UNIVERSITY of the Bahamas Mingoes athletes in action at Keiser University Flagship Invitational in West Palm Beach.

As of Tuesday, September 19, 2023

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#THE University of The Bahamas cross country teams had to fight through a thunderstorm weather delay to have several improved individual performances at the Keiser University Flagship Invitational at the Okeeheelee Park in West Palm Beach.

#Lhevinne Joseph turned in the best performance across the teams and finished 50th out of 107 competitors in the men’s division with a time of 17 minutes 24.82 seconds in the 5km event.

#This was a more than a minute improvement over his previous cross country performance of 18:35.9 at Florida Atlantic University on September 1. The men’s team finished 9th out of 10 teams with 253 points and the women’s team finished 11th with 318 points.

#In the team event, the lower the score the better performance of the team.

#Jackson Ozias finished 80th in 18:47.57.

#Dennis Williamson finished in 83rd spot in 18:55.57.

#Kenold Jean finished 92nd in 19.26.0 and Donya Roberts, known more for the 400m event, took 101st spot in 21:22.73 – an almost one-minute improvement over his FAU meet performance (22:16.4).

#The top five runners from each team receive a score that counts toward the team performance.

#In cross country, the lower the score the better the performance. Both teams competed in the 5k.

#“Overall, it was great improvement with both teams,” head coach Ednal Rolle said. “Our top male Joseph ran a personal best by more than a minute and that was really fantastic for him being a middle-distance runner and moving over to the cross country.”

#On the women’s side, Lakeicia Lewis had the best performance for UB as she finished 91st out of 121 competitors with a 23: 31.85 which represents an almost two-minute improvement over the cross country meet three weeks ago (25:54.8 at Florida Atlantic University).

#Fridline Augustine took 111th spot in 26:22.42 – another two-minute improvement (28:46.9 at FAU meet); Sienna Mackey took 115th spot in 28.47.24 which is an almost four-minute improvement over 32:16.4 at the FAU meet. Kaiya Cambridge took 116th spot in 29.02.99 and Kendera Munroe was 118th in 30:21.8.

#“All of the women turned in personal bests for this meet,” coach Rolle said. “That shows that what we have been doing is paying off and helped them to improve.”

#The women’s team amassed 318 points to finish 11th. Both teams next compete in UB Cross Country meet at TAR National Stadium on September 30.

Geron Sands, second from right, co-founder of International Sports Academy, with Albert Cartwright, second from left, and organisers of the Jazz Chisholm Foundation Little League.

As of Tuesday, September 19, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#BAHAMIAN Major League Baseball (MLB) star Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr and his foundation will begin the Jazz Chisholm Foundation Little League starting next Saturday.

#The Miami Marlins centre fielder has not only made his mark on the field but also within the community.

#The Little League will continue from September 23 to December 3 and host up to 300 kids teaching them the fundamentals of baseball at a young age.

#Chisholm Jr expressed his excitement towards being able to bring his latest charitable initiative to life.

#“We are very excited about this right now. It is like a childhood dream coming through to help the kids that do not have it. We do not really have it like how they have it in the United States so we are really trying to make it fair for our kids and some kids that really need help in South Florida,” he said.

#The Little League will take place at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex and will afford kids the opportunity to play more baseball than they are accustomed to during the fall season.

#Geron Sands, co-founder of International Sports Academy and the league’s commissioner, described Chisholm Jr’s desire to give back to his home country.

#“This is an historic event for Jazz to actually be giving back to his country where he came from to try to help the entire country. “It is not just a particular place, it’s everywhere he wants to help and give back and to give young kids the exposure he did not have when he was coming up here in Nassau,” he said.

#Despite the Little League being the latest project for the foundation, one of the organisers Kim Sweeting said there is more to come. “I am so proud to be a part of this team to watch the whole thing evolve from where Geron and Albert have started…our team here, the people that are working on this end in The Bahamas make this foundation a huge success,” Sweeting said.

#She added that as 2023 comes to an end, there are plans to host toy drives, a baseball camp, fishing tournament and fun day.

