Netherlands’ Dafne Schippers, left, crosses the finish line to win the Women’s 200 metre final from Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josee Ta Lou, right, and Shaunae Miller-Uibo, centre, at the World Athletics Championships in London Friday, Aug. 11, 2017. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Friday, August 11, 2017

#4.55pm UPDATE: Shaunae Miller-Uibo finished third in the 200m final to win the bronze medal for the Bahamas in 22.15. TyNia Gaither was eighth with 23.07. Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands won the gold and Marie-Josée Ta Lou, of the Ivory Coast, the silver. Full story HERE

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#LONDON, England: Forget about the disastrous 400 metre final that denied her a special place in history. Shaunae Miller-Uibo is determined to leave the 16th IAAF World Championships with at least a medal in the women’s 200 metres.

#After her bid for the 200/400m double went up in smoke in the one-lap final on Wednesday night at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Stadium, Miller-Uibo shook it off and sped to victory in the second of the three semi-finals.

#The Bahamian national record holder clocked an impressive 22.49 seconds to erase any doubts about her fitness, after her legs wobbled in the final 50m of 400 metres the night before.

#“I felt fine. I just want to go out and put on a great show tomorrow night,” said Miller-Uibo, after she matched the qualifying time of defending champion Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands. Schippers won heat two which also featured Anthonique Strachan. “I had to refocus for the 200m and now I’m ready to compete.”

#Looking back at what transpired in the 400m final where she blew a considerable lead, Miller-Uibo cleared up any misconception of what transpired in the final 50 metres of the race that was won by American Phyillis Francs, followed by Silva Eid Naser from Bahrain and American Allyson Felix.

#“I had the race under control, everything felt fine and then I took a look up at the screen, lost my balance and that was about a wrap up,” she said. “By the time I caught myself, the race was already done, so I live and I learn through it. I’m getting over it and focusing on the 200m.”

#And if you’re wondering, Miller-Uibo said she didn’t let her misfortune in the 400m get to her.

#“One thing about me is I love a strong competition,” she insisted. “The girls came out there and did their best. But one thing about me is that I’m not afraid to lose. Every time I step out there, I give a good try. That is what I do.”

#Coming into the championships, 22-year-old Miller-Uibo lowered the national record to 22.71, the second fastest time in the world this year behind her American training partner Tori Bowie, who was unable to suit up for the preliminaries after she went down with a spill that left her bruised after winning the 100m.

#Jamaican Olympic double sprint gold medalist Elaine Thompson also missed the start after she only contested the 100m where she was fifth.

#But Miller-Uibo said she’s prepared to do whatever it takes to get her second global gold to match the one she got in the 400m last year at the Olympic Games.

#“My focus coming in here was the 400 and 200,” she summed up. “We (coaching staff) just refocus and get ready for the 200.”

#And for the record, Miller-Uibo reiterated that when she looked up at the screen, she lost her balance, kicked into the track with her left leg and things just fell out of place for her in that 400m final.

#“A lot of people were thinking that it was (a cramp), but I just lost my balance,” she concluded.

#She will get a chance to redeem herself in the final when she will run out of lane five at 4:50 pm EST next to Schippers in six and Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josee Ta Lou, the 100m silver medalist, in four.

#Another Bahamian, TyNia Gaither, will be making her global final debut when she runs out of line three. She finished in fourth place in her heat with 22.85 for the last of the two fastest losers spots.

#It will be the first time in the championships that the Bahamas will have two competitors in the final of the half-lap race.

Bahrain’s Edidiong Ofonime Odiong, Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Jamaica’s Simone Facey and Switzerland’s Mujinga Kambundji race in their women’s 200m semifinal heat. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Thursday, August 10, 2017

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#LONDON, England: It was a day of redemption for national record holder Shaunae Miller-Uibo and an emotional one for TyNia Gaither as they both booked their ticket to an historic women’s 200 metre final for the Bahamas at the 16th IAAF World Championships.

#It will be the first time that the Bahamas has had two competitors in the event which takes place on Friday at 4:50pm EST. But Anthonique Strachan, the other Bahamian contesting the semifinal on Thursday inside the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Stadium, failed to make the cut.

