Home|Sports|Big throws for Blue Chip AthleticsSports

Club continues to produce top performances at track and field meets

Sheldon LongleySend an emailMarch 24, 2023 484 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Blue Chip Athletics continues to produce some of the top throwers in the country, and by extension the region, getting young Bahamian athletes qualified and prepared for major international competitions.

The 50th Oaktree CARIFTA Games is just two weeks away, set for the Easter holiday weekend, April 8-10 at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium. The final local qualifier, the Bahamas National High School Track and Field Championships/CARIFTA Trials, will be held this weekend, March 25-27, at the stadium. There are more than 40 qualifiers for The Bahamas’ team and throwers, particularly Blue Chip Athletics and Air Assault athletes, occupy a significant portion of those qualifiers. Air Assault is a branch of the Blue Chip Athletics Throwing Club, catering solely to javelin throwers.

Following a number of top finishes at the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) and Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) athletics championships, the number of qualifiers of throwers from Blue Chip Athletics has risen to eight, and more are expected at the CARIFTA Trials this weekend.

“It’s always a great feeling, a sense of accomplishment when as a coach, you would see your athletes doing great things. It’s an accomplishment, not only for the kids but the coaches and the country as well,” said Corrington Maycock, head coach of Blue Chip Athletics. “These athletes are doing great things, and individually, they all want to be great. Funding is always needed but nonetheless we will continue to produce great throwers and great athletes. We’re thankful for the opportunity to train at Queen’s College and to be able to use that equipment, but when you consider funding, or the lack or funding in this case, that is always needed to get your own equipment and better equipment and continue the trek for these kids to be great. That would be ideal.”

At the BAISS Track and Field Championships, there were first and second finishers by Blue Chip Athletics athletes in the under-20 girls javelin in the persons of Dior-Rae Scott and G’Shan Brown, respectively, in the under-20 girls discus in the persons of Annae Mackey and Brown, respectively, in the under-20 boys javelin in the persons of Kaden Cartwright and Robert Deal II, respectively, and in the under-20 boys shot put in the persons of Deal and Kristian Mondesir, respectively.

There were first place finishes in the under-20 girls shot put with Mackey, in the under-17 boys javelin with Ashton Moxey and in the under-17 girls javelin with a new meet record with the performance of Kamera Strachan. Additionally, there was a medal sweep in the under-20 boys discus with the performances of Cartwright, Deal II and A’jai Culmer, respectively, and there was a first, third and fourth place finish in the under-17 boys shot put given the performances of Tristan King, Jayden Stuart and Reuben Bain, respectively. That trio, in that order, were first, third and seventh in the under-17 boys discus.

In the under-17 girls shot put, Blue Chip Athletics athletes Milan Mondesir and Danielle Nixon, in that order, were second and fourth. In the under-15 girls discus, T’Arjahnaye Green finished second and in the under-17 girls discus, Nixon finished third.

In addition to the eight qualifiers for CARIFTA, seven athletes from Blue Chip Athletics have qualified for the 127th running of the Penn Relays, set for April 27-29, 2023, at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – the home stadium for the University of Pennsylvania’s football, track and field and lacrosse teams.

As far as Blue Chip Athletics collegiate throwers are concerned, Rhema Otabor is representing the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Tarajh Hudson, Bernesha Knowles and Carnitra Mackey are at Northwestern State University, Keyshawn Strachan is at Auburn University, Michaelangelo Bullard is at Texas State University, Acacia Astwood competes for the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Roadrunners, Abner Johnson is at Cowley College, and Latia Saunders represents Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (Florida A&M).

Calea Jackson, Kaden Cartwright and G’Shan Brown have signed their letters of intent to attend the University of Miami in the fall.

“We still need bodies. Every day, we’re searching for new talent. We’re trying to keep the feeder program going, always looking for talented throwers who could be the next top athletes. We’re trying to build the field events, particularly the throwing events so that we could continue to experience success in the future,” said Maycock.

Based on results, Blue Chip Athletics has proven that it provides a top throwing program in the country, and by extension in all of the Caribbean region.

Maycock is looking to get more athletes qualified for the 50th Oaktree CARIFTA Games at the CARIFTA Trials/High School Nationals this weekend.

Like the CARIFTA Games, the CARIFTA Trials/High School Nationals will be held over six sessions from a Saturday to a Monday at the Thomas A. Robinson stadium – just two weeks apart.

The CARIFTA Trials/High School Nationals will get underway at 9 a.m. on each day of the three-day meet. The second sessions each day will start around 3-4 p.m. This is the first time that both events are being combined.

https://thenassauguardian.com/big-throws-for-blue-chip-athletics/

 Home|Sports|Bahamians out of NCAA basketball tournamentsSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailMarch 27, 2023 135 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

All three Bahamians are out of the 2022 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. The last Bahamian to be eliminated was center Fredrick King as he and the University of Creighton Bluejays fell to the San Diego State University Aztecs, 57-56, at the YUM! Center in Louisville, Kentucky, in Elite Eight action on Sunday.

