Category: Athletics

Table Tennis tournament champions crowned

As of Monday, May 8, 2023

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PLAY ACTION: Competitors of the under 18 age group go head-to-head at the Table Tennis Spring Classic tourney this past weekend.

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Table tennis officials gather alongside Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg at the table tennis tourney. Photos: Tenajh Sweeting

#By TENAJH SWEETING

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#THE Bahamas Table Tennis Federation (BTTF) hosted a few rounds of exciting table tennis action on Saturday at the LW Young auditorium.

#After matches played across the under 11, 15, 18 and open divisions, four table tennis champions were crowned. This year’s Spring Classic tourney included over 50 participants, making for some entertaining table tennis matchups this past weekend.

#Sudan Khalfani, BTTF youth director, talked about how impressed he was with the level of play on display at this year’s tourney.

#“I am very impressed every time we come here [and] we set up a tournament. We always see the talent, you see kids who may not have been good turn out to be very good and the kids who are always good become better so it’s always improving everytime,” Khalfani said.

#For the under 11 division, Ronal Fernando of Queen’s College represented the Comets well as he won first place in the division. He defeated second place finisher Courtney Rahming of Columbus Primary in two sets. Fernando claimed both championship sets 11-6, 11-7.

#Rahming secured his second place position after ousting Sybil Strachan’s Markito Miller in a competitive three setter.

#Rahming opened set one 11-6, but fell 6-11 in set two. However he recovered nicely in the final set after winning 11-8. Miller finished third in the division.

#Despite his nerves ahead of the championship round, Fernando once again came out on top.

#He revealed that his strategy was simple – aim the ball at the table and move around.

#St Andrew’s Mahelis Reeves took care of business in the under 15 division for first place honours. He took down Kingsway Academy’s Samuel Corbin in a hard fought, three set match.

#Reeves nabbed set one 11-8 but Corbin mounted a comeback to defeat him 8-11 in set two.

#However, Reeves remained poised and collected the overall win after toppling Corbin 11-7 in set three. Corbin finished second in the division after shutting out St Andrew’s Callum Pritchard in three sets. The scores were 11-7, 6-11 and 11-8. Pritchard wrapped up the day with third in this division.

#Reeves said he felt good going into the championship round but was a little nervous, nonetheless, he stuck to his strategy of finding the weakness, moving around and spinning the ball along.

#Tyreck Pratt represented the CV Bethel Stingrays well as he secured a win in the 18 and under division. He battled his fellow schoolmate Sadeki Hendricks.

#The battle of the Stingrays ended in two sets, favouring Pratt 11-8, 11-7. Sadeki nabbed second place after taking down Doris Johnson graduate Tori Ellis in three sets of play. He defeated the latter after sets of 11-5, 7-11, 11-9.For the adults open division, first place belonged to Sandeep Gali.

#Second place was nabbed by Arnold Jones and third place went to Godfrey Springer.

#The table tennis athletes saw their great efforts noticed as the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg paid a visit to the tourney to acknowledge the sport and high-level gameplay among the children and adults.

#“Anytime you can find a safe haven in any sport where you can get young people involved who have a love for it, this is where we save lives and deter them from the life of crime,” the minister said.

#Bowleg added that he hopes to see the sport grow not only from persons five and up, but also for older adults as it’s the collective goal to build a healthier nation. Minister Bowleg said the MOYSC fully supports table tennis and is committed to helping the sport grow through its developmental stages by providing them with the necessary tools and equipment needed for it to become a major sporting discipline in the country.

#Both the minister and youth director are encouraging more Bahamians to come out and support, or join table tennis as the sport is steadily on the rise in the country.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/may/08/table-tennis-tournament-champions-crowned/?news

Launy Duncombe, Kami Roach national triathlon champions

As of Monday, May 8, 2023

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#GRAND Bahamian Launy Duncombe and Kami Roach emerged as the male and female champions of the Bahamas Triathlon Association’s National Championships held yesterday at Goodman’s Bay.