Anthonique Strachan runs in her semifinal heat. Photo: Kermit Taylor/Bahamas Athletics

#Strachan, the first of the three competitors to compete in the three heats, came off the curve out of contention and wasn’t able to make up any ground as she finished eighth in 23.21 for 16th place overall.

#However, a rejuvenated Miller-Uibo, looking well rested and confident coming off that disappointing 400m final on Wednesday night, didn’t leave anything to chance as she powered from behind for her victory in 22.49 seconds. 

#“I felt fine. I just want to go out and put on a great show tomorrow night,” said Miller-Uibo, as she matched the qualifying time of defending champion Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands in winning heat two that featured Strachan. “I had to refocus for the 200m and now I’m ready to compete.”

#Miller-Uibo also cleared up any misconceptions about what transpired in the final 50 metres of the 400m final was won by American Phyillis Francs, followed by Silva Eid Naser from Bahrain and American Allyson Felix.

#“I had the race under control, everything felt fine and then I took a look up at the screen, lost my balance and that was about a wrap up,” she said. “By the time I caught myself, the race was already done, so I live and I learn through it. I’m getting over it and focusing on the 200m.”

#Gaither duplicated Miller-Uibo’s feat, reeling in two competitors for fourth place in 22.85. It turned out to be the last of two fastest qualifiers that earned her a trip to her first global final.

#As she entered the mixed zone to speak to the media, Gaither’s performance brought her to tears.

#“It’s the best feeling in life,” said Gaither, who is making her breakthrough in her first professional season. “My season was so long and so hard. I fought hard for that. To be able to do that is a blessing.”

#When the final is contested on Friday, Miller-Uibo and Gaither will be out to become the first Bahamians to medal in the event in the championships since Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie was elevated from silver to gold due to a doping violation by American Marion Jones in 2001 in Edmonton, Canada.

#Miller-Uibo, 22, has the second fastest time for the year at 21.91 behind her American training partner Tori Bowie, who had to withdrew from the 200m after she tumbled over and bruised herself at the end of winning the 100m title. Miller-Uibo’s national record is set at 21.971.

#Gaither, 24, was tied with Jamaican Shashalee Forbes with the 13th best time of 22.71. Gaither has a personal best of 22.54.

#The lane assignments for the final have Canada’s Crystal Emmanuel in two, Gaither in three, 100m silver medalist Marie-Josee Ta Lou from the Ivory Coast in four, Miller-Uibo in five, Schippers in six, American Daejah Stevens in seven, Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith in eight and American Kimberley Duncan in nine.

The Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Tynia Gaither In Doha.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#DOHA, Qatar: Running blind out of lane two of the women’s 100 metres heats, Tynia Gaither bolted out to a terrific start, but didn’t see the rest of the field as they reeled her in.

#Competing in his first sprint double at the International Amateur Athletic Federation’s World Championships, Gaither overcame the jitters in the first event on day two at the Khalifa International Stadium as she surged to a fourth place finish in the fourth of six heats in a time of 11.24 seconds.

#That was good enough for 16th overall with the fastest non-automatic qualifiers for a spot in Sunday’s semifinal on day three, starting at 2:20 pm EST.

#She will run out lane three in the first of three heats, next to Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson in four, for a spot in the final at 4:20 pm when the first two finishers and the next two fastest finishers will advance.

#“I couldn’t see anything. I didn’t know how fast I got out, but that was something that I was working on,” said Gaither, who led the race for the first 70 metres. “It felt really good.

#“I couldn’t tell my pace in the race until the last 20 metres, but overall my body felt great, relaxed and focused. I got my jitters out. My mind is where it should be.”

#After she got caught before she reached the finish line, Gaither trailed Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, who won the heat in 10.96 and American English Gardner and Jamaican Jonielle Smith, both in a photo finish in 11.20, for second and third respectively.

#Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce set the stage by posting the fastest qualifying time ever for the championships in 10.80 to win the first heat.

