Home|Sports|Miller-Uibo nominated for World Women’s Athlete of the YearSports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailOctober 13, 2022 200 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

For the second year in a row and the third time in her career, Bahamian track superstar Shaunae Miller-Uibo has been announced as a nominee for the World Athletics Women’s Athlete of the Year.

Miller-Uibo was shortlisted among nine other athletes, each of whom have experienced tremendous success in 2022. Also making the list are world record holder in the women’s 100 meters (m) hurdles Tobi Amusan, of Nigeria, World 100m Champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, of Jamaica, her countrywoman and World 200m Champion Shericka Jackson, World Shot Put Champion Chase Ealey, of the United States (US), her countrywoman and world record holder in the women’s 400m hurdles Sydney McLaughlin, World 20-kilometer Race Walk Champion Kimberly García, of Peru, World 1500m Champion Faith Kipyegon, of Kenya, World Indoor High Jump Champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of the Ukraine, and world record holder in the women’s triple jump Yulimar Rojas, of Venezuela.

As mentioned, this is Miller-Uibo’s third time being nominated for the prestigious award. She went on to become a finalist in 2018, but eventually fell short to former World and Olympic Champion in the women’s triple jump Caterine Ibargüen, of Colombia.

In a year in which she won another Olympic title in the women’s 400m, Miller-Uibo was nominated again in 2021, but wasn’t among the finalists for the award as she was up against a number of world record holders and a triple Olympic Champion in Elaine Thompson-Herah, of Jamaica.

This year, Miller-Uibo faces tough competition again.

In 2022, the Bahamian became just the second woman, and second athlete, in history to win all of the global titles in an individual event in athletics, joining former great Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva. They have both captured world youth, world junior, world indoor, world outdoor and Olympic titles, in the same event.

Miller-Uibo won the world indoor and outdoor titles in the women’s 400m in 2022, and added the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) 

Championship in her home country. She won the latter in what was her fifth sub-50 second race of the year, in Freeport, Grand Bahama, in August.

Amusan won the World 100m Hurdles title in Eugene, Oregon, USA, setting a new world record of 12.12 seconds in the semifinals. She also won the Diamond League, Commonwealth Games and African titles in 2022.

Fraser-Pryce claimed her fifth world title in the women’s 100m this year and ran under 10.70 seconds in that event an astonishing seven times for the season. She ended the year with a world-leading time of 10.62 seconds. She also won the Diamond League title in that event.

Her compatriot Jackson won the world 200m title, becoming the second-fastest woman of all-time behind world record holder Florence Griffith-Joyner, of the United States. She ran a stunning 21.45 seconds in the world championships final. She also won the Diamond League title in that event.

Ealey won the world shot put title and a silver medal at the World Indoor Championships. She threw a world-leading 20.51m (67’ 3-1/2”) and also won the Diamond League title.

McLaughlin won the world 400m hurdles title in a blazing world record time of 50.68 seconds. That was her second time breaking the world record in 202 as she ran 51.41 seconds at the US Championships. McLaughlin also won a 4x400m relay title at the world championships.

García became Peru’s first-ever world championships medalist, winning the gold medal in Eugene. She won the world 35-kilometer race walk title in a South American record to complete the double, and also won a world race walk team 20-kilometer bronze medal.

Kipyegon won the world 1500m title and the Diamond League title in that event in 2022. Also, she ran a world-leading Kenyan record of 3:50.37 at the Herculis EBS Diamond League Meet, just three tenths of a second off the world record.

Mahuchikh won the world indoor high jump title and was the silver medalist at the world championships. She also won the European title and jumped a world-leading 2.05m (6’ 8-3-4”), equalling her outdoor national best, and coming up just four centimeters short of the world record.

Finally, Rojas won both the indoor and outdoor world titles in the women’s triple jump in 2022, the former in a new world record of 15.74m (51’ 7-3-4”). She also won the Diamond League title in 2022.

This week marks the opening of the voting process for the award which will be handed out during the World Athletics Awards 2022. The 10 women were selected by an international panel of athletics experts, comprising representatives from all six continental areas of World Athletics.

A three-way voting process will determine the finalists.

The World Athletics Council and the World Athletics Family will cast their votes by email, while fans can vote online via the World Athletics social media platforms. Individual graphics for each nominee will be posted on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube this week, and a ‘like’ on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube or a retweet on Twitter will count as one vote.

The World Athletics Council’s vote will count for 50 percent of the result, while the World Athletics Family’s votes and the public votes will each count for 25 percent of the final result.

Voting for the world athletes of the year closes at midnight on Monday October 31. At the conclusion of the voting process, five women finalists will be announced by World Athletics.

The winner will be revealed on World Athletics’ social media platforms in early December.

https://thenassauguardian.com/miller-uibo-nominated-for-world-womens-athlete-of-the-year/

 Home|Sports|Beach soccer returns to The BahamasSports

National teams gear up for competition; tournament set for next weekend

Simba FrenchSend an emailOctober 13, 2022 136 5 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

It’s been a long time since Bahamians had an opportunity to cheer for their senior men’s national beach soccer team at home. The wait is over as they will get to see them next weekend, and as a bonus, the women’s national beach soccer team will also be in action at the Beach Soccer Stadium at Malcolm Park. They will be playing in the Bahamas Beach Soccer Cup 2022, set for October 21-23.