#Their performances came a day after the association held its Aquathlon at the same venue on Saturday when Duncombe, brother Malcolm and Lchlan Menzies, Stafford Sweeting and Caiden Bain were all crowned the divisional winners.

#The nationals also served as the trials for the CARIFTA Games, scheduled for August 26-27. Association president Dorian Roach was quite pleased with the performances turned in during the competition. “Launy Duncombe, Malcolm Menzies and Kami Roach all performed well. Launy and Kami are both juniors, so it was good to see how well they performed,” Roach said. “It was also good for the competitors to compete in a new location. It’s the same location where the CARIFTA triathlon will take place. The roads were great for the bike ride and the run. We almost cancelled the swim because the water was so choppy, but we still managed to get it all in. So I was very happy with it.”

#Aquathlon – Saturday

#8-and-under (50m/1K run) – Caiden Bain, 6:29; Alan Gervasini, 7:17; Gebriael McPhee, 7:30.

#9-10 (100m swim/1K run) – Stafford Sweeting, 6:39; Fraser Menzies, 6:40; Lyall Menzies, 6:49.

#11-12 (250m swim/1.5K run) – Lauchlan Menzies, 10:54; Blair Thompson, 11:23; Taylen Nicolls, 11:35.

#13-15 (500m swim/2.5K run) – Malcolm Menzies, 18:05; Ayden Bain, 19:15; Will Farrington, 20:25.

#16-and-over (1000m/5K run) – Launy Duncombe, 36:56; Ellie Gibson, 41:42; Grace Farrington, 41:44.

#Triathlon – Sunday.

#Overall male – Launy Duncombe, Cameron Roach, Simone Bertoldo.

#16-19 male – Barron Musgrove, Enea Gervasini, Jason Cates.

#11-12 male – Lauchlan Menzies, Sibby Potter, Mattis Bournas.

#9-10 male – Fraser Menzies, Stafford Sweeting, Lyall Menzies.

#Overall female – Kami Roach, Suzy Eneas, Sylvia Bateman.

#16-19 female – Sienna Culmer.

#13-15 female – Issa Bournas, Taylor Knowles, Emma Barigelli.

#11-12 female – Nai’a Belton, Tayleen Nicholas, Veranique Strachan.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/may/08/launy-duncombe-kami-roach-national-triathlon-champ/?news

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/may/08/launy-duncombe-kami-roach-national-triathlon-champ/?news

Athletes make a name for themselves abroad

LEFT: Damazvia Dames (top) and Stephen Farquharson (bottom).
RIGHT: Steven Gardiner being interviewed on his 100m performance.

LEFT: Damazvia Dames (top) and Stephen Farquharson (bottom). RIGHT: Steven Gardiner being interviewed on his 100m performance.

As of Monday, May 8, 2023

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#Fort Scott Community College’s versatile sophomore Damazvia Dames had a stellar performance over the weekend to lead a number of Bahamians competing in various meets around the United States.

#At the National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA) Region VI Championships in Coffeyville, Kansas State, Dames sped to victory in the women’s 200m in 22.94, well ahead of second place finisher Naiya Morgan of Barton Community College in 23.36.

#On the field, Dames also picked up a win in the triple jump as she soared 40-feet, 7-inches or 12.37 metres. Her nearest rival in the event was Ahniesha Presulme of Barton County Community College with 38-9 (11.81m).

#Back on the track, after posting the fastest qualifying time of 11.45 in the preliminaries of the 100m, Dames got second in the final in 11.35 behind Barton County Community College’s Carabile Tshosa in 11.26.

#And in the 4 x 100m relay, Dames ran the second leg for Fort Scott as the team of Keyann Wilson, Kamerin Carter and Chaniqua Tonge placed second in 45.76 with Barton County winning in 45.10.

#Dames also contested the long jump where she placed fourth with her best leap of 18-10 (5.74m). Winning the event was Kerrishma Williams of Garden City Community College with 19-7 1/2 (5.98m).