#Marie-Josee Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast followed that performance by equaling her lifetime best of 10.85 to take heat two.

#Despite the times, Gaither said she aims to come back on Sunday and secure her berth in the final. She will have to get out of the semifinal at 2:20 pm on day three for the final at 4:20 pm EST.

#Gaither, 26, comes into the championships having ran her lifetime best of 11.04 this season. She will come back on Monday to pursue her quest for the 200m with Anthonique Strachan, starting at 10:05 am EST.

#“I just want to speak on behalf of Team Bahamas. Everything that we do out here, although we are a small team, we are doing it with you in mind,” she stated. “We’re still grieving, but we are putting all of our energy out there to make you proud.”

#The Grand Bahamian native said although she was in Europe competing and training for the championships, she heard that some of her family members were adversely affected by the passing of Hurricane Dorian, but no lives were lost.

#She added hat she’s disappointed that the Bahamas won’t have any relay teams competing here in the championships: “That’s very painful, but next year and the year after, that won’t happen.”

#And she assured the public that the athletes will have a sit down and make it a priority to “show up” in relay events at these games.

#Even with Strachan along with three quarter-milers – Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Steven Gardiner and Alonzo Russell – the Bahamas was not able to get into the first mixed gender 4 x 400m relay heats that was contested on Saturday.

#The Bahamas was not able to obtain one of the top 16 times in the world in order to compete here in either the women’s 4 x 100 or the men’s 4 x 400m relay, two events in which the country has had a great deal of success in the past.

#Here’s a glance of what to expect next week:

#Sunday

#1:05 pm EST – Men’s 200m heats

#Terrance Jones, heat one, lane 4.

#(First three in each heat and the next three fastest finishes advances to the semifinal on Monday at 1:50 pm.

#2:20 pm EST – Women’s 100m semifinal.

#Tynia Gaither in lane three in the first of three heats.

#(First two and next two fastest finishers advance to the final at 4:20 pm EST.).

#Monday

#9:30 am EST – Women’s 200m heats

#Anthonique Strachan and Tynia Gaither.

#11:20 am EST – Women’s 400m heats.

#Shaunae Miller-Uibo.

#1:50 pm EST – Men’s 200m semifinal.

#Terrance Jones – If he advances.

#Tuesday,

#9:35 am EST – Men’s 400m heats.

#Steven Gardiner and Alonzo Russell.

#9:50 am EST – Men’s high jump qualifying round.

#Donald Thomas.

#1:50 pm EST – Women’s 400m semifinal.

#Shaunae Miller-Uibo.

The Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Monday, September 30, 2019

#DOHA, Qatar — Here’s a glance of the upcoming events for Team Bahamas at the International Amateur Athletic Federation’s 17th World Championships:

#Tuesday, October 1

#Men’s 400m heats

#9:35am EST – Steven Gardiner and Alonzo Russell.

#Men’s high jump qualifying round.

#9:50am EST – Donald Thomas

#Women’s 400m semifinal

#1:50pm EST – Shaunae Miller-Uibo.

#Wednesday, October 2

#Men’s 400m Semifinal

#1:35 pm EST – Steven Gardiner and Alonzo Russell, if they both advances.

#Women’s 200m Final

#2:35 pm EST – Tynia Gaither and Anthonique Strachan, if they both advances.

#Thursday, October 3

#Women’s 400m Final

#3:50 pm EST – Shaunae Miller-Uibo, if she advances.

#Friday, October 4

#Men’s High Jump Final

#1:50pm EST – Donald Thomas, if he advances.

#Men’s 400m Final

#3:20pm EST – Steven Gardiner and Alonzo Russell, if they both advance.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo in her 400m semifinal race. Photo: Kermit Taylor/Bahamas Athletics

Monday, August 7, 2017

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#LONDON, England: Shaunae Miller-Uibo joined Steven Gardiner in securing her berth in the final of the women’s 400 metres at the 16th IAAF World Championships.

#On Monday night at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Stadium, Miller-Uibo was untested as she coasted to victory in 50.36 seconds in the opening of the three heats in the semi-final.