#The foundation aims to provide equipment and resources to youth in baseball and softball leagues, incorporate financial literacy education into various programmes, and support mission-aligned non-profit organisations.

#For more information on the Little League set for this week Saturday, log onto:

#www.jazzchisholmfoundation.org

#The 25-year-old Miami Marlins star, along with the members of the foundation, are grateful for all the continued support they have received from the public and various sponsors in their latest community initiative.

: Chisholm Jr and Marlins rout Braves 16-2, sweep series

Miami Marlins’ Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr celebrates as he crosses home plate after hitting a grand slam during the third inning against the Atlanta Braves yesterday in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

As of Monday, September 18, 2023

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#MIAMI (AP) — Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr hit a grand slam for the second consecutive game and the Miami Marlins routed the Atlanta Braves 16-2 yesterday to complete a three-game sweep of the NL East champions.

#Jorge Soler, Jake Burger and Nick Fortes also went deep, and Luis Arraez had three hits for the Marlins, who began the day a half-game out of the third NL wild-card spot. It was Miami’s first three-game sweep over Atlanta since 2015.

#Marlins starter Jesús Luzardo struck out eight in six scoreless innings. Luzardo (10-9) allowed four hits and walked two.

#Miami outscored Atlanta 36-11 in the series after getting outscored 83-29 while losing nine of the previous 10 meetings between the division foes this season.

#On Saturday, Jake Burger hit a go-ahead two-run homer and Chisholm Jr added a grand slam in the eighth inning as the Marlins pulled away to beat the Atlanta Braves 11-5.

#Luis Arraez and Yuli Gurriel also went deep for the Marlins, who became the first NL East team to win a series against the division champions. The Braves were 11-0-1 in their previous series against division opponents.

#“This team has handled us the whole year, handled the league,” said Marlins manager Skip Schumaker, whose club was 1-9 against Atlanta before winning the first two of the series. “We knew that we weren’t going to shut them out. We had to keep punching back whenever they scored.”

#Gurriel singled, and Jesús Sánchez and Garrett Hampson walked before Chisholm Jr connected off Michael Tonkin for Miami’s first grand slam of the season.

#“I didn’t even know that, honestly, that it was the first grand slam,” Chisholm Jr said. “It feels great, especially how we’re playing right now.”

#Yesterday, Braves star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr missed his second straight game because of right calf tightness.

#Chisholm Jr’s shot over the wall in right-centre capped a five-run third against Braves starter Charlie Morton.

#Josh Bell hit an RBI single before Chisholm Jr became the first Marlins player to hit grand slams in consecutive games.

#Four consecutive two-out walks by Morton in the fifth increased Miami’s lead to 6-0 and ended his outing. Morton (14-12) gave up six runs and six hits.

#He walked five and struck out five.

#Arraez’s RBI single and Soler’s two-run homer off Dereck Rodriguez in the sixth made it 10-0. Activated from the injured list earlier in the day, Soler drove Rodriguez’s fastball into the left-field seats for his 36th homer.

#Burger also connected off Rodriguez with his two-run shot in the seventh.

#Rodriguez, promoted from the minors yesterday, allowed eight runs and eight hits in two innings.Marcell Ozuna hit his 35th homer and Michael Harris II had an RBI single for the Braves in the eighth before Fortes connected on a solo shot in the bottom half.

#SMALLER CREW

#The game was played with three umpires. Manny González, who worked the first two games, was not with the crew Sunday.

#ROSTER MOVES

#The Marlins optioned OF Dane Myers to Triple-A Jacksonville to make room for Soler. Miami also selected the contract of RHP Chi Chi González from Jacksonville and optioned LHP Josh Simpson to the same minor league club.

#The Braves selected the contract of Rodriguez from Triple-A Gwinnett and optioned Jared Shuster to the same affiliate.

#TRAINER’S ROOM

#Braves: Eddie Rosario was hit on his right elbow by a 97 mph fastball from Luzardo in the fourth. Although he needed assistance from the training staff, Rosario stayed in the game before being removed in the seventh. … LHP Dylan Lee (left shoulder inflammation) was transferred to the 60-day injured list.