The men will play against Colombia, Costa Rica and 

Trinidad and Tobago. The women will play against Trinidad and Tobago and the neighboring Turks and Caicos Islands.

Games will get underway at 6 p.m. on the three days. The Bahamian men will play at 8:30 p.m. each day while the Bahamian women play at 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free.

This is the first time that men’s team will play at home since 2018 and the first time the women will play in an international match at home.

Guardian Sports was out at both practices and caught up with the coaches and players. Veteran Lesly St. Fleur is no stranger to playing in front of local fans. He said he was waiting to have the opportunity to play at home again.

“We are happy to finally get the games here,” St. Fleur said. “We have been waiting for this. We have to get back to the noise and the fans cheering. It will be good to see them. We get to play in front of our fans who come to see us play so we must go out there and put on a show and don’t disappoint our country.”

Women’s Head Coach Daria Adderley will be coaching an international beach soccer game at home for the first time and said she expects a competitive tournament. 

“I am very excited because this is the first time that the country is going to see our women play an international match at home. We have different players on the field now because a few went off to school. However, we still bring the competitiveness because we are the top-ranked Caribbean team. We will be playing Trinidad for the first time and we have played Turks before. It will be exciting,” Adderley said.

The women’s team is ranked at number 18, as of September 30, in the Beach Soccer Worldwide Rankings, but is the 

top-ranked team in the Caribbean region. Trinidad and Tobago and Turks and Caicos are not ranked.

Adderley is looking to win both games. She said she is happy to see women coming out and engaging in beach soccer. She praised the efforts of Bahamas Football Association’s (BFA) Women’s Director Soraya Toppin-Herbert.

“I have been a part of women’s football for years so to see these young women come out and stick with it, speaks volumes for the program. That is credit to Toppin-Herbert for her tenacity, getting the ladies to come out and play,” Adderley said.

The men’s team is coming into this tournament ranked at number 38 in the Beach Soccer Worldwide Rankings. Colombia is ranked the highest in the tournament at number 26 while Costa Rica is at number 52. Trinidad and Tobago is positioned at number 54.

Men’s Head Coach Gavin Christie said playing at home is one of the advantages that his squad has. Christie has represented the country in the sport for many years and likes that there are new faces this year.

“The difference with this team is that we have a lot of new faces. Talent has come on to the team. We have a handful of younger players who are playing in their first international beach soccer tournament. It will be fun and interesting for them along with a great experience,” Christie said.

He spoke about changing hats as he steps off the field and on to the sidelines to pass down his knowledge of the game.

“Coaching and helping this team get ready for the upcoming tourney has been a great experience. It is the kick-off to the Beach Soccer World Cup qualifying process. That is one of the things we are using this tournament for. We are looking to rejuvenate the beach soccer program in The Bahamas. We want the guys to get back into training and let the new guys get some experience. Hopefully, the program will keep going at a robust pace right up to the world cup qualifiers,” Christie stated.

Gina Stubbs is one of the custodians on the women’s team. She will be looking to help the team climb the rankings.

“We played in April, and we want to build off of that. We want to move up in the rankings. When we first started, we had a few members and the number gradually increased. It is a lot to run on the sand, but it is a lot of fun getting dirty. I get dirtier because I have to dive to make saves but I enjoy it,” Stubbs said.

Looking to score her first international goal is Hadassah Knowles. She is not looking to score just one but at least three goals in this competition, she said.

“We have a goal in mind every time we play which is to outscore the opponent. Practice has been going good. I am happy that I will have my family and friends in the stands cheering me on so it is a great opportunity,” Knowles said.

One of the goalkeepers for the men’s team is Michael Butler who is playing in a semi-professional league for the FBS-FC soccer club in Miami, Florida. He was at his first practice on Tuesday night and said he felt like he never left. He said the chemistry with his teammates is still there. He hopes to help control the tempo of the game.

“Everything I learned, the tempo, building up from the back, is there. We pride ourselves in being the fittest and the fastest team. From what I learned abroad, controlling the tempo and knowing when to use speed and when to slow down, is important. I think controlling the tempo is what I hope to bring to the team,” said Butler.

St. Fleur was shortlisted as one of the 100 best male players in the world. The winner of the best male player will be announced at the Beach Soccer Stars Gala on November 6 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

“We have been preparing for this tournament for a while and it has been going well,” St. Fleur said. “We just need a few more training sessions to get match fit but between now and then we will be ready to go. The key is to communicate with each other. Everyone has to listen to each other, play hard and fight for each other. With the new ones coming in, there is no change in the game and that is why we train. We have to help them, and they help us. With my experience, I have to help coach because I can see the game, so I have to help get them ready.”

St. Fleur said his goal is to help the team win even if it means he ends the tournament goalless.

The final rosters for both teams will be released later.

https://thenassauguardian.com/beach-soccer-returns-to-the-bahamas/

Four competitors to take part in Head of Charles Race

FROM LEFT: Dehron Smith, sisters Jessica and Poppy Proffitt and Dr Kathryn de Souza.

