ranks.

#“I selected Reuters because the OL coach is a former NFL head coach and Super Bowl champion for the Philadelphia Eagles,” said Andrews Jr, who is a big an of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, like most Bahamians.

#Andrews Jr was a huge fan of the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association, so naturally like so many other Bahamians, he was also disappointed that they lost the championship title to the Denver Nuggets in five games.

#“We’re good. Next year,” said Andrews Jr, who predicted that his Heat will return to prominence in the league for another year after falling short in their second trip to the finals in four years.

#Andrews Jr thanked Noble Preparatory Academy, the Black Point Community Association, his uncles and his father, Raynor Andrews Sr, for the roles they all played in his career so far. 

#With two younger brothers. Kaleb Black and Kyis Asquith, following him, Andrews Jr said he will definitely push them to follow in his steps as an athlete, preferably playing football as well.

As of Wednesday, June 14, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#With less than four weeks remaining until the start of the sixth edition of the Bahamas Games, excitement is building for the Bahamian-style Olympics. The Bahamas Golden Jubilee Games is another one of the major sporting events to coincide with the country’s celebration of the 50th year of independence.

#The sporting extravaganza is set to take place July 7-15 with an opening ceremony held on July 8. The games will feature 16 sporting disciplines to be played at 16 different locations throughout the week of competition.

#Rev Harrison Thompson, chairman of the Bahamas Games, was recently appointed to the position after taking over from the retired Martin Lundy. He operated as the chairman for the fifth edition of the games last held in 2001.

#Rev Thompson talked about the excitement as the games draw near.

#“I am really excited about the Bahamas Games that will happen in the next 27 days, God willing, and we are looking for a wonderful and blessed time where the whole Bahamas can be able to come together and be represented through the avenue of sports,” he said.

#At this year’s games there will be 10 teams formed to represent the various Bahama Islands. Persons can join or support teams such as the Abaco Survivors, Andros Chiccharnies, Bimini and Berry Islands Marlins, Columbus Isles Arawaks (Cat Island, Rum Cay, and San Salvador), Eleuthera Adventurers, Exuma and Ragged Island Navigators, Grand Bahama Lucayans, Long Island Sheep Runners, MICAL (Mayaguana, Inagua, Crooked Island, Acklins, and Long Cay) Flamingoes and the New Providence Buccaneers.

#Collectively, the 10 teams will compete in softball, basketball, track and field, lawn tennis, swimming, field and beach soccer, indoor and beach volleyball, bodybuilding and powerlifting, boxing, cycling, baseball, youth Olympic sailing, regatta sailing and golf.

#Rev Thompson said the competitors from the various Family Islands are hyped for their first time competing in these Olympic-style games.

#“I am advised that the athletes on the Family Islands are very hyper; they are very ready to go and come and show the rest of The Bahamas what they are all made up of,” the chairman said.

#He added that they are looking forward to a good sporting experience and team New Providence is going to be surprised at the talent that comes out of the Family Islands.

#The Bahamas Golden Jubilee Games was first established in 1989 by former Minister of Sports Peter J Bethell. The event occurred four more times following the start in 1991, 1995, 1998, with the last one in 2001. The games were instrumental in helping to discover new talents throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and also allowed athletes from different sports and islands to be unified.

#While the countdown to the games is ongoing, the Bahamas Games Baton has been on the move. The first stop was in Exuma which was followed by Grand Bahama. The Baton tour will make its commute to all the represented Family Islands as a sign the Games are getting closer and also as a symbol of unity and allegiance among Bahamians. The final destination of the tour will be New Providence.

#Although most of the athletes that will compete across the 16 sporting disciplines were not around for the previous editions of the Games, Rev Thompson had this message.

#“I know these games are a new thing for a lot of Bahamians particularly those under 30. They did not experience the last Bahamas Games because they happened about 22 years ago…this is going to be a great experience for millennials and those around that age set. They might not get to go to the Olympics but they will get the opportunity to celebrate with us here in The Bahamas,” he said.

#The 2023 Bahamas Golden Jubilee Games will continue over a week and the highest overall collective score across the various sports will be deemed the winner of the games.

Coaches Sam Nichols and Patricia Johnson.

As of Wednesday, June 14, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#BASKETBALL Smiles, one of the most successful Summer Basketball Camps to come out of the United States, will be returning for its 24th year next week.

#Local coordinator coach Patricia ‘Patty’ Johnson confirmed that the co-ed camp for boys and girls between the ages of 4-16 will be staged from June 19-21 with a change in location to the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium. 

#The camp is conducted by Sam Nichols, a retired Hall of Fame head women’s basketball coach at McMurry University in Abilene, Texas. He brings the camp to town with the motto: “We bring a week of smiles and hope through basketball.”

#But according to Nichols, “along with basketball, we conduct a daily life skills programme during the camp that emphasises self-respect, academic success, good citizenship, and spiritual values. Our goal is not just to develop basketball players, but help build future leaders in The Bahamas.”