#Marlins: OF Bryan De La Cruz (right ankle discomfort) missed his second consecutive game. …

#OF Avisaíl García (left hamstring strain) is scheduled to increase his lower body rehab activities this week.

#UP NEXT

#Braves: Return home for a three-game series against Philadelphia beginning Monday, when RHP Kyle Wright (1-2, 7.48 ERA) will start against Phillies RHP Zack Wheeler (11-6, 3.70).

#Marlins: RHP Edward Cabrera (6-7, 4.52 ERA) will start the opener of a three-game series against the Mets at home on Monday. RHP José Butto (1-2, 3.46) pitches for New York.

SHOWN on the podium are The Bahamas’ Kami Roach, far left, with her silver medal won in the road race.

As of Monday, September 18, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#TRIATHLETE Kami Roach will return home from the Caribbean Elite Juniors Road Cycling Championships in the Dominican Republic, leading the Bahamas’ team with a pair of silver medals.

#Roach, competing in the junior girls’ 17-18 age group division, got her first silver in the individual time trials on Saturday. The 17-year-old senior at Windsor School at Albany came back yesterday in the road race and secured another silver.

#“It feels great to win two medals. I’ve been training hard and felt really good this weekend,” Roach said.

#Looking at the two races, Roach said she enjoyed the road race the most. “There’s most strategy involved and you always have to be watching everyone’s moves,” she said. “The competition was tough. All the girls kept attacking and trying to drop everyone.”

#Roach clocked 16 minutes and 38 seconds for her silver in the junior girls (age 17-18) timed trials.

#Gabrielle Gabourel of Belize took the title in 25:58 and Melsey Perez Vega of the Dominican Republic was third in 15:45.

#Barron Musgrove Jr, competing in the junior boys’ race, was 10th in 33:30.

#In the boys’ juvenile (15-16) division, Ayden Bain was 11th overall in 16.09 just ahead of his Grand Bahamian team-mate Launy Duncombe in 16.29. Anjaleah Knowles got fifth in the girls’ race in 19:52.

#Back for the 60 kilometre road race, Roach clocked 2h:7mins:1sec for her second silver. Perez Vega took the gold this time in 1h:6m:40 and Gabourel had to settle for the bronze in 1h:7m:1sec.

#In the other results from the road race, Bain was 11th overall and Duncombe was 20th, both timed in 1h 55 53. Ellie Gibson got a cramp and was unable to finish the race. Knowles had some mechanical problem and didn’t finish, while Musgrove Jr got a crash and was unable to complete the race.

#Barron Musgrove Sr, the secretary general of the Bahamas Cycling Federation, said as the coach of the team, he was very excited and elated to see their youth programme is taking off again.

#“We have started the process again and we are looking at a 10-year programme where we are preparing the cyclists for all of the major international competitions,” Musgrove said. “We hope in the future that we will have cyclists from Eleuthera, Exuma and Long Island to join with what we have from New Providence and Grand Bahama.

#“But we are ecstatic with the biggest youth team that we ever carried and we got on the podium.

#“We missed it with the boys, but we hit it with the girls. Great performances from all of the team members, especially Kami, who got two silver.”

#As they move forward, Musgrove said they intend to seek their own training and competition facility so that they can prepare their cyclists to compete in the road race, track, time trials and mountain biking.

#“We’re looking to explore all avenues, but we definitely need the facilities because this is just an indication of what we can do when we put our effort into it,” Musgrove said.

#“We want to thank the manager, coaches, attaché and everybody who came and supported this team. It was an excellent job.”

#The team, managed by Kenton Roker, is expected to return home today.

Elected BOC officers, from left in front row, are Bishop Joseph Smith, Dorian Roach, Oria Wood-Knowles, Romell Knowles, D’Arcy Rahming, Adam Waterhouse and Robert Butler. In back row, from left, are Cora Hepburn, Clarence Rolle, Derron Donaldson and Roy Colebrook.

As of Monday, September 18, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#WHILE president Romell Knowles, secretary general Derron Donaldson and newly elected treasurer Dorian Roach went in unopposed, the remaining cast for the Bahamas Olympic Committee’s executive board was completed during the election of officers on Saturday night.