As of Wednesday, October 12, 2022

• Sign in to favorite this
• DiscussComment, Blog about
• Share thisEmail, Facebook, Twitter

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#FOUR competitors, all of whom have gained some international experience, will be representing the Nassau Rowing Club at the Head of Charles Race that will be held in Cambridge, Massachusetts from October 21-23.

#NRC’s president Kyle Chea will serve as coach of the team that will have Dehron Smith competing in the Men’s Championship Sculls Division; Dr Kathryn de Souza in the Grand Master Veterans Single Sculls Division and sisters Jessica and Poppy Proffitt will team up to contest the Youth Women’s Under 17 Doubles Sculls Division.

#Chea said the expectations are very high for the team that will represent the Bahamas – they leave on October 19th for the competition.

#“I feel great about this team,” Chea said. “Kathryn de Souza is a seasoned marathon runner, so this long distance race is very suited to her skill set. It’s a five-kilometre race, so I think she will be very well.

#“Jessica Proffitt competed in this race last year, so she comes with a familiarity of the course and so she wants to improve on her performance. They both raced in a regatta held in Canada over the summer, so they bring a high level competition “

#As for Smith, who is currently enrolled st Ithaca College in New York, Chea said he competed in Italy in the Under-23 World Championships and they are looking forward to him honing his skills.

#“It will be a tough competition because it is a global level of competition with everyone from club level to national team rowers racing,” Chea said. “But the crews and the entries we have will be able to represent us well.”

#Dr. De Souza, a 58-year-old Physician specialising in Sports Medicine/Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, has been rowing for 4 1/2 years. She is coming off her international debut in the Head of the Schuylkill regatta in Philadelphia last year where she placed 5th in the Women’s Masters Lightweight 55-59 age group.

#“I have been a long time marathon runner and started rowing as a way to cross train for running. It was fun to pick up a new sport in my 50s,” Dr de Souza said. “I am hoping to finish mid fleet in the Head if the Charles Regatta. There are 55 women in my age category.”

#Although they have a small team, Dr de Souza said they are fortunate to be able to train year round on one of the most beautiful rowing venues in the world at Lake Cunningham.

#“The Proffitt sisters are lightening fast and Dehron Smith is a collegiate rower, who represented the Bahamas at the Under 23 World Championships this summer, so we have an excellent chance of doing well at the Head of the Charles next week,” Dr de Souza said.

#“Hopefully we will have more members of the Nassau Rowing Club competing in the Head of the Charles next year. Several of the Masters rowers and I are planning to compete in the 2023 World Rowing Masters Regatta in South Africa and I plan to row in a few more Head races (5k/ 3.1 miles) in the US next year.”

#Smith, a 22-year-old senior at Ithaca College where he is majoring in Athletic Training, is hoping that the experience he gained at the 2022 Under-23 World Rowing Championships will help him as he competes in his second race in a single.

#“It’s an awesome venue to gain race experience and once again set an example of what’s possible in the sport for my teammates at Ithaca college and for younger rowers at home,” Smith said. “This is a different style than the spring races so I hope to set a solid standard to use as a benchmark as I work to improve over the coming months.”

#After graduating from Nassau Christian Academy in 2017, Smith went to Ithaca College where he was a walk on to their rowing team in his freshman year and he admitted that he immediately found a home.

#“I was welcomed and it really helped my transition into college to be among people who encourage me to be the best version of myself,” he said. “ It helps that I love competing at anything and everyday is an opportunity to challenge myself with the team.”

#Smith said his initial international competition this summer really put elite rowing into perspective for him and that’s why he feels Ithaca College has been the best place for him to improve and to realise his full potential.

#“I hope to set some ambitious personal best for the spring season when we do the majority of our racing and contribute to a victory in our school’s first appearance at the IRAs in early June,” Smith summed up.

#The Proffitt sisters are just as eager about competing in the event as Dr de Souza and Smith.

#Jessica profit, a 16-year-old 11th grader at the Lyford Cay International School, has been rowing since she was 11 and she has rowed competitively and gone to regattas for two years, including the Head of the Indian Creek Regatta (Miami, October 2019), Head of the Charles Regatta (Boston, October 2021), Miami International Regatta (Miami, April 2022), CanAmMex International Regatta for Team Bahamas (Ontario, Canada, July 2022)

#She noted that last year, she participated in Head of the Charles in the same race in a double with her older sister Sascha and while it was an amazing experience, she was able to learn a lot about the race and how to train for this next upcoming regatta.

#“I believe that going into the competition this time around with this new knowledge has made me feel more prepared and confident for our race,” she said. “Our training for this regatta has also been a lot more more intense than last year, especially since last year we were only just coming out of COVID.

#“We have been continuously conditioning ourselves for the past month through a very difficult training plan, and while it was extremely challenging, our training will definitely boost our success for this race. Along with our training and past experience in the regatta, my team and coaches have also been extremely supportive and motivating throughout our training, and this has helped me to develop my skills for our race.”

#As for the team selected for this race, Jessica Proffitt said the NRC provides an extremely supportive and encouraging environment for rowers.