#Also at the meet, Cowley College and Grand Bahamian native Delicia Boothe placed eighth in the women’s 10,000m 43:40.35 to erase the Bahamian national record of 45:50.79 that was previously held by Jennaya Hield in 2015.

#Boothe, the daughter of former men’s marathon record holder Delroy Boothe, also got 13th in the 5,000m in 22:23.37.

#Farquharson second fiddle

#At the 2023 America East Outdoor Championships in Albany, New York, Stephen Farquharson, competing for the University of Albany, was second in the men’s long jump with a personal best leap of 24-11 1/4 (7.60m). His team-mate Louis Gordon won with 25-4 1/2 (7.73m).

#Gardiner in century

#At the Adidas Atlanta City Games at the Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, Georgia, World and Olympic champion Steven Gardiner stepped all the way down to the 100m where he got in some speed work.

#The multiple Bahamian national record holder from the 200-400m could only mustre a best of 10.38 for ninth place in the preliminaries. The top qualifier, Oblique Deville of Jamaica, won the final in 9.99.

#The 27-year-old Gardiner was shy of his lifetime best of 10.35 that he ran at the Life University Track and Field Stadium in Marietta, Georgia, on August 22, 2020.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/may/08/athletes-make-name-themselves-abroad/?news

Minister speaks about unity leading up to Bahamas Games

 Home|Sports|Minister speaks about unity leading up to Bahamas GamesSports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailMay 8, 2023 153 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

 Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg visited Jordan Prince William Baptist School on Friday and spoke about unity ahead of the Bahamas Games.

With only 10 weeks to go leading up to the 50th Golden Jubilee celebration of Independence, The Bahamas has been celebrating with a concentrative effort of events.

Included in these activities was the celebration of Jubilee Day, May 5, 2023, where all Bahamians were encouraged to celebrate and do something that was uniquely Bahamian. This could have been the expression of Bahamian colors, dance, music or food.

As a part of these celebrations, schools throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas were encouraged to put on activities to remind young Bahamian people of their cultural heritage.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg visited Jordan Prince William Baptist School during Jubilee Day to encourage the students to cherish their Bahamian culture and remind them of how important they are to carrying on what is unique about being a Bahamian.

According to Bowleg, “Fifty years ago, our then-leaders of The Bahamas, under the leadership of Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling, had a dream for our nation – a dream of an independent people, a people who could decide their own direction and set a course for their future.”

Minister Bowleg reminded the students of the importance of cherishing the independence they now have, that was hard-fought by those who came before and to know that each of the students represent a brighter future for themselves as individuals, families and a nation.

“This year, we celebrate 50 years of independence as a nation, a Golden Jubilee as a nation, and independent people,” said the minister. “As a people, we are proud of the many accomplishments we have made, but one of our greatest accomplishments is making a nation where our young people are able to dream and determine their own destinies as individuals, and collectively as a nation. Today, we celebrate Jubilee Day, which is the continuation of our celebrations leading up to our 50th independence celebration this year.”

One of the many activities planned to celebrate the upcoming Golden Jubilee is a return of the Bahamas Games. The Bahamas Games, dubbed The Bahamas Golden Jubilee Games, was first held in 1989.

The Bahamas Golden Jubilee Games will be held from July 7-15 this year.

With its Olympic-style and multi-sport disciplines, the Bahamas Games was initially created to give Bahamian athletes throughout the archipelago an opportunity to showcase their athletic prowess while providing each sporting discipline’s federation with an occasion to discover new talent.

The games showcased the world-class talent possessed by Bahamians throughout the varied and unique islands, each known for being proficient in one sporting discipline or another.

Minister Bowleg said this is the sixth edition of the games and it is an opportunity for people to come together in a spirit of competition, camaraderie, and courage.