#With the exception of one newcomer, Adam Waterhouse from the Bahamas Rugby Union, all of the incumbents contesting their same positions or new ones, were returned by the delegates in the Paul Farquharson Building in the Royal Bahamas Police Force headquarters.

#Joining Knowles, Donaldson and Roach were Roy Colebrook and Cora Hepburn (with 16 votes apiece); Clarence Rolle (14); Bishop Joseph ‘Joe Mo’ Smith (13); Darcy Rahming Sr (12) and Robert Butler 12-10 in run off with Catherine Ramsingh-Pierre, after they were tied with eight each, for the six vice presidents spots.

#In an historic voting procedure, there were a total of 16 persons who were nominated for the vice president spots. The others in order of voting procedure were Shane Albury (7); Vincent Strachan and Theodore Sweeting (6 each); Algernon Cargill (5); Brian Cleare and Moses Johnson Jr (4 each); Sean Bastian and Gina Rolle (3 each) and Lori Roach (1).

#Oria Wood-Knowles claimed the assistant secretary general spot with 14 votes over Jenny Isaacs-Dotson, the president of the Bahamas Softball Federation and Ramsingh-Pierre, who both had four, while Waterhouse got in as the new assistant treasurer with 14 votes over Isaacs-Dotson (5) and Strachan (3).

#Knowles, a former versatile national team player and executive of a number of organisations, said he was really pleased with the selection of the board, whom he will work with during his second consecutive four-year term as president. “I’ve had a chance to work with just about everyone on the board, with the exception of Adam Waterhouse from rugby,” Knowles said. “But we’ve seen the contribution that he has made to rugby and so we welcome him on board.”

#Knowles commended all of the persons who offered themselves for elections and noted that his team will work with all to ensure that no sport is left behind in their quest to make the country more vibrant on the international stage.

#Although they are now in the process of getting the national team off to the Pan American Games next month in Santiago, Chile, his administration will be working towards hosting a sports seminar for all associations and federations before the end of the year.

#Donaldson, back to serve as the secretary general for another term, said the election process went very well and he commended all of their members for the diligence in hosting the elections, even though it was overdue.

#“This has been a busy year and we were in the midst of a number of teams travelling and we are right in the midst of another travelling for the Pan Am Games, which is a qualifier for the 2024 Olympic Games,” Donaldson said.

#“So usually we try to have the elections in November, but we didn’t want to interfere with the games, so we found this window and we’re glad that we were able to get the elections off.”

#Donaldson, a former executive of the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association, admitted that every four years, but because of COVID-19 and the lockdown, they had to delay the elections. He noted that this turned out to be the opportune time, with a year out from the Olympics, to stage the elections and not be interrupted in their planning.

#In the only position that had to go to a re-run to break a tie for the sixth and final vice president spot, Butler said it was a relief to have gotten in, even if he was the last man in.

#“It’s like the weight of the world is off my shoulders,” he stated. “Sitting in the chair and listening to my name being called and her name being called, it was nerve-racking. I’m glad I won because she is just as qualified to serve. At least I can get back into it for one more term. So let’s see what happens.”

#Ramsingh-Pierre, one of few women who put their names into the hat to run for the various positions, said she was thrilled to have been afforded the opportunity to test the waters. “It was thrilling. It was an honour to see that equestrian is really taking its place in the sporting world in the Bahamas,” said Ramsingh-Pierre, who in 2016 founded the Bahamas Equestrian Federation, one of the rising sporting bodies in the country.

#“All of these people in the room here tonight have sports and its development in their hearts and to see that a sizable portion thought it worthy for me to be given a chance at this endeavour, I’m happy with it. Congratulations to Robert Butler who won in the end.”

#One of the two women returned to office was Hepburn, a former national team volleyball player who represented the Bahamas Gymnastics Association.

#“It’s always good to return, so I’m thankful to all who supported me,” she said. “I will continue to push for equal opportunities for women. This is the first time in the history of the BOC elections that we had six women vying for positions, so I will continue to encourage persons to immerse themselves into federations so that they can be dominated for positions.”