#“Training for regattas can be challenging, but my teammates always push me to do my best,” she said. “The team going to Head of the Charles is very diverse in terms of age and experience, and so I believe that we have a lot to offer at this upcoming regatta.”

#Poppy Proffitt, a 14-year-old ninth grader at Lyford Cay International School, has been rowing for three years with participation in the Miami Regatta and CanAmMex.

#“For this regatta, although it is going to be a little scary as this is my third international regatta that I have participated in, I hope to take this experience as a way to improve, have fun, and to meet other rowers,” Poppy Proffitt said.

#“I have been training every day of the week for the past month. I hope that with our intense training plan and all the strength that we managed to build, we will be successful in the race and place high. I want to show everyone what I have accomplished and learned from training hard this month.”

#As a member of the NRC, Poppy Proffitt said everyone is so supportive and kind.

#“Going to this regatta, Jessie and I will also be with some of the Windsor rowing members from The Bahamas, which is very exciting,” she said. “At CamAmMex, both of our crews trained together and they are very friendly.”

#Poppy Proffitt said she plans on continuing rowing until university.

#“I would like to continue rowing competitively and take part in more upcoming international regattas,” she stated. “When I get older, I would love to help teach new rowers at the NRC summer camps, including possibly becoming the rowing captain.”

#After she graduates in two years, Jessica Proffitt said she hopes to move into rowing at a collegiate level.

#“Regattas like Head of the Charles provide a great opportunity to get in touch with some of the best colleges in the world, and so its my plan to harness this opportunity and start looking at some of my options in Boston whilst I am there,” she said.

#For Dr de Souza, she’s just hoping that the NRC will be able to host an international regatta in The Bahamas in the near future and she can display her skills with her team-mates at home on Lake Cunningham in front of the Bahamian crowd.

As of Wednesday, October 12, 2022

• Sign in to favorite this
• DiscussComment, Blog about
• Share thisEmail, Facebook, Twitter

FORMER Bahamas Amateur Boxing Federation president and Bahamas Olympic Committee president Wellington Miller receives his award from Governor General CA Smith.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#FORMER Bahamas Amateur Boxing Federation president and Bahamas Olympic Committee president Wellington Miller was invested with the Companion Order of Merit in an official ceremony on National Heroes Day on Monday at the Baha Mar Resort.

#The honour from the Bahamas Government comes just a month before Miler will be returning to the same venue on Wednesday, November 16th to be indicted into the National Hall of Fame by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.

#In the national honours on Monday presented by Governor General Cornelius A. Smith, Miller said he was delighted to be among the more than 200 persons, including 20-plus persons from the sporting world, who were recognised for their contribution to nation building.

#“First of all, I want to thank God for allowing me to see this day and to be in the best shape of my life to receive this honour,” Miller said. “I want to also thank the persons who recommended me and the committee for accepting the recommendation.

#“I know there were many recommendations they received, so I’m just happy that my own was one that they accepted. It makes you feel good because you have been working all along and you never know that there were persons out there who were watching what you’ve been doing.”

#It’s a recognition that Miller said he never envisioned nor aspired to receive from the time he started making his contribution. He insisted that his satisfaction came from assisting the many young men in boxing.

#“When you look at it, to come from Andros and a small settlement like Conch Sound and an even smaller town like Miller Hill, to come to Nassau and to climb that height to now receive the third highest honour the country can give out is very amazing,” Miller stressed.

#The retired Immigration Officer, who now serves as a newly ordained Deacon in New Covenant Baptist Church and the current president of the Men’s Department of the Bethel Baptist Association, said it just shows that if you work hard, be consistent and be honest, you can achieve anything.

#“To be honoured for something that I have been doing for such a long time, it couldn’t come at a better time,” Miller said. “So I encourage all young people who are volunteering their service, don’t just try to get in to get paid, but to make a difference in the lives of the persons you come in contact with.

#“I also want to thank the Bahamas Government for accepting the nominations of so many sporting persons. I think we had over 40 persons who were involved and some are still active in their various sporting disciplines. Sometimes people don’t know the work we put into sports and the amount of young people we help to change their lives.”

#As a former amateur boxer, Miller called on the Bahamas Government to include sports in their anti-crime prevention plan because if boxing can take young men from the Simpson Penn School and make them respective citizens of our country, so many other sporting bodies can do the same.

#“I’m sure that many other sporting bodies can attest to how they have taken many young boys and girls off the street and put them into some wholesome sporting activities to make them better citizens,” Miller disclosed.

#For 25 years, Miller has served as an executive in amateur boxing. He was first elected as president in 1984 until 2000. He had decided to take some time off to raise his two young sons, but Miller was asked to serve as vice president under Alvin Sargent that same year. At the next election in 2004, he was re-elected as president until he demitted office for good in 2017.

#However, Miller was then elected to serve as a vice president in the BOC under the leadership of the late Arlington Butler in 2000. After serving two consecutive terms, he was elected in 2008 as the president, serving in that capacity until 2018 when Rommel Knowles was first elected as the new president.