#It turned out to be the third fastest qualifying time, trailing Salva Eid Naser of Bahrain, the winner of heat two in a national record of 50.08 ahead of American defending champion Allyson Felix, the second place finisher in 50.12.

#“I felt fine. I just wanted to make it through the rounds and I felt I did a pretty good job of it,” said Miller-Uibo moments after she completed the race. “I just want to get ready for the 200 tomorrow.”

#On Tuesday, Miller-Uibo will be back in action when she contests the first round of the women’s 200, the other half of her individual mission here.

#She will run out of lane five in the fourth of seven heats at 3:02 pm. The other two Bahamians in the field are Ty’Nia Gaither in lane seven – next to the Netherlands’ 100m bronze medallist Dafne Schippers in six – and Anthonique Strachan in lane eight in with Ivory Coast’s 100m silver medallist Marie-Josee Ta Lou in four.

#The first three in each heat and the next three fastest finishers will move on to the semi-final, scheduled for Thursday with the final on Friday.

#Tuesday at 4:50 pm EST, Steven Gardiner will go after the first medal for Team Bahamas at these championships in the men’s 400m final against world record holder Wayde van Niekiek, who is attempting the men’s 200/400m double.

#However, it was revealed that Isaac Makwala of Botswana withdrew from the men’s 200m due to a medical condition on the instruction of the IAAF Medical Delegate.

#As a result, Makwala won’t be eligible for the 400m.

#Still waiting to compete are Bianca ‘BB’ Stuart in the women’s long jump qualifier on Wednesday at 2:10 pm EST with the final on Friday at 2:10 pm EST; Devynne Charlton in the preliminaries of the women’s 100m hurdles on Friday at 6:05 am EST with the final on Saturday at 3:05 pm and Donald Thomas in the men’s high jump qualifying on Friday at 6:15 am EST and the final on Sunday at 2pm EST.

#The men and women’s 4 x 100 and 4 x 400m relays will be in the spotlight on Saturday and Sunday as the championships come to a close.

Friday, August 11, 2017

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#LONDON, England: The last three days of competition this weekend at the 16th IAAF World Championships will be interesting ones for Team Bahamas, just as the first seven were – with one medal and two finalists on the stage in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Stadium.

#National record holder Shanuae Miller-Uibo and TyNia Gaither willl be the Bahamas’ first 1-2 punch in an individual final after they both booked their lanes in come-from-behind fashion, Miller-Uibo taking her heat in 22.49 after her disappointment in the 400m and Gaither in fourth in 22.85 for the last of two fastest losers spots.

#Today at 4:50 pm EST, Miller-Uibo will run out of lane five, next to defending champion Dafne Schippers from the Netherlands in six, while Gaither will be in three. They will be attempting to join men’s 400m silver medalist Steven Gardiner on the podium.

#Also today, two competitors will compete in their individual events during the qualifying round of competition in the morning session with the final of the women’s 200m taking the spotlight in the evening session.

#The last two days will be devoted to the relays, including the participation of the men’s 4 x 100m team in light of a positive drug testing of one of the former teammates.

#Devynne Charlton, making her global debut after injury prevented her from contesting the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil last year, will run out of lane nine in the third of five heats in the women’s 100m hurdles at 6:01 am EST.

#American world record holder Kendra Harrison is in lane two – the top four and the next four fastest qualifiers will head to the semifinal at 2:05 pm.

#The final will be on Saturday at 3:05 pm.

#Charlton, a red-shirt junior at Purdue University, comes into the championships with a personal and season’s best of 12.74 after having a sensational collegiate season.

#Back for his fifth appearance at the championships since ascending the top of the dais as the world champion in 2009 in Daegu, South Korea.

#33-year-old Donald Thomas will be out to improve on his sixth place finishes in the last two championships in Beijing, China in 2015 and Moscow, Russia in 2013.

#With a season’s best of 2.31 metres, well below his PB of 2.37m, Thomas will be the 13th out of a field of 14 competitors to take to the run-way in the qualifying round of Group A of the men’s high jump on Friday at 6:15 am EST.