#As a new kid on the block, Waterhouse said he’s excited to be in a position to serve on the highest sporting body in the country.

#“I get to work alongside Dorian and I know that we will get a chance to continue to push for the smaller associations and federations to get a chance to get representation on the board,” he said.

#Roach, the president of the Bahamas Triathlon Association, said he now has a chance to serve at a higher level in the country.

#“It’s definitely going to be a challenge, but I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “D’Arcy (Rahming) is still on the board, but as a vice president, so I know he will help to make the transition for me and Adam (Waterhouse), the assistant treasurer, an easy one, so I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

#In garnishing the highest number of votes for the male vice presidents, Colebrook said it’s a testament to the contribution that he has made, but he knows that they can’t rest on their laurels.

#“We still have a lot more work to be done,” he said. “We need to make sure that our athletes are taken care of as we push the Olympic movement forward. So it’s important that we have persons who understand that movement as we continue to take the Bahamas to higher heights.”

#And even though he has a heavy load as a pastor of a Church of God, Bishop Smith, the president of the Bahamas Volleyball Association, said he’s excited and jubilant at the same time.

#“We will have a lot of work to complete,” he stressed. “The team is a great team. The things that we have forecasted for the next four years is great. It’s good when a team can sit together. We can accomplish much.

#“I’m back committed to doing what I have committed to do in the BOC. I know volleyball is on the rise, especially on the beach volleyball side, so we have some plans with NORCECA and FIBA that we want to implement and I feel like all of the other federations have their plans that will be brought to the table.

#“So we just have to see how well we can assist them all.”

#President Knowles commended the Bahamas Football Association for electing its first female president; the Bahamas Basketball Federation for advancing to the Qualifying Tournament for the Olympics; the Bahamas Equestrian Association for the efforts they are making along with the Bahamas Golf Federation.

#The elections was conducted by Kendal Isaacs, a lawyer and host of the popular sports talk show “Getting It Wright,” while NACAC president Mike Sands, Petra Haven and Ethan Adderley served as the observers as they counted the ballots casted.

As of Monday, September 18, 2023

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Anthonique Strachan. (File photo)

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#ANTHONIQUE Strachan got off to a slow start but managed to storm back for third place in the women’s 200 metres as the Wanda Diamond League concluded yesterday with the Prefontaine Classic.

#Strachan, running as the rabbit out of lane eight ahead of her Jamaican training partner Shericka Jackson in seventh at the Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, clocked 22.16, just off her season and lifetime best of 21.15.

#Coming off her sixth place finish at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary in August where she celebrated her 30th birthday, Strachan was able to surge back and made up enough ground to beat out American Twanisha Terry in lane nine for third.

#“I don’t feel no way. It’s the last race of the season,” Strachan said. “I’m glad it was a injury free one and it was a good one. It’s always a pleasure to be in great company.”

#Jackson, however, came off the bend in complete control and went on to extend her lead on the home stretch in a meet record of 21.57 to add the half-lap title to the 100m crown she claimed on Saturday in 10.70.

#The 29-year-old Jackson fell short of her ultimate goal of eclipsing the late American Florence Griffith-Joyner’s world record of 21.34 from September 29, 1988, but Jackson said she got to achieve something else she had on her agenda.

#“Funny enough, last year one of my goals I wrote was how I wanted to get two trophies,” she said. “I didn’t get two trophies last year and I wrote that again, that I wanted two trophies this year. I got it and I’m grateful.”

#The World Championships’ 100m silver medallist and 200m gold medallist became the third woman behind American Carmelita Jeter (2011) and her compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (2013) to win the 100m and 200m Diamond League titles in the same year.

#Marie-Josee Ta Lou emerged as the runner-up in a season’s best of 22.10 to add to the same position she got in the 200m in 10.75. Terry, who was fifth in the 100m, followed Strachan in 22.21.

#With her pair of victories, Jackson pocketed $60,000, $30,000 for each win. Ta Lou got $24,000 or $12,000 for each race as runner-up and Strachan picked up $7,000 for third. She didn’t compete in the century.