#“I don’t have any regrets. I would do it all over again without any reservations,” said Miller about his tenure in office. “I enjoyed my time. I met a lot of people and I got to help turn the lives around for so many young people.”

#As he celebrated the national honour with his family and friends, especially those who were also honoured, newly minted Miller will be heading off on Friday to represent the BOC at the meeting in Seoul, Korea. He will return on October 25th.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/oct/12/wellington-miller-honoured-national-heroes-day/?news

As of Wednesday, October 12, 2022

• Sign in to favorite this
• DiscussComment, Blog about
• Share thisEmail, Facebook, Twitter

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#AFTER taking a break for the National Heroes Day holiday weekend, the New Providence Softball Association is all set to begin its 2022 best-of-five championship series in both the men and women’s divisions.

#The championships will begin on Thursday night at the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex with the defending champions Sunshine Auto Wildcats taking on the RAB Operators in the ladies’ series, while the defending champions C&S Hitmen will entertain the Cyber Tech Blue Marlins in the men’s encounter.

#League president Dwayne Stevens said just as exciting as the regular season was, they are anticipating a lot of fireworks for the finals, which should come down to a slugfest in the ladies’ series and a pitcher’s duel in the men.

#“I expect some very good series, especially in the men where we have two great pitchers on both teams,” Stevens said. “Thomas Davis and Eugene Pratt, the up and coming young stars (for the Blue Marlins) will be taking on the veteran crew of Edney ‘the Heat’ Bethel and Alcott Forbes (for the Hitmen).

#“I think it will be a pitching showdown, which should be very competitive in that men’s series.”

#As for the women, while Thela Stevens has been the workhorse for the Wildcats and Brendia Ferguson has carried the load for the Operators, Stevens said both teams have a lot of lumber, so it’s anticipated that Sunshine Auto and RAB will engage in some high scoring matches.

#“They could still come down to pitching in the ladies series as well because the Operators have some pitching to contend with,” Stevens said. “But both teams hit the ball very well, so I believe they will be scoring a lot of runs in that series.”

#While game one is set for Thursday, game two will be played on Saturday. The ladies will play the opener at 7pm, followed by the men in the nightcap at 8.30pm. They will return for game three next Thursday and if necessary, game four will be played on Saturday.

#Should they go to a fifth and deciding game, Stevens said they will announce then the time and date for the match or matches to be played.

#The Wildcats, managed by Anthony Bullard, clinched their berth in the ladies’ final over the Johnson’s Lady Truckers and the Operators, managed by Kelly Smith, earned their ticket as they eliminated the University of the Bahamas Lady Mingoes.

#In the men’s playoffs, the Hitmen, managed by Darren Stevens, ousted the Chances Mighty Mitts and the Blue Marlins, managed by Charlie Rolle, got by the Atlantis Titans. The NPSA last played in 2019 before sports in the country was halted because of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

#Without a national championship to be played for the winning teams, Stevens said the NPSA is gearing up to participate in the proposed Bahamas Softball Federation’s National All-Star Classic during the second weekend in November at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

#“As you know, New Providence is the only island association which had a full season. Grand Bahama and Exuma just started some fast pitch and slowpitch games,” Stevens said. “So what they are proposing is that each island send an All-Star team to represent the island.

#“After that, the NPSA will put on a tournament and we’re inviting teams from the islands to come in and participate against teams from the NPSA. So we are looking at having softball played through the rest of the year.”

#The NPSA, however, is expected to make a decision on whether or not they will take advantage of fielding two teams in both the men and women’s divisions for the BSF’s All-Star Classic, which would include the NPSA champions, or just select an All-Star team to represent the NPSA.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/oct/12/softballs-best-five-championships-set-begin/?news

 Home|Sports|Ayton records double-double in preseason actionSports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailOctober 12, 2022 174 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Bahamian post player with the Phoenix Suns DeAndre Ayton had arguably his best game of the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) preseason on Monday night, recording a double-double in the Suns’ 107-105 loss to the Denver Nuggets.

In 27 and a half minutes of play, Ayton dropped in 19 points on 9-for-12 shooting from the field. He recorded his first double-double of the preseason as he added 11 rebounds. He also had three steals, an assist and a block. For the preseason, Ayton is averaging 16 points per game on 60.5 percent shooting from the field. He is also averaging 8.33 rebounds per game.

The Bahamian big man is looking for a more substantial role in the Suns’ offense this season, particularly after signing a new deal in the offseason. He said he is staying away from any suspected conflict with the team and will let his play do the talking.

In their game last Wednesday against the Los Angeles Lakers, playing on neutral ground at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Ayton had seven points and a game-high eight rebounds in 25 minutes on the floor, in a 119-115 victory for his team.

The previous game, Ayton had 22 points on 11-for-14 shooting from the field and added six rebounds and two assists in 22 minutes of play in a 134-124 loss for them to the Adelaide 36ers.

Ayton and the Suns will host the Sacramento Kings at 10 o’clock tonight. That game will be played at the Footprint Center, in Phoenix, Arizona.

Chavano ‘Buddy’ Hield and the Indiana Pacers experienced action on Friday.