#Another field of 14 competitors will line up in Group B with everybody getting a chance to clear the automatic height of 2.31m or wait to see who will be the best 12 performers to clinch their berth in the final – staged on Sunday at 2 pm EST.

#The heats of the women’s 4 x 100m relay will be contested at Saturday at 5:35 am EST with the Bahamas using a combination of Keianna Albury, Jenae Ambrose, Carmiesha Cox, TyNia Gaither and Anthonique Strachan.

#The men’s 4 x 100m will follow at 5:55 am EST, but Shavez Hart, Joel Johnson, Teray Smith and Sean Stuart may have to wait to see if they will be allowed to compete after it was further discovered that the B sample of a member of the relay team that qualified at the IAAF World Relays came back positive.

#Originally, the athlete’s A sample tested positive for a banned substance, but unconfirmed reports have surfaced that the B test returned positive, which may put the team’s participation in the championships here in jeopardy.

#If they do compete and qualify, the men’s 4 x 1 relay final will close out the night at 4:50 pm EST, just after the women’s final takes place at 4:30 pm EST.

#Also on Saturday, the heats of the women’s 4 x 400m relay will be around 6:20 am EST with Christine Amertil, Doneisha Anderson, Lanece Clarke, Shaquania Dorsett, Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Antonique Strachan listed to make up the quartet.

#The final will be on Sunday at 3:55 pm EST.

#And the men’s 4 x 4 team, which is expected to comprise of 400m silver medalist Steven Gardiner, Michael Mathieu, Ramon Miller, Alonzo Russell and Kendrick Thompson, will run the heats on Saturday at 6:50 am EST.

#The final will close out the championships on Sunday at 4:15 pm EST.

Friday, July 28, 2017

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#A POSITIVE drug test of the A sample from one of the Bahamas sprinters on the men’s 4x100m relay team at the IAAF World Relays in April means there will be a change to the line-up at next week’s IAAF World Championships in London.

#Two days ago, the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations named a 21-member team for the championships, but excluded the men’s 400m relay team as they waited on the final conformation that they would be allowed to compete from the IAAF.

#That confirmation was given yesterday and the Bahamas will have all four relay teams participating in the event that will run from August 3-14.

#BAAA’s president Rosamunde Carey said they are thrilled that the IAAF has granted the team permission to compete in the championships, despite the allegation of a positive test.

#“I can’t confirm a positive drug testing because there is a procedure that we have to follow,” Carey said. “There is an Athletes Drug Integrity Unit. All information will flow through them because they have to notify any athlete if there is a positive testing.

#“If there is a positive testing of an A sample, nothing can be done until they give you the opportunity to have your B sample tested at the athlete’s expense. Once that process is done, if the B sample is tested positive, then based on what the substance is, they would met out whatever punishment whether or not there is a ban, a suspension or just a warning.”

#Carey said at this point, she can’t make a statement on any athlete testing positive because the athlete has to go through the process.

#“We have a letter from the Athletes Drug Integrity Unit that oversees drug testing and disciplinary actions against athletes who have tested positive,” she said.

#“We can’t say until the process is completed. Any and all athletes have a right to privacy, until such time as the IAAF makes a public statement.”

#The team of Warren Fraser, Shavez Hart, Cliff Resias and Adrian Griffith finished third in the B final behind winner Trinidad & Tobago and second place finisher Germany at the World Relays at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium on April 22.

#The three teams were elevated to the sixth, seventh and eighth spots respectively, thus qualifying for London, after only five teams completed the A final.

#The United States won the gold medal with Barbados taking the second and China getting third. Australia and France were fourth and fifth respectively.

#Canada, Great Britain and the Netherlands all failed to finish the race after they experienced difficulties on their baton exchanges.

#Named to the Bahamas team for individual events in London are Shaunae Miller-Uibo (women’s 200/400m); Anthonique Strachan, Ty’Nia Gaither and Jenae Abrose (women’s 200m, although only three will be allowed to compete); Devynne Charlton (women’s 100m hurdles); Teray Smith (men’s 200m); Steven Gardiner (men’s 400m), Donald Thomas (men’s high jump), Bianca Stuart (women’s long jump), Tamara Myers (women’s triple jump) and Warren Fraser (men’s 100m).