LaQuan Nairn

#Nairn back in action/seventh

#LaQuan Nairn, who rebounded from an injury that prevented him from completing his second appearance at the World Championships, was the only other Bahamian competing in the meet, finishing in seventh place in the men’s long jump.

#The Commonwealth Games champion popped a leap of 23-10 ¼ 7.27m on his fifth attempt, but it wasn’t enough to get him higher in the standings. His series of jumps were 23-9 (7.24m), 19-4 ¼ (5.90m), 17-9 ¾ (5.43m) and 22-10 ¾ (6.98m). He fouled his sixth and final jump.

#Nairn, 27, entered the championships with three victories among nine meets, including a Diamond League win in Lausanne. He posted a season’s best of 26-7 ¼ (8.11m) and a lifetime achievement of 26.11 ½ (8.22m). For his efforts, Nairn was awarded $1,500.

#Simon Ehammer of Switzerland took the title with 26-11 ½ (8.22m) on his fourth attempt.

#Jamaican Tajay Gayle got second with the same distance as Ehammer on his fourth try as well, but lost out on the countback. Yuki Hashioka of Japan was third with 26-8 ¾ (8.15m) on his sixth attempt.

As of Monday, September 18, 2023

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JONQUEL Jones

#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#GRAND Bahamian Jonquel Jones put up a dominant double double performance to propel the New York Liberty to a game one win over the Washington Mystics.

#The leading Eastern Conference team dropped the seventh-seeded Mystics 90-75 to claim the first win of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) best-of-three playoff series.

#The efforts of Jones and the Liberty’s guard Sabrina Ionescu meshed perfectly to lead New York to their first home playoff win since 2015 at the Barclays Center.

#The former WNBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) charged her way to 20 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and two blocks in her Liberty playoff debut.

#Despite turning in a strong performance, Jones’ teammate Ionescu stole the show in the Big Apple after putting up an historic franchise postseason record of seven made three-pointers in the win.

#To start the opening round of the WNBA playoffs, the Mystics came out on top in the first period outscoring the Liberty 29-23. However, in the second period, to lead into halftime, the stellar New York team outscored the 19-21 (win/loss record) Mystics 23-13 to regain control ahead of the intermission. Jones’ team led 46-42 to go into the locker rooms for halftime.

#Following the break, Ionescu was on fire for New York in front of a packed crowd of 8,789 on their home court. The guard scored 20 of her game-high 29 points in the second half and canned six of her seven three-pointers after the break to cement a new playoff record.

#Jones’ teammate also pulled down six boards and dished out two dimes.

#The forward and guard offensive combo was essential to the Liberty’s latest win as the 2023 Associated Press Player of the Year Breanna Stewart had a tough game. She collected a mere 10 points on 3/16 shooting and was unable to connect on any of her four three-point attempts.

#The Liberty jumped out to a 60-50 lead in the third period at the 3:27 mark following a pair of free throws made by Jones.

#On the night the team was impressive at the charity stripe, converting 85.7 per cent of their 14 free throw attempts in the game one win.

#One of New York’s best sporting teams currently outscored the Mystics 23-15 in the quarter.

#Despite the Mystics trimming the Liberty lead down to six in the fourth quarter, Ionescu sapped their momentum after nailing consecutive shots from deep.

#New York shot 44 per cent from the field in the game and 35.3 per cent from behind the arc.

#The team cleaned the boards by outrebounding the Mystics 43 to 37.

#Myisha Hines-Allen notched a playoff career-high 21 points for the Mystics in the loss.

#The Liberty will look to bring out the brooms to complete the sweep against the Mystics at 7pm on Tuesday.

PROFESSIONAL boxer Rashield Williams has his hand raised by the ring referee after the victory.

As of Monday, September 18, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#BIRTHDAY boy Rashield Williams, preparing for a possible title shot in November, wasted little time in disposing of Jorge Luis Munguia of Honduras on Saturday at the Hilton Tampa Downtown, Tampa, Florida.

#Williams, who celebrated his 34th birthday on September 13, stopped Munguia, a resident of Houston, Texas in a first round technical knockout.He improved his win-loss record to 9-2 with seven KOs since he moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to begin his pro career in 2019.