“The Bahamas Games baton, which represents a symbol of hope, friendship, and unity, has already begun its journey, beginning in Exuma and will end here in New Providence. Once lit, the flames announce the commencement of the games and spread a message of hope, friendship, and unity throughout the archipelago,” said Minister Bowleg. He encouraged the young students, if they had the confidence and courage to participate, to sign up and represent their island of descent.

This year’s Bahamas Games will encompass 16 sporting disciplines with athletes representing 10 islands. Some of the events will include track and field, basketball, soccer, swimming, boxing, golf, sailing and several other sporting disciplines.

According to Minister Bowleg, the theme for this year’s games is unity under the slogan “Our Nation, Our Islands, Our Games”.

For more information, interested persons can check out the website at thebahamasgames.org, send a WhatsApp message to telephone number (242) 809-1242 or follow the Bahamas Golden Jubilee Games on TikTok and YouTube at @thebahamasgames, and on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @thebahamagames.

https://thenassauguardian.com/minister-speaks-about-unity-leading-up-to-bahamas-games/

Champions crowned in table tennis tournament

 Home|Sports|Champions crowned in table tennis tournamentSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailMay 8, 2023 150 1 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

 The Bahamas Table Tennis Federation held its spring tournament at the L.W. Young Junior High School and crowned four champions this past weekend.

L.W. Young Junior High School was buzzing on Saturday as the Bahamas Table Tennis Federation held its spring tournament and crowned four champions.

The adult division needed five sets to crown a champion as Sandeep Gali and Arnold Jones battled for that title. In the end, it was Gali who emerged with a comeback victory to win that division.

Gali won the first set 11-8 before Jones tied it up at a set apiece, winning the second set, 11-9. Jones took the third set to take a 2-1 lead in the match. Gali was too much for Jones in the fourth set as he stayed alive, winning 11-5, to set up a decisive fifth set. That fifth and final set was a close one but, in the end, it was Gali who won, 11-9, to take home the open division title.

Godfrey Springer was third in that division.

In the 18-and-under division, it was a battle between two C.V. Bethel Senior High School players –  Tyreck Pratt and Sadeki Hendricks. Pratt got the best of Hendricks in straight sets to secure that division title. Pratt won, 11-8 and 11-7.

Tori Ellis placed third in that division.

St. Andrew’s International School’s Mahelis Reeves was in a close battle against Kingsway Academy’s Samuel Corbin in the 15-and-under division, prevailing in three sets. Reeves won the first set, 11-8. Corbin came back in the second set and defeated Reeves, 11-8. The third set was won by Reeves, 11-7.

Callum Pritchard settled for third place in that division.

In the 11-and-under division, Queen’s College’s Ronal Fernando easily won that division in straight sets over Columbus Primary’s Courtney Rahming. Fernando opened the best-of-three sets winning 11-6. In the second set, Fernando won, 11-7, to take the match in straight sets.

Sybil Strachan Primary School’s Markito Miller finished third.

https://thenassauguardian.com/champions-crowned-in-table-tennis-tournament/

National record for Boothe

 Home|Uncategorized|National record for BootheSports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailMay 8, 2023 147 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

 Delicia Boothe.

Most of the Bahamian National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I athletes had the weekend off as they are preparing for their respective conference championships. However, Bahamians were still competing, particularly at other collegiate levels in their respective schools’ championships and meets over the weekend. A national record also fell over the weekend.

The 10,000 meters (m) is not a popular event in The Bahamas, but Grand Bahamian Delicia Boothe took part in it and broke the national record on Friday, running at the Region VI/Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Track and Field Championships in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) in Coffeyville, Kansas. Boothe, who ran for Cowley College, posted the new national record and personal best of 43:40.35 to place eighth. The old national record was set back in March 2015 by Jennaya Hield who ran 45:50.79. Winning that race over the weekend was Cloud County’s Lucy Ndungu who ran 38:17.21.

Boothe also ran the 5,000m and finished 13th overall with a time of 22:23.37.