Hield finished with 13 points on 5-for-10 shooting from the field, and was 3-for-5 from deep, in 20 minutes of play. The Pacers’ shooting guard added four assists, a rebound and a steal as the Pacers fell to the New York Knicks, 131-114, at Madison Square Garden, in Manhattan, New York.

For the preseason, Hield is averaging 10 points on 44.4 percent shooting from the field. He is also shooting 44.4 percent from distance.

Hield and the Pacers host the Knicks at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, tonight. That game will get underway at 7 p.m.

Kai Jones experienced action for the Charlotte Hornets on Monday.

The Hornets’ second-year forward/center had two points, two rebounds, an assist and a block in about nine minutes of play. The Hornets fell to the Washington Wizards, 116-107, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

For the preseason, Jones is averaging 3.67 points on 37.5 percent shooting from the floor. He adds three rebounds per game.

The Hornets play the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, tonight. That game gets underway at 7 p.m.

The Suns have a 1-2 win/loss record in the preseason, the Pacers are 1-1, and the Hornets are winless at 0-4.

The NBA regular season tips off on Tuesday, October 18.

https://thenassauguardian.com/ayton-records-double-double-in-preseason-action/

 Home|Sports|Bahamian collegiate swimmers experience actionSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailOctober 12, 2022 239 4 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Bahamian collegiate swimmers Lamar Taylor, DaVante Carey and Keianna Moss experienced time in the pool competing for their respective schools this past weekend.

Taylor and the Henderson State University Red Wave continued their season with back-to-back meets on Friday and Saturday. Taylor was able to swim seven races on the weekend but his school lost both meets.

On Saturday, Taylor and the Red Wave went up against the Drury University Panthers. They lost 194-104. The collegiate junior, who had a busy summer swimming for The Bahamas, locked up a victory in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 49.51 seconds with splits of 24.08 seconds and 25.43 seconds. The Panthers duo of Nathan Bighetti and Andrew Rodriguez were second and third, respectively. Bighetti swam 51.05 seconds and Rodriguez posted a time of 51.16 seconds.

The Grand Bahama native was a part of the Red Wave trio that swept the podium finish in the 50-yard freestyle. He placed second in 20.75 seconds with Jack Armstrong winning that event in 20.48 seconds. Jase Pinckney swam 21.21 seconds to place third.

The trio teamed up with Jaren Tippett in a hotly contested 400-yard medley relay race against Drury. In the end, it was the Red Wave who touched the wall first after swimming 3:20.04. Drury swam 3:21.08 to finish second while their ‘B’ team was third in 3:28.20.

In the 200-yard free relay, the Red Wave swapped out Tippett for Patryk Dabrowski and won in 1:21.86. Taylor anchored the team and was the only swimmer in that race to go sub-20 seconds on his split with a time of 19.86 seconds.

The previous day, the Red Wave hosted the Oklahoma Christian University Eagles at the Wells Natatorium in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. They lost 117-114. The highlight of that meet, particularly for the Red Wave, was the 200-yard free relay team swimming a 2023 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) qualifying time of 1:20.19. This time, Taylor swam a 19.34 seconds split on the final leg. They held off the Eagles team who clocked 1:21.78. The Red Wave ‘B’ team was third in 1:26.60.

Taylor won the 100-yard back after posting a time of 50.07 seconds. The Eagles’ Reese McIlroy touched the wall in 52.52 seconds to place second. McIIroy’s teammate Noah Rabb placed third after touching the wall in 53.11 seconds.

The Red Wave’s 400-yard medley relay team placed second this time with a time of 3:22.74. The team was the same as squad which swam on Saturday. The Eagles won that race in 3:22.20. The Eagles ‘B’ team was third with a time of 3:29.67.

The Red Wave will take a break this weekend and will host Ouachita Baptist University on October 21.

Carey and Moss were in action for the McKendree University Bearcats who opened its 2022-2023 season. Carey and the men’s team only had one dual meet while Moss and the women’s team had two duals.

Carey and Moss were in action on Friday when they hosted the NCAA Division I Southern Illinois University Salukis. Carey and the men won their matchup 146-134. Moss and the women’s team fell 229-69. The second meet was on Saturday against the Illinois State University Cardinals, but Moss and the Bearcats fell 218-81.

Carey placed second in the men’s 100-yard butterfly with a time of 50.76 seconds. Winning the event was his teammate Jack Lustig who clocked 47.95 seconds. The Salukis’ Nicolas Barri Lanuza was third with a time of 50.92.

The Bahamian was also in action in the 100-yard backstroke in which he finished third. He swam a time of 50.12 seconds. Winning that race was Ruard Van Renen who recorded a time of 47.87 seconds.

In the relays, Carey was in action in the 200-yard medley relay and the 400-yard free relay. He and his teammates Lustig, Caleb Law and Arthur Souza placed third in the 200-yard medley relay when they clocked 1:30.72. Their ‘A’ team won with a time of 1:29.83. The Salukis was second after recording a time of 1:30.20.

In the 400-yard free relay, Carey was on the ‘B’ team again but with new teammates. He teamed up with Kirk Brotherton, Nick Khatkovyy and Filip Cigic. They finished fourth with a time of 3:09.96.