#Added for relay duties are Camiesha Cox and Keianna Albury (women’s 4 x 100m); Shaquania Dorsett, Lanece Clarke, Christine Amertil and Doneisha Anderson (women’s 4 x400m relay); Shavez Hart, Shawn Stuart and Joel Johnson (men’s 4 x 100m relay) and Michael Mathieu, Alonzo Russell, Kendrick Thompson, Ramon Miller and Ojay Ferguson (men’s 4 x 400m relay).

#The IAAF has taken a hard stance against the use of banned substances. They will be awarding a number of athletes and relay teams with medals during the championships after they were elevated following various positive drug tests at the last championships in Beijing, China.

YOUNG athletes take part in the BAAAs test event for the 3rd IAAF World Relays Bahamas – the event is set to be held April 22-23 at Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#BAHAMAS Association of Athletic Associations’ president Rosamunde Carey said she feels the Local Organising Committee is ready to host the third version of the IAAF World Relays next month.

#The BAAA held a test event on Saturday and Sunday, featuring the high school teams that participated in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s National High School Track and Field Championships.

#The teams competed in the same format of events that will be contested during the World Relays set for April 22-23 at Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

#“We felt that the test event went very well,” said Carey following the busy weekend. “The test event was for us to test all of the logistics for the World Relays. We had very few hiccups that we will have to address.

#“But as far as the event itself, we thought it was a resounding success. The senior directors from each department have not yet formally met to discuss the event, but from all indications from them, there were very minimum things that we would have to improve for the actual event.”

#One of the things that will have to get immediate attention is the jumbotron on the southern end of the stadium in front of the finish line. The large mintor board had a malfunction and was not used during the Test Event.

#The National Sports Authority has indicated that they experienced some mechanical problems as a result of the passing of Hurricane Matthew last year and they are just waiting on a part to be delivered to the Bahamas to fix the problem.

#While everything else for the most part seemed to be in place, the BAAA capitalized on the more than 600 athletes from 44 schools that participated in the three-day nationals that were held from Wednesday to Friday to be featured in the Test Event and based on the results turned in, Carey said she was quite impressed.

#“I thought the New Providence schools were a bit relaxed and they didn’t think that they were going to get the stiff competition that they got from the Family Island schools, in particular North Andros, who won the boys 4 x 400m relay,” Carey said.

#“So for us, we’re elated because it means that we are looking for a very solid showing at the Carifta trials that will be held next weekend.”

#The top eight schools in each of the relays contested this weekend will be invited back to compete for the Golden Baton as the champions of the junior segment of the World Relays, which is expected to surpass the record of 514 athletes from 42 countries in 2015 when the second edition was held.

#The United States, the two-time champions of the Golden Baton, will headline the list of participants in the 4 x 100m, 4 x 200m, 4 x 400m and 4 x 800m for both men and women, as well as the introduction of the mixed 4 x 400m relay for men and women that will close out the competition.

#Based on the performances turned in, Carey said they should have a very competitive Carifta trials next week Thursday to Saturday as they prepare to select the national team to compete in the Carifta Games in Curacao over the Easter holiday weekend.

# “We’re looking for a very exciting season for our junior athletes,” Carey summed up. “We have some really good meets coming up for them to compete in.”

#Immediately following the Carifta trials, the BAAA will be selecting a team to participate in the 8th IAAF World Youth for under-18 athletes in Nairobi, Kenya and the sixth Commonwealth Youth Games here from July 19-23 for more than 1,000 athletes between the ages of 14-18 years in seven different disciplines.

JOB WELL DONE: Prime Minister Perry Christie (3rd from left) and Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson (3rd from right) share a special moment with the gold-medal winning mixed relay team of Steven Gardiner (far left), Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Anthonique Strachan and Michael Mathieu (far right). Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune staff

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#One gold medal and two qualifications for the IAAF World Championships was what Team Bahamas mustered at the 3rd IAAF/BTC World Relays at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium over the weekend.