Damazvia Dames had a heavy workload in windy conditions as she competed in four individual events and one relay for the Fort Scott Community College Hounds at the same meet as Boothe. Dames is Purdue University bound.

She won the 200m and the women’s triple jump event. She was second in the 100m and finished fourth in the long jump, and her 4x100m relay team finished second.

Running with a very high tailwind of 6.2 meters per second (mps), Dames was too much for the field when she clocked 22.94 seconds to be the only competitor to run sub 23 seconds in the 200m. Barton County Community College’s duo of Naiya Morgan and Oarabile Tshosa were second and third, respectively. Morgan crossed the finish line in 23.36 seconds while Tshosa finished the race in 23.44 seconds.

Dames leaped 12.37m (40’ 7”) in the triple jump on her second attempt to secure the gold medal in that event. Placing second was Barton County Community College’s Ahniesha Presulme after posting a jump of 11.51m (38’ 9”). Dames’ teammate Icey Green came away with the bronze medal, jumping 11.60m (38’ 0-3/4”).

In the 100m dash, Dames was outsprinted by Tshosa as the Bahamian had to settle for second place when she crossed the finish line in 11.35 seconds. Tshosa won in a time of 11.26 seconds. Morgan was third again, recording a time of 11.40 seconds.

Dames ran the second leg to help power the 4x100m team of Keyann Wilson, Kamerin Carter, Chaniqua Tonge and herself to a silver medal finish. The quartet posted a time of 45.76 seconds. Winning that relay was Barton County Community College, clocking 45.10 seconds for a facility record. Coffeyville Community College was third after posting a time of 47.61 seconds.

The sophomore was fourth in the long jump with a leap of 5.72m (18’ 10”) which came on her second attempt. Dames has the best jump in the NJCAA this season – 6.18m (20’ 3-3/4”). Winning that event on the weekend was Garden City’s Kerrishma Williams whose final jump of 5.98m (19’ 7-1/2”) propelled her from sixth to first.

At the NJCAA Region XI Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Pittsburgh State University, Bahamian Tyler Missick got a silver medal in the high jump for Iowa Western Community College. Missick cleared 2.03m (6’ 8”). He was a part of a team sweep in that event. Paul Rowden won gold after he cleared 2.06m (6’ 9”). Roman Smith was third, clearing the same height as Missick but losing out on the silver based on number of knockdowns.

Running with a strong tailwind, sprint hurdler Gabrielle Gibson stepped out on the track and ran under The Bahamas’ flag at the John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Friday. Gibson, who is at Kansas University, won the 100m hurdles in a wind-aided time of 13.09 seconds. Her personal and season’s best of 13.07 seconds was ran back in April.

Finishing second behind Gibson was the University of Arkansas’ Madison Langley-Walker who clocked 13.13 seconds. Oklahoma State University’s Bailey Golden was third in a time of 13.97 seconds.

https://thenassauguardian.com/national-record-for-boothe/

Sunland Stingers emerge as baseball champions

THE Sunland Stingers celebrate as the GBSSAA junior boys baseball champions.

THE Sunland Stingers celebrate as the GBSSAA junior boys baseball champions.

As of Friday, May 5, 2023

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Taylor Knowles receives his MVP award from GBSSAA executives and coaches.

#THE Grand Bahama Baseball Secondary Schools Athletic Association (GBSSAA) completed its 2023 Steven Adderly/Bernard Aranha High Schools Baseball League on Wednesday at the Emera Baseball Park. Sunland Stingers emerged as the champions with a 3-2 nipping of Jack Hayward Junior High. The senior boys’ championship game was scheduled for Thursday between St George’s and Jack Hayward High.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/may/05/sunland-stingers-emerge-baseball-champions/?news

Men’s national beach soccer team set to be named today

The Bahamas Football Association’s 12-member team for the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Beach Soccer Championships is expected to be announced today just in time for the start of the championships Monday at the national beach soccer stadium on East Bay Street. The Bahamas will be among 11 visiting countries participating in the World Cup qualifier with all games free of charge for the spectators.