Moss swam in her first collegiate meet on Friday. She started her collegiate career with a swim in the 200-yard medley relay in which her team placed third. The team included Grace Credit, Aurora Abbruscato and Karley Sonnenberg. They clocked 1:49.04. Winning that race was the Salukis ‘A’ team with a time of 1:43.85. The Salukis ‘B’ team placed second with a time of 1:47.05.

Moss came away with a third-place finish in the 100-yard fly, recording a time of 58.67 seconds. She finished behind two Salukis athletes. Jasmine Rau won that race in 56.27 seconds. Moss finished fifth in the 100-yard back after touching the wall in 59.94 seconds.

In the 400-yard free relay, Moss and teammates Abbruscato, Natka Kralova and Sarah Gormley placed fourth. They recorded a time of 3:39.91.

Moss and the women’s team traveled to Normal, Illinois, to take on the Cardinals on Saturday. Moss finished second in the 100-yard fly after swimming her way to a time of 59.94 seconds. The Cardinals’ Giulia Basco won in 58.22 seconds. Basco’s teammate Lauren Naeger was third with a time of 1:00.79.

Moss had a tough race in the 100-yard back, but managed to place fourth in 1:01.11. She and her 200-yard free relay team of Gormley, McKenzie Fazio and Jocelyn Zgola finished fourth in 1:42.29.

Both Moss and Carey get this weekend off. The Bearcats will host a tri-meet against Oklahoma Christian University and Saint Louis University October 21-22 at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex in O’Fallon, Illinois.

https://thenassauguardian.com/bahamian-collegiate-swimmers-experience-action/

 Home|Sports|Martial artists put on a showSports

Scores of skilled fighters show up for Black Lotus Empire Tournament

Simba FrenchSend an emailOctober 12, 2022 259 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Anatol Rodgers High School Gymnasium was loud and active on Saturday as martial artists took center stage at the 2nd Black Lotus Empire Martial Arts Tournament.

Black Lotus Empire was the host club and last held that tournament in 2019. It was not held in 2020 and 2021 because of the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was well-attended with 11 schools competing in support of the event that accommodated over 120 participants.

Lead instructor at Black Lotus and organizer Antoniez Higgs said he was happy with how the day went as the students and instructors put on a show.

“It was successful not just in attendance, but also in the results and how persons felt based on their enthusiasm,” Higgs said. “Those persons were very happy and pleased and it felt like everything was pretty much treated fairly for the most part. I got a lot of responses from both parents and instructors. They were happy with much of what we featured. We displayed the many different dimensions of martial arts, which were in forms or katas and we were able to do weapons. There was fighting as well – point fighting and there was also continuous fighting or what they call kickboxing. It didn’t call for persons to be subjected to just one thing.”

The grand champion in kata was Taye Adderley. Malik Rolle was the grand champion in the fighting division and Shawn Roache was the kickboxing lightweight champion. Phillip Smith was the kickboxing heavyweight champion. Alexander Cadet was the women’s kickboxing champion.

Winning kata in the black belt division was Demetrius Robinson. Gino Bowe got the top position for the instructors division. Stanford Oliver nabbed the top spot in the senior adult division while the women’s division was secured by Antoniece Higgs. D’Angelo Francis secured the title in the men’s division.

“The win was good. I was a little nervous. I thank God that I was able to come out with the gold medal,” Francis said.

Francis, who is from Black Lotus, used the sudden wind technique to impress the judges.

Black Lotus’ Raven Young ended up capturing the 13-15 girls beginners using the sudden wind technique too.

“I placed third in the last tournament I competed in, so I was very happy when I placed first,” Young said.

In the 13-15 boys division, Terrell Barrett and J’Vyon Brennen finished with the gold medal, tying for the top spot. The 11-12 girls division was won by T’mea Munroe and Lavardo Butler and Juan Hilson shared the gold medal in the 11-12 boys division.

Higgs was impressed by the performances put on by the participants.

“I saw one did a drunken form which was beautiful. Another did a monkey form which was awesome. There was a lot of athleticism along with a lot of flipping going on inside some of the rings. I think one of the best performances I saw, was the gentleman who used the sword inside the ring,” Higgs said.

The weapons grand champion was Treyvin Brown. Some of the fighters who secured first place finishes were Demi Sargent, Rayvon Burrell, Elkaya Rolle, Kyrie McCoy and Diego Sands.

Black Lotus Empire has been around since 2009 and has over 50 students. The school is the only one in New Providence that teaches Kung Fu and uses the Four Winds style. It has its base at the Holy Cross Anglican Church.

Higgs is looking to put on an event next year around this same time.

The schools that were in attendance were Black Lotus Empire, Bai Sung 26, Bahamas Tong Dojo, Bahamas Karate Academy, 5 Star Karate, Society of Shotokan Stylists, Bahamas Center for Martial Arts, Bahamas Urban Karate, Boys to Men Karate, Four Winds 20 and the National Academy of Martial Arts.

https://thenassauguardian.com/martial-artists-put-on-a-show/

As of Tuesday, October 11, 2022

• Sign in to favorite this
• DiscussComment, Blog about
• Share thisEmail, Facebook, Twitter

Fredrick King Jr

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#HIGHLY touted prospect Fredrick King Jr has joined a veteran Creighton Bluejays basketball programme expected to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

#Head coach Greg McDermott said King and the incoming class of fellow freshmen and transfers bolster the depth of a roster many pundits expect to be one of the most talented in all of NCAA Division I basketball.