#For Rosamunde Carey, the president of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations, the performances were not what she expected, but she was still satisfied.

#“I thought that Team Bahamas had some misses, but I was really pleased with what we accomplished,” said Carey, who also serves as the chief executive officer of the Local Organising Committee for the World Relays.

#At the end of the two-day championships, the Bahamas picked up a gold medal from the mixed gender 4 x 400 metre team of Steven Gardiner, Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Anthonique Strachan and Michael Mathieu.

#The women’s 4 x 100m relay teams of Devine Parker, Brianne Bethel, Tyler Carter and Tynia Gaither and the men’s team of Warren Fraser, Shavez Hart, Cliff Resias and Adrian Griffith also booked their tickets to London, England, for the IAAF World Championships in August. However, the men and women 4 x 400m teams both fell short.

#“We were pleased that the men’s 4 x 1 got in, but we knew that the women’s 4 x 1 had a very good chance of qualifying,” she said. “We were really pleased that we now have two of our relay teams qualified. So that takes the pressure off our athletes in those events. We now have to focus on the 4 x 400m teams. They will be going to the Penn Relays next week and, with the men sitting in the ninth spot and the women in 11th, we’re hoping that they can produce the times so that they can get to compete.”

#Carey said that while they had the athletes at home in the training camp to qualify in all four relays, things didn’t pan out as expected for the 4 x 4 teams.

#“We know we can field a full slate of relays in London,” she said. “So that is what we are working towards right now.”

#While both the men and women 4 x 4 teams didn’t make it to the A final, which would have given them automatic berths into the World Championships, the ladies’ team withdrew from the B final after Miller and Strachan concentrated on competing in the mixed relay.

#“We also had some problems with one of our reserves, Wendira Moss, who had to be pulled from the team at the last minute to go back to school, which was very disappointing,” Carey said.

#“And Rashan Brown said she felt a slight injury right after she ran in the heat. She did not run at her full potential because she felt that she had a slight strain and we were not able to field a 4 x 4 team.”

#With the team not able to run, Carey said the focus switched to the mixed gender relay where Team Bahamas got the first victory to ascend the medal podium and have the national anthem played in the stadium during the award ceremony.

#“She was a great team player,” Carey said. “She ran a great first leg and put the team in contention in the 4 x 4. We just fell short in the end. But we got redemption in the mixed relay.”

#With the Penn Relays, scheduled for this weekend in Philadelphia, Carey said they will be sending the two 4 x 4 teams to ensure that they put in a time that will keep them within the top 16 to be able to compete in London.

#She noted that while Ramon Miller is scheduled to compete, they will be without the services of Miller-Uibo, Gardiner and Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown, who are all sponsored by adidas and are committed to competing in the Drake Relays at the same time.

#“The Bahamas has had some great relationships with Penn’s and we were invited back to compete. We know that the women’s team will struggle, but we are confident that they will give it their best shot.

#“Once that’s done, we expect that we will have our collegiate athletes who will be available to compete in meets after the NCAA Championships in June and so we still have some time to qualify.”

#The Bahamas is now preparing to host the 2019 edition of the World Relays, just after they stage the 2018 Carifta Games. So there’s still a lot of work to be done from both the administrative to the athletic side of the event.

#“The planning has just begun with Keith Parker, Lionel Haven and myself,” she pointed out. “We are going to have a meeting to sit down and determine what went wrong and what areas we need to improve on.

#“I know one of the things that we had some issues with were the accreditation. We had some people in some areas who should not have been given accreditation. So that is something the international body responsible was concerned about.”

#Originally, Carey said they had pegged about 4,000 to be accredited, but once the process began, it swelled to more than 6,900.

#“A lot of persons got in, who should not have been accredited,” she pointed out. “But overall, I would say that the reports coming back to us are that all of the teams and the athletes enjoyed themselves and they are committed to coming back.”