The Bahamas Football Association’s 12-member team for the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Beach Soccer Championships is expected to be announced today just in time for the start of the championships Monday at the national beach soccer stadium on East Bay Street. The Bahamas will be among 11 visiting countries participating in the World Cup qualifier with all games free of charge for the spectators.

As of Friday, May 5, 2023

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#THE Bahamas Football Association has not yet released the names of its 12-member team, but beach soccer chairman Gavin Christie said they will have a very diversified squad to compete in the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Beach Soccer Championships.

#The team, according to Christie, a vice president of the BFA, will be announced today just in time for the start of the championships on Monday at the national beach soccer stadium. The Bahamas will be among 11 visiting countries participating in the World Cup Qualifier with all games free of charge for the spectators.

#Making up Group A are El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guadeloupe and the Turks and Caicos. Group B will include Mexico, The Bahamas, Guatemala and Belize. The United States, Panama, Trinidad & Tobago and Dominican Republic consist of Group C.

#“These 12 teams will be competing for spots in the quarterfinals,” according to Bruce Swan, the BFA’s technical director. “The top two teams from each group will qualify with the best two third places for the playoffs.”

#From Monday to Wednesday, the preliminary rounds will start at noon with the Bahamas playing at 7:30pm each night. After taking a break on Thursday, the quarterfinals will be played on Friday with the semifinals on Saturday and the final on Sunday.

#With this being the biggest qualifier for CONCACAF, the top two teams who make it to the final will automatically qualify for the World Cup in Dubai later this year. In total those two teams will have to win at least five games during the tournament.

#Based on what they have been doing over the past few weeks, Christie said the Bahamas is hoping to take advantage of their home turf to advance to the World Cup.

#“We have a world-class coach with tremendous experience that has won four World Cups with Brazil and so we are fortunate to have him coaching us and guiding us in the right direction,” Christie said.

#“Out of the 15 players we are working with, it’s a very diverse combination of experience mixed with youth and I’m excited to see and I can’t wait until Monday to show this team unravelled and show up for the first game on Monday.”

#Christie, who was a member of the Bahamas team that hosted the last CONCACAF Tournament in 2017 when they won over Colombia and Mexico, said the BFA is delighted to have beach soccer back on the shores of the Bahamas in their fantastic stadium.

#“The team has been prepping. We are ready. It’s always good for us to play at home in front of our home fans. They are like the sixth person on the pitch,” Christie said. “So we’re happy for that.

#“We travel a lot to play, but it’s time for us to showcase this because we travel a lot. Now it’s time to showcase the Bahamas to our people, to our family and to our fans. It’s time to showcase what we have been doing over the last 10 years.”

#With the team evolving with some new players coming on board, Christie encouraged the public to come out and watch the Bahamas’ opening match against Guatemala at 7:30pm on Monday night.

#However, he encouraged the public to view all of the games, starting at noon each day, which are free of charge.

#Said Adam Miller, the liaison officer in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, representing Minister Mario Bowleg.

#“It is this government’s mandate that we bring sports back to Paradise and this type of event is a great opportunity for us to showcase what we have to offer as a host,” said Miller, a former technical director of the BFA. “This is the third time we are hosting this event in the last 10 or 12 years, so we are capable, as a country, to host this type of event.

#“This is a very important year, being the 50th anniversary of our nation, and this is an important event for the growth of beach soccer in the country.

#“As a government, we realise that hosting these types of events are vital for our national teams, not only for them to qualify and move on to higher tournaments, but to showcase to the Bahamian people that we can compete on the international stage.”

#Also present were goalkeeper Michael Butler, Lesly St Fleur, the most prolific Bahamian beach soccer goal scorer, and rising young player Cameron Hanna.

#St Fleur said the expectations are very high for Team Bahamas.