#“No question. I’m really excited about that,” McDermott said of the team’s depth following the first official day of practice ahead of the upcoming season. “We’ve got some new pieces so we have to get those new pieces accustomed ot the way that we are going to play. We want to get back to playing a little bit faster. Last year because of the injuries we were really forced to slow things down and control things a little bit more because we didn’t have any depth. But I think we can get back to playing the way we did before which was a little bit more quicker and a little bit free flowing.”

#The Bluejays finished last season 23-12, fourth place in the Big East Conference regular-season standings, and runner-up in the league tournament.

#After receiving an at large bid to the NCAA Tournament, they defeated San Diego State in the first round before they lost in the second round to eventual national champion Kansas Jayhawks.

#They will return five of the top seven scorers from that tournament run and many pundits have targeted them as the favourites to win the Big East.

#“Fredrick is a versatile and an athletic front line player,” McDermott said at the time of his signing. “Having played at NBA Academy Latin America, he has been coached and trained at a high level. His motor and competitive spirit will allow for an immediate impact on our programme.”

#King, a 6’10” frontcourt player out of the NBA Academy (Latin America), decided on the Blue Jays over the BYU Cougars, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, and Utah Utes.

#“They stayed connected to me,” King told the Omaha World Herald of his recruitment, “We started to get a bond, and I had a good relationship with the coaching staff.”

#King said he hopes to learn from and lend support to Bluejays starting centre and Big East Defensive Player of the Year – the 7’1” Ryan Kalkbrenner.

#“(Kalkbrenner) is a great player. He’s bigger than everybody else,” King said, “I’ll come in after Kalkbrenner,” King said. “I’ll be able to help inside while also working on multiple skills.”

#Creighton will open its preseason on October 30 against Drury and the regular season on November 7 against St. Thomas.

#King, a former DW Davis and CI Gibson standout became the first Bahamian to ever receive an invitation to an NBA Academy and made the most of his opportunity in a relatively short time span.

#ESPN listed him as one of the class of 2022’s top prospects emerging from the NBA Academy Invitational last September following his performance at the NBA Academy Invitational.

#He averaged 23 points and 12 rebounds per game on 77 percent shooting from the field at the event hosted by his NBA Academy Latin America programme in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/oct/11/king-and-bluejays-look-ahead-new-season/?news

As of Tuesday, October 11, 2022

• Sign in to favorite this
• DiscussComment, Blog about
• Share thisEmail, Facebook, Twitter

DOMNICK Bridgewater in action.

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#DOMNICK Bridgewater returned to pro basketball in the French Nationale Masculine 2 League on what seemed like a moment’s notice, but it took little time for the young point guard to display midseason form.

#Bridgewater finished with 23 points and nine assists for US Avignon Pontet Basket in an 88-83 loss to La Ravoire Challes on October 9.

#This marks the third season for the 22-year-old guard in France’s NM2 League. Originally a member of the FOS-Sur- Mer Byers of the Pro B League, the team placed Bridgewater on loan to Sapela Basket 13 for a late 2020 playoff run. Although his time with the team came to an early end due to COVID-19, he went on to receive a promotion in the Byers’ system with the Pro B team.

#He averaged 16.7 points and 10.4 assists per game with three double doubles in four games. He returned to Sapela for a full campaign the following season.

#The following season, Bridgewater led Sapela Basket 13 club to the Coupe de Provence title. He finished with 17 points and six assists in the finale. He led the team in scoring at 18.3 points per game and recorded three double doubles.

#The first Bahamian to sign a professional basketball contract straight out of high school, Bridgewater spent his first season as a member of the Byers’ Epoirs (Junior League – U21). In 28 games, he averaged 15.7 points, 4.1 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game.

#After a promising start to his second season in the U21 ranks, he was made eligible to the A roster with a call up to participate in the LNB Pro B Leaders Cup. At the time of his call up, Bridgewater dominated the NM3 league at 23.7 points and 7.5 assists per game.

#“God has placed me in this route, so I’m pretty pleased about it,” Bridgewater told Tribune Sports. “I’m enjoying it because my ultimate goal is to get to the highest level that I can get, whether it’s here in France or wherever I end up playing. I have to learn the plays and get used to the guys on the team. I’m confident that I will be able to step right in and make my presence felt.”

#Over the course of the summer, Bridgewater made another appearance with the senior men’s national team at the FIBA World Cup ‘23 Qualifiers.

#He also joined Raw Talent Elite to help lead his club to a historic win to open the 2022 Summer of Thunder series against NCAA teams.

#He finished with 12 points and six rebounds but it was his trio of clutch free throws down the stretch that sealed a 66-64 win over the University of South Alabama Jaguars on July 31 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/oct/11/23-points-and-nine-assists-domnick-bridgewater/