#Nichols will be joined by Texas coaches Adam Young, Jonathan Gibson, Trovoice Jackson, Kyle and Renee Williams, David Bookman, Cam Hurd, Taylor Luster, and Chris Burrow. 

#“This group of coaches comprise a tremendous staff of dedicated coaches with big hearts who love teaching the game of basketball. We have the largest and most experienced staff in the history of Basketball Smiles,” Nichols said.

#“All of these coaches raised their own money and are giving up their free time to come and work with Bahamian boys and girls. The quality of instruction will be second to none, and the love these coaches have for the campers will be second to none.” 

#Johnson, the long-time coach of the Lions at HO Nash Junior High School, welcomed the return of her long-time coach and mentor Nichols as well as his supporting cast.

#“This year, we expect the kids to improve their game as the coaches provide them with more drills,” Johnson said. “We are also looking forward to working with the young kids and teaching them the fundamentals of the game, focusing on proper drilled, proper executions.

#“We will also be working on their attitude towards the game, their selfishness, their attitude in the game and in the camp and in basketball because basketball is the avenue or ticket for some of these players who are interested in going off to high school or college.”

#As one who would have benefitted from a college experience at Fort Valley, Johnson said if the campers use the game wisely, they can take it further and make something of themselves in the future.

#“We will be pushing the educational aspects, making sure that the players are doing their school work because it’s students first and ball players second,” Johnson stressed.

#“So we’re expecting the kids to come out and learn all of these quality tit bits that we have to offer. They will be able to ask the coaches questions about their schools, how kids move from high school to college in the United States and they can inquire what they need to know about getting into college.”

#Nichols comes to town with a wealth of experience, having retired after coaching women’s basketball for 33 years. His last 12 years was spent as Head Women’s Basketball Coach at McMurry University. He retired as the all-time winningest Women’s Basketball Coach in McMurry University history. 

#In 2017 he was inducted into the prestigious McMurry University Athletic Hall of Honor. Sam has also been named as the Women’s Basketball Coach for the All-Century Team at McMurry University.

#Nichols guided the Lady Indians to national prominence during his twelve seasons at McMurry University. He also won several Coach- of-the-Year honours during his career. 

#The camp is open to all high school boys and girls basketball players. However, each day, the girls will be in action between 9am and noon and the boys will follow from 1-4pm. 

#Basketball Smiles is sponsored in part in Nassau by The Atlantis, the Green Parrot, Kelly’s, Bahamas Wholesale, Lickety Split, D’Albenas Company, Wizard Signs, Rotary Club of Nassau Sunrise, and Rotary Club of East Nassau. 

As of Wednesday, June 14, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#The 27th edition of the “Peace on Da Streets” Basketball Classic will return to the Hope Center basketball courts, July 24-30. The community basketball event will feature five divisions including the 13 and under, 16 and under, 19 and under, church and open division. For the latter, the team which emerges victorious will go home with a cash prize of $3,000.

#The basketball classic, which has been in existence since 1995, will not only give athletes an opportunity to play in an organised tournament but will also keep their focus away from crime.

#Carlos Reid, event organiser, talked about the purpose of the basketball classic event.

#“We believe that if we can encourage young men to shoot hoops then they do not have to shoot guns so that is the gist of why we do the tournament . . . we need to encourage our young men to do something positive rather than them having to do something negative to end up in the Magistrate or Supreme Court,” Reid said.

#Registration for the “Peace on Da Streets” Basketball classic recently opened in May and will close on July 14.

#Therefore, Reid is encouraging potential teams to register via the “Peace on Da Street” Facebook Page using the QR Code. Among the teams that are currently expected to compete are the Politicians, Pastors, Pirates, and the defending champions, the Team Rotary East Hype.

#This year’s event will also include the IHOP-sponsored slam dunk contest, and Mr Ship it three-point contest. Additionally, there will be a free throw contest between the Lady Pastors and Lady Politicians as one of the newest elements of the basketball classic.

#Reid encouraged Bahamians to come out and support the Bahamian basketball showdown.

#“This tournament is where persons who are on holiday from school look to participate because this is a tournament where all of the ballers in The Bahamas want to win for bragging rights,” he said.

#He also expects college scouts to be in attendance to watch the play of the ballers in the tournament which will present them the opportunity to be granted scholarships.

#Although most of the teams will be males, Reid hopes to see more of an interest from their female counterparts for the yearly tournament.

#“In the past we tried to include girls teams three times but the best we ever had was three teams that signed up . . . if we see where we can get a contingent of female teams we will be open to the possibility of making that happen,” the event organiser said.

#With registration now underway, the basketball classic will also need volunteers. Individuals that are interested can also use the “Peace on Da Street” Facebook Page to sign up.

#The event kicks off on the Hope Center basketball courts at 5pm on July 24.