#“As a leader and a player on this team, I bring my experience to the team and guide the players and the expectations is to go out there and fight,” St Fleur said. “We just have to go out there and do our best and hope that we can come out victorious.”

#St Fleur once again will be making the transition from playing grass to beach soccer, having represented the Bahamas in both aspects of the sport.

#“We started back in 2009 and it was new to everybody. Most of the players who played grass ended up playing beach. It was a kind of change because you played barefoot (in beach),” St Fleur said. “As we continued to train, we all got adapted to it.

#“For me, it was kind of different and a challenge, but I love the sport, so I had to challenge myself. That’s how come I am where I am right now.”

#Beach soccer, according to Butler, is one of the fastest growing sports in the world with most of the grass soccer players making the transition because soccer is shorter, more goals are scored and the competition is much more intense.

#Butler, who comes home having played extensively in Florida and Canada, is expected to anchor the team as the goalkeeper.

#He said he’s going to be like the second captain on the pitch.

#“A lot of my team-mates look up to me and they ask me for my experience,” he said “I think the team trusts me and I take my responsibility very seriously.”

#And Hanna, who is returning for his third appearance on the team, said the preparation has been very intense with training every day with no days off.

#“We have to come out and listen to the coach. Sometimes we have morning and afternoon practices, so we really have to double down,” Hanna said.

#“The training is going good. The guys are really committed to the training. Mike and Les are our experienced players, so we look up to them.”

#Christie said beach soccer is so entertaining now because it’s a fast pitch with high intensity and there’s lots of music being played and that is why it is catching on like wildfire.

#He encouraged the public to come out and be entertained in the series of games being played next week from all of the teams coming in from the region.

#And to top it all off, he noted that there is no admission fee.

#All of the games are free of charge.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/may/05/mens-national-beach-soccer-team-set-be-named-today/?news

Red-Line track club to host two-day meet this weekend

As of Friday, May 5, 2023

#By TENAJH SWEETING

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#THE Red-Line Athletics track club is set to host their youth and multi-events classic this Saturday and Sunday at the Thomas A Robinson stadium.

#The meet is set to get underway from noon to 6pm on Saturday and from 2pm to 6pm on Sunday.

#The Red-Line event will be the first track club meet post-50th CARIFTA Games since the Star Trackers Classic in February.

#The track club showdown will include up to 800 athletes of 45 different clubs from New Providence, Andros and Grand Bahama combined.

#Tito Moss, head coach of the Red-Line Athletics club, talked about his expectations for this weekend’s youth and multi-event classic.

#“We expect that this meet will be good, keen competition. We are also having one of our senior athletes Samson Colebrooke coming down to compete, we [will] look for kids who fell short in qualifying for CARIFTA to be keen and hungry to compete to vie for meets that are coming up this summer,” Moss said.

#The two-day meet hosted by the four-year old track club will feature the under 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 18, and 20 age groups.

#Additionally, there will be an open division. The largest group of participants will come from the 15 and under category.

#This year’s classic will include a multi-event for the first time ever for the under 11, 13, 15 age groups.

#According to Moss, the multi-event will operate as a practice for the young athletes to familiarise themselves with the event ahead of the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Championships. The under 11 and 13 athletes will also get a chance to compete in the discus, javelin and shot put which is not normally done at the track club meets.

#Moss added that javelin in The Bahamas traditionally starts at under 15 but he wants the kids to start throwing earlier as they do at Amateur Athletic Union (AAU).

#Therefore, he wants this weekend’s track club event to serve as an opportunity to offer events to the youth that are traditionally not offered as the meet is built around them.

#In addition to their focus on the 15 and under age group, the club decided to add the under 18 division so athletes that are vying for a spot at the 2023 NACAC under 18 and 23 championships set for July can go head-to-head against each other. The head coach is expecting some good competition especially from his athletes as the Red Line track club had 10 members qualify for CARIFTA. The Team Bahamas members amassed one gold, 4 silver, and 4 bronze medals.