#The welterweight (147-pound) bout lasted about one minute and 30 seconds as Munguia was dropped to 15-17 with nine knockouts.

#“I watched my opponent to see what type of fighter he was because this was supposed to be a test match for me,” Williams said. “My next fight is supposed to be a belt.

#“He seemed to be a good strong fighter, but he was no match for me.”

#After throwing a flurry of punches, Williams connected with a straight right to the jaw of Munguia, who fell to the canvas, forcing the referee to step in to signal the end.

#“The performance was good. I didn’t get a chance to break a sweat,” Williams stated. “I put in a lot of hard training, but I didn’t get a chance to really show what I can do. He couldn’t take the power. I was too strong.”

#This was Williams’ third fight with as many victories for the year. He credited the training he’s getting from his coaches Steven Ray and Melvin Rivers at the Contenders Boxing Gym in Fort Lauderdale.

#His previous two matches this year were at the Alessi Gym Fitness Center, Tampa where he got a TKO win over Walter Raul Saravia on March 18 and unanimous decision over Ramon De La Cruz Sena on June 17.

#The wins came after Williams suffered his second loss in his career in his last fight against Elijah Flores in a split decision on October 15, 2022, at the Caribe Royale Orlando in Orlando.

#“I feel good. I think I’m ready for it. I’m prepared,” Williams said. “This is what I’ve been waiting for. The opportunity. This is it. What God has blessed me with, I’m going to take it. I’m not going to let it pass by now. I have a lot to gain and nothing to lose.”

#With a belated birthday present, Williams said he will go to a restaurant and celebrate, but he’s not going to over indulge because he knows he has to get right back into the gym to start preparing for the possible title fight.

 Home|Sports|Jones, Liberty sweep MysticsSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailSeptember 20, 2023 30 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

When Jonquel ‘JJ’ Jones was traded to the New York Liberty in January of this year, her goal was to win a championship. She and the Liberty got one step closer to doing that after sweeping the Washington Mystics in the first round of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) playoffs. They won a thrilling Game Two, 90-85, in overtime last night, sweeping the best-of-three series two games to none.

It is the first time the Liberty won a playoff series since 2015. Ironically, the last time was against the Mystics. Playing at home at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, the Liberty had to use five extra minutes to fight off a pesky Mystics team which did everything to try and extend the series.

Grand Bahama native Jones was a menace to the Mystics as she finished with her second straight double-double in the series, scoring 19 points and adding a game-high 14 rebounds in 38 minutes on the floor. None of her points and rebounds were more important than the offensive rebound and the two clutch free throws at the end of regulation to force overtime.

“We talked about boxing out at the free throw line and I feel like I had to redeem myself with that one,” Jones said.

She grabbed a rebound off a missed free shot from her teammate Sabrina Ionescu and was fouled on a putback attempt.

Jones shot 6-for-9 from the field for 66.7 percent and went 7-for-8 from the free throw line. She also had one steal and three blocks. The one steal came with a few seconds remaining in overtime.

Breanna Stewart led the way for Liberty with 27 hard-fought points. Natasha Cloud gave the Liberty a tough time on defense as she came up with a career-high in points with 33 big ones.

The Liberty led 84-83 with 1:04 left in overtime after Ariel Atkins of the Mystics made a layup. Jones got the ball at the top the key on the next possession and went to work,  driving to the hoop with the intent to score. She put in her final field goal of the night to put her team up 86-83 with 49 seconds left in the game. Seven seconds later, she got her third block of the game to preserve the lead. The Mystics got an offensive rebound and Atkins was fouled. She sank both free throws to cut into the Liberty lead, 86-85, with 38 seconds left.

That was the closest the Mystics got as Stewart went to the charity stripe twice and scored all four attempts for the 90-85 thriller.

“We knew that we wanted to play our best basketball. We had to come together. We had a lot of hard tests during the season that has gotten us ready for this moment and now we are here,” Jones said.

