Bahamian leads team past the Cardinals; Erald, siblings and Taylor also in action

Simba FrenchSend an emailJanuary 31, 2023 317 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

It was Senior Day for Howard University and Bahamian collegiate swimmer Luke-Kennedy Thompson as he was honored for his four years representing the Bison. He along with four other Bahamians were in action in their dual against Catholic University on Saturday.

Thompson helped the men’s team take down the Catholic University Cardinals, 221-60, in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I action. Erald Thompson III and Mark-Anthony Thompson were also in action for the Howard University Bison men’s team. They have a 6-2 win/loss record on the season. On the ladies side, Zaylie-Elizabeth Thompson helped them win 177-101 and they sport a 5-3 record.

Luke-Kennedy Thompson got the Bison off on a winning note when he helped his 200 yards medley relay team win with a time of 1:32.24. The team consisted of himself, Miles Simon, Mark-Anthony Beckles and Arion Solomon.

Placing second was the Cardinals’ A relay team who clocked 1:38.14. Finishing close behind them in third was the Bison’s C team in a time of 1:39.88. That team featured Erald Thompson.

Luke-Kennedy Thompson then led a sweep of the men’s 50-yard breaststroke event when he touched the wall first in 25.87 seconds. Miguel Davis was second in a time of 26.14 seconds. Placing third was Luke-Kennedy Thompson’s brother, Mark-Anthony. He clocked 26.56 seconds.

The senior went on to win the 500-yard freestyle when he clocked 4:59.53. 

Mark-Anthony Thompson was a close second in a time of 5:00.30. The Cardinals’ Aidan Malvey finished third in that race when he recorded a time of 5:08.04.

Luke-Kennedy’s final race of the afternoon was when he and his 200 yards free relay team finished third after they recorded a time of 1:28.19. Howard’s A and C team were first and second respectively, and Luke-Kennedy was on the B team. The A team posted a time of 1:25.1 while the C team swam 1:27.34.

Erald Thompson placed fourth in the 200-yard backstroke. The 18-year-old clocked 2:07.75. Winning that race was his teammate Tristan Stevens with a time of 1:56.04. Erald, a freshman, also swam in the 200-yard individual medley (IM) and placed third. He posted a time of 2:05.22. His teammate Tai Afrik won with a time of 2:00.11.

Luke-Kennedy Thompson’s sister Zaylie-Elizabeth had a great meet winning her relay race and her two individual races. In the 200-yard medley relay, the freshman and her school’s A team won with a time of 1:49.14. Her team included Kali Garcia, Courtney Connolly and Kelsey Roberson. Placing second was the Cardinal’s A relay team with a time of 1:51.80. Howard’s B team was third in a time of 1:51.86.

Zaylie-Elizabeth Thompson won the 50-yard breast in 30.19 seconds. Her teammate Belle Fountain was a close second in 30.98 seconds. The Cardinals’ Madeline Douchette was third after clocking 32.02 seconds.

The freshman powered her way to win the 100-yard free in 53.37 seconds. The Cardinals’ Kathryn Herman clocked 54.10 seconds to finish second. Finishing third was Howard University’s Tiffanee Moore who swam 55.77.

The Bison return to the competition February 21-25 when they head to Geneva, Ohio, to compete in the Northeast Conference Championships.

Also in action over the weekend was Henderson State University’s Lamar Taylor. He and the Red Wave were in action against the Ouachita Baptist University’s Tigersharks in NCAA Division II action.

Taylor broke the pool record in the men’s 100-yard backstroke when he posted a time of 48.98 seconds on the first leg of the men’s 400-yard medley relay. He helped his team to win with a time of 3:24.22. His teammates included Jaren Tippett, Jase Pinckney and Tate Sloan.

The Tigersharks team swam 3:30.63 to finish second. Henderson State’s B team was third after clocking 3:31.72.

Taylor had a little fun and swam the 200-yard IM. He won that event in a time of 1:55.37. The Tigersharks’ Noah Smith was second when he swam 1:59.30. Tippett was close behind Smith with a time of 1:59.37.

The Bahamian was also in action in the 200-yard backstroke. The 19-year-old powered his way to touch the wall first with a time of 1:55.64. The Tigersharks’ Anthony Paculba was second when he posted a time of 1:57.97. Finishing third was the Red Wave’s Gabriel Simoes in 1:59.62.

The Red Wave head to Cleveland, Mississippi, for the New South Intercollegiate Swim Conference Championships, February 15-18.

 Home|Sports|Media accreditation portal for CARIFTA set to openSports

Media accreditation portal for CARIFTA set to open

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailFebruary 1, 2023 213 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Local Organizing Committee of the CARIFTA Games Bahamas 2023 (LOC) is set and ready to host an exciting championship April 8-10, 2023. The event is expected to be highly viewed globally, and the LOC is inviting local and international media partners onboard to lend coverage.

Although the CARIFTA track and field championships is a junior level competition, media covering this event will be treated to similar facilities and services as accustomed to at professional competitions like the World Athletics Relays.

LOC Senior Director of Event Media Services Tonique Williams has indicated that four of the seven media areas offered during the World Athletics Relays will be at the media’s disposable during the three days of activities. These areas include: the Media Press Center, the Media Tribune or Press Boxes and the Press Conference Room.

The Media Press Center will be a shared space with the Copy Centre. This space will be available for the media to work on their news stories and receive results. The center will be equipped with high speed Wi-Fi internet, concierge check-in service and timely results.

The Media Tribune or Press Boxes, located in the spectator’s stands, will present a direct view of the finish line, offering the best seats in the house for journalists, trackside, just near the finish line. Also, the Mixed Zone allows journalists first contact with the athletes at the end of their competitions.

The Press Conference Room allows journalists to conduct interviews of top finishers and performers.

“We are preparing to host over 100 journalists, photographers and broadcasters. There is a lot of interest from the regional CARIFTA community because these 2023 championships is the second CARIFTA championship since the opening of many Caribbean countries post pandemic,” said Williams. “Additionally, this is the 50th anniversary of CARIFTA and The Bahamas – it is important that the significance of this very important time in history is captured in all its splendor and color.”

Williams and her team are well versed when it comes to delivering a high quality experience for the media. She served as the Senior Director of Event Media Services for the World Athletics Relays 2014, 2015 and 2017 and CARIFTA 2018. Her assistant Rudina Miller, who has gained experience from serving in this area for the world relays of 2015 and 2017 and CARIFTA 2018, joins her.

Media wishing to cover this event are asked to complete the registration process as soon as possible.

To make application, the online Media Application Form is located on the CARIFTA website at https://www.carifta50.com/mediaapplication on the media page. It must be completed. All applications must be submitted with an official letter of employment from the media outlet stamped by the national track and field federation where the outlet has its domicile.

Completion of the application process does not automatically guarantee accreditation. Once the application has been reviewed and approved by the LOC, the applicant will receive a link to apply for media accreditation. The online accreditation process opens February 6, 2023. The deadline to apply for media accreditation is Tuesday March 30, 2023.

Media personnel planning to attend the CARIFTA Games are able to access information via the CARIFTA website at https://www.carifta50.com/media or may contact LOC Senior Director of Event Media Services Tonique Williams at telephone number (242) 376-9295 or by e-mail at media@carifta50.com.