#Athletes from Swift Athletics, Star Trackers, Road Runners, Bahamas Speed Dynamics and other local clubs will look to make their mark at the Red Line classic.

#For persons interested in supporting the two-day meet, general tickets for two days are $18 for adults, and for kids over 3 the cost is $8. For two days in VIP the cost is $24 for adults, and $12 for kids. There will also be one day tickets on sale.

#After this weekend’s event the club will work on securing more scholarships for their ten athletes set to graduate this year as well as their travels to AAU this summer.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/may/05/red-line-track-club-host-two-day-meet-weekend/?news

Noble Prep Basketball: Day one in the books

The Noble Preparatory Academy’s (NPA) junior boys compete hard against the International School of Business and Entrepreneurship and Technology (ISBET) to win 28-20.
Photos: Tenajh Sweeting

The Noble Preparatory Academy’s (NPA) junior boys compete hard against the International School of Business and Entrepreneurship and Technology (ISBET) to win 28-20. Photos: Tenajh Sweeting

As of Friday, May 5, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#THE Noble Preparatory Academy’s (NPA) sixth edition of the Spring Classic Basketball tourney returned to Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium yesterday evening.

#The basketball-filled day started at 4pm to get the competition underway for the varsity senior boys and girls, and the junior boys and girls. Day one featured 14 rounds of intense basketball matchups across all divisions.

#Geno Bullard, president of NPA, talked about how he felt after the first day of competition at the Spring Classic tournament.

#“I think it’s going very well, we got off to a rocky start but it’s levelling out so far and it’s some good games closing out today. We are just looking to close out today and start off tomorrow with some exciting basketball,” Bullard said

#He added that all the teams definitely came out to play, knowing that it is the last high school tournament for the year and teams are looking to get a little payback for in-season rivalries and he is excited to see it.

#Senior Division

#In game one of the senior boys’ division, the NPA Spartans took down the Mt Carmel Cavaliers 45-22.

#Game two saw the CR Walker Knights topple their rivals CV Bethel Stingrays to win 37-31.

#The CC Sweeting Cobras prevailed in game three of the senior division after they defeated the Jordan Prince Williams Falcons by double digits to win 40-20.

#Meanwhile, the Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins closed out Clement Howell High School 42-36.

#For the girls, the Stingrays wrapped up the NPA senior girls after defeating them by double digits 32-16. The Knights fell in a close bout to the St John’s Giants 29-27.

#In game three of the senior girls’ division, the RM Bailey Pacers forfeited their matchup against the Stingrays’ senior girls, giving them a win.

#Shantelle Rolle, head coach of the Stingrays, talked about their win against NPA. “It feels very good coming out the first day playing the first game to get a win, it really feels good,” Rolle said.

#Her advice to the team was to hustle hard, play defence and take care of the basketball.

#Junior Division

#In game one of five, the Queen’s College Comets claimed victory over the SC McPherson Sharks 25-15. Jerome Lucas, assistant coach of the junior boys, said it felt pretty good to get the first win out of the way and his advice to his team after a rocky start was to pick up the pacing and they were able to get the win.

#The NPA Spartans sealed the win against the International School of Business and Entrepreneurship and Technology (ISBET) 28-20.

#Van Hutchinson Jr, head coach of NPA’s junior boys, said it was a great start to the tournament for the team and they came out very aggressive and executed the plays in the right way. He added that he really wanted to see how the team would come out and play in the first game after a few scrimmages and was impressed despite having some more things to work on.

#In game three of the junior boys’ division, the Giants comfortably defeated Charles W Saunders 44-12. The Falcons junior boys also took down Clement Howell by an 18-point deficit after winning their game 36-18.

#In game five, the Sharks bested the IBSET junior boys team 46-31.

#In the only game played in the junior girls’ division, NPA’s junior girls fell to the SJC Giants 20-14. Day two of the Noble Prep tourney continues 4pm today at the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/may/05/noble-prep-basketball-day-one-books/?news