The first half ended with the Liberty leading 46-35 after being up just 21-18 after one quarter. They looked like they gained control of the game and was going to take Game Two easily. The Mystics came out the half and played some strong defense in the third quarter. They outscored the Liberty 21-13 in the third and trailed just 59-56 entering the fourth.

The fourth quarter saw the Mystics taking their first lead since the first quarter when they went up 62-59 on a Cloud’s three-point shot at the 8:33 mark. The two teams battled throughout the fourth quarter as the Mystics fought to stay alive and take the series to Washington D.C. for a do-or-die game three. The Liberty had other plans. They tied the game at 76 points at the end of regulation thanks to Jones’ clutch two free throws and then took over down the stretch in overtime.

The Liberty will now wait to see who they will play between Jones’ old team the Connecticut Sun and the Minnesota Lynx. That series is tied at 1-1 and their decisive game three is set for tonight. The semifinal series between the Liberty and the Sun or Lynx will get underway on Sunday September 24 at 1 p.m. at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

 Home|Sports|James excited to be first woman to lead BFASports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailSeptember 20, 2023 105 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

After eight years as an executive vice president in the Bahamas Football Association (BFA), Anya James made history this year, becoming the first female president of that prestigious sports body.

She was elected into office in May and receives a mandate of taking the body forward and higher to new heights over the next four years. Already, she has overseen a major breakthrough as the country has returned to competitive play in senior women’s football.

The Bahamas takes on Grenada at 7 p.m. at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium tonight, its first match in senior women’s football internationally in about 30 years.

Just four months into office, James said that she is proud of the venture and is looking forward to more accomplishments in the future.

“There are plans to grow this sport from the grassroots level, and also grow the women’s game throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas,” she said. “When we look at Grand Bahama for instance, Grand Bahama has a very strong youth women’s program. All of our female national teams always have members from Grand Bahama. Even so, we are always looking at expanding and improving – expand in Abaco, Exuma and Eleuthera as well. We’re looking to get more young people, and young women in particular, involved in football. Also, we want to get a lot of our senior women interested in coming back to the sport. There are a lot of young women who age out of the junior league and are still interested in playing. A lot of them return from college looking for something to do to stay active and re-introducing our women’s league is a part of getting them to return to the sport. It will also give the young high school players an opportunity to be seen so that they could possibly obtain scholarships.”

James said that the senior women’s national soccer team has been training throughout the summer and she’s looking forward to the competition they will engage in, in the coming days, weeks and months. They will play Grenada again on Sunday, in Grenada, and will move on to play the US Virgin Islands (USVI) in a home and away series in October and November, all as a part of the 2023 Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Nations League. The Bahamas was drawn into the CONCACAF Nations League Group C with Grenada and the USVI and has to win the group in order to move on to the next stage of qualification for the 2024 CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup.

“It is exciting to be a leading woman in the football world. It’s rare,” said James. “As women, we’re not here to take over. We’re here to sit at the table and add value. It’s exciting and I’m encouraging other women to step forward and make a contribution. There are many other women who are capable of leading. I’m the first female to lead this body, but I definitely won’t be the last. It’s exciting.”

In getting more persons involved in the sport, and creating more programs, the BFA would need sufficient funding. James said they have an aggressive agenda for raising funds and they also receive assistance from FIFA (International Association Football Federation).

“FIFA has this program that is called ‘Football for Schools’ and that is one of the avenues that we are going to use to introduce and sustain football among the young people of The Bahamas. There is assistance when it comes to some of the programs,” said James. “We have sat down with the ministry (Ministry of Education & Technical & Vocational Training) in relation to expanding the program in the schools in the Family Islands. We have been into Cat Island, Inagua and have sent equipment. We are starting with the main islands because we know that we have people on the ground who could maintain the program. We want to make sure that the programs are sustainable.”

Bahamian women’s football in general, in the country, is experiencing a major rebirth. As mentioned, the national team will take on Grenada tonight. Following that, they will travel to Grenada to face that nation on Grenadian soil. That match will be played on Sunday.

As the woman in charge of the governing body of football in the country, James is determined to continue the advancement of the sport locally and provide more opportunities for players of all ages and both genders.