#Carey thanked all of those persons who served as volunteers in making sure that the event was a success, despite any hiccups that they might have experienced

Monday, April 3, 2017

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#WHEN the third edition of the IAAF/BTC World Relays Bahamas 2017 comes to the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium later this month, the Bahamas will assemble a 31-member team, focusing primarily on the men and women 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 metre relays.

#BAAAs president Rosamunde Carey said they originally had a list of more than 40 competitors who had expressed an interest in competing, but they had to reduce the numbers after some were committed to their colleges and universities in the United States.

#“We do believe that we will have a good team,” Carey summed up.

#The goal, according to team manager Philippa Willie, is to ensure that the Bahamas puts itself in the best position before the home crowd at Thomas A Robinson National Stadium to qualify for the IAAF World Championships in August in London, England.

#Willie, however, is not ruling out the possibility of the Bahamas fielding teams in the 4 x 200m. She also noted that the Bahamas would certainly contest the newly implemented mixed 4 x 400m relay that will close out this year’s two-day programme.

#“We have ratified a team of 31 athletes. Those team members will comprise the 4 x 1, 4 x 4 and we might have a 4 x 2. But the majority of the members will comprise the men and women 4 x 100 and 4 x 400m relays,” Willie said.

#Named to the women’s team are the following:

#Devine Parker, Jamicka McBride, V’Alonee Robinson, Wendira Moss, Rashan Brown, Brianna Bethel, Christine Amertil, TyNia Gaither, Shaunae Miller, Lanece Clarke, Kayla Carter, Anthonique Strachan and Tamara Myers.

#Named to the men’s team are:

#Andretti Bain, Chris Brown, Warren Fraser, Steven Gardiner, Adrian Griffith, Shavez Hart, Michael Mathieu, Ramon Miller, Blake Bartlett, Samson Colebrooke, Javan Martin, Ian Kerr, Robert Johnson, Demetrius Pinder, Stephen Newbold, Ashley Riley, Andre Colebrooke and Elroy McBridge.

#“I’m excited about the team,” Willie said. “For the most part, I think we will have a successful 4 x 1 and 4 x 4. The 4 x 1 and the 4 x 4 are qualifiers for the World Championships in London.”

#Fritz Grant will be the head coach of the team, assisted by Sidney Cartwright, Wendall Collie, John Ingraham, Rudolph Ferguson, Ravanno Ferguson and Cherishe Hollingsworth.

#According to Willie, the BAAA intend to hold a relay camp that will begin on April 12 here at the stadium and she confirmed that the majority of the athletes have confirmed their participation.

#BAAA’s president Rosamunde Carey said that while they have named Grand Bahamian Javon Martin, the top high school sprinter, to the team, he’s still nursing an injury sustained during the Test Run last month.

#“He has to prove fitness next Saturday,” said Carey, who noted that he was exempted from competing in the final Carifta trials this weekend, but was named to the team heading to Curacao over the Ester holiday weekend after qualifying in the under-20 boys 100 and 200m.

#“He just wanted to rest, but he will show fitness at 10 o’clock on Saturday in Freeport.”

#Based on the performances turned in at the World Relays, Carey said the BAAA would be selecting a team that will represent the Bahamas at the Penn Relays Carnival, scheduled for the end of April. The team will be competing in the USA against the World 4 x 400m relays for men and women.

#“We are hoping that we will be in the top eight here at the World Relays,” Carey said. “That same team will go to the Penn Relays with coach Grant and coach Cartwright and our understudy coach Ravanno Ferguson.”

#The IAAF/BTC World Relays Bahamas 2017 is set for April 22-23 at the TAR National Stadium. The United States of America are the two-time defending champions of the Golden Baton, the award presented to the winning country.

#In 2015 when the second addition was held, only the Bahamas men’s 4 x 400m team advanced to the final where they qualified for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janerio, Brazil. The women’s 4 x 400m had to wait for a last chance meet and the ban on Russia to get in.

#Both the men and women 4 x 100m relay teams failed to get into the final in 2015 and missed out on the opportunity to qualify in any other events to go to Rio de Janeiro to compete.

#The BAAA is hoping that the teams selected this year will advance to the finals and book their tickets to London.