Bahamian head coach for the eighth seeded University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) Lady Rebels Yolett McPhee-McCuin and her team fell 72-62 in the Sweet 16 to the number five seeded University of Louisville Cardinals. That game was played at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington, on Friday. Sports Performance Assistant Coach Bryan Clarke Jr. and the number one seeded University of Houston Cougars were not able to hold off the fifth seeded University of Miami Hurricanes as they lost 89-75 in Sweet 16 action at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Friday.

It was not the ending that King and the Bluejays were hoping for. The Aztecs went to the free throw line with 1.2 seconds left in the game with the score tied at 56 points. They split the free throws and a full-court inbounds pass by the Bluejays did not go their way as time expired and the Aztecs made their first trip to the NCAA Final Four in school history.

The Bluejays could not hold on to the 33-28 lead they held at the end of the first half. It was a back and forth affair in the second half and it went right down to the wire as both teams were looking to play in the Final Four.

King, a freshman, played three minutes on the floor and was only able to tally two rebounds. It’s the end of his freshman year and the South Andros native finished the season averaging 3.4 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. He shot 61 percent from the field and averaged 8.4 minutes in the 37 games he played this season, starting three times.

The Bluejays finished the season with a 24-13 win/loss record that includes a 14-6 Big East Conference record.

The tale of the game for McPhee-McCuin and the Rebels was their shooting from the field as the Cardinals shot the ball at 45.1 percent. The Rebels shot a dismal 37.1 percent from the field and only made four shots from deep.

The Rebels jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead to start the game. However, that lead was quickly erased. The Cardinals took their first lead of 14-13 at the 3:11 mark of the first quarter. The Cardinals led 20-15 heading into the second quarter.

An 8-0 scoring run by the Rebels cut the deficit to win 24-23 at the 5:20 mark of the second period. Ole Miss took their final lead of the game at 29-27 with 3:41 left in that period. The Cardinals took the lead for good on the next possession and went into the half with a 34-29 lead.

The Rebels’ shots were not falling in the third quarter as they went 4-for-13, shooting 30.8 percent from the field. They never recovered from that quarter and eventually lost that game.

The loss brought an end to their coming-out party at this year’s tournament that included the slaying of a giant, number one seeded Stanford University, in the Seattle 4 Region in the second round. It was a good season for the Rebels as they were able to win a program best 11 wins in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They ended the season with a 25-9 win/loss.

Clarke and the Cougars were the last number one seed in the tournament to fall. Their early exit marked the first time in tournament history that the final eight teams did not have a top seeded team since seeding began in 1979.

The Hurricanes started strong early, taking a 7-2 lead at the 16:56 mark of the first half. The Cougars took a 10-9 lead at the 15:15 mark. At the end of the first half, the Hurricanes led, 42-36.

The second half was not kind to the Cougars as they trailed by as much 17 points. They were unable to make a run as the Hurricanes got the win.

The Cougars finished with a 33-4 record and a 17-1 record in the American Athletic Conference.

https://thenassauguardian.com/bahamians-out-of-ncaa-basketball-tournaments/

 Home|Sports|Trinidad and Tobago blanks The Bahamas, 3-0Sports

Simba FrenchSend an emailMarch 27, 2023 119 4 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

A trio of goals in the first 34 minutes was all Trinidad and Tobago needed to come away with a 3-0 victory over The Bahamas in men’s soccer action at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium on Friday.

That loss has The Bahamas senior men’s national soccer team sporting a 1-4 win/loss record to sit in third with three points in League B Group C action in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Nations League. Trinidad and Tobago remains in second place with 12 points and a 4-1 record.

The last time these two teams played, The Bahamas played a more defensive game with just one forward. This game they played with two forwards, and head coach for The Bahamas Nesley Jean said they wanted to play a more attacking game.

“We were in a stage where we wanted to press and get higher up the pitch and closer to their goal,” Jean said. “That is why we wanted to push up our team. When we look at it, we have a young team with most of these guys being in their early 20’s with some being 16, but no excuses. We are going to make mistakes but this is where we learn. As we keep training together and playing more games, we will get there gradually.”

The away team came in with a game plan to attack the Bahamian side early. That worked as they got on the scoreboard in the fifth minute of the game from a rocket shot as the Bahamian goalkeeper Ian Lowe had no chance of stopping it. The shot was in the top-left corner.

Trinidad and Tobago’s head coach Angus Eve, who was happy to get the three points for the win on the road, said his team stuck to their game plan.

“We were trying to put them on their back foot as early as possible. We thought we had the players to hurt them, so we wanted to go after them early. We were able to get a goal in the third minute of the game in Trinidad where they played more defensive. They tried to play a little bit more and it opened up spaces for us,” Eve said.

The Bahamas had a chance in the 10th minute to get an equalizer but a well-placed cross from Quinton Carey to Christopher Rahming saw the latter putting the ball too high off a header.

Trinidad and Tobago’s captain Joevin Jones joined Moses on the scoresheet 21 minutes later with a goal of his own. He was able to put away a perfectly timed pass at the top of Lowe’s six-yard box for an easy goal. Trinidad and Tobago’s Ryan Telfer got a through ball and was able to find the back of the net in the 34th minute to put the visitors up 3-0.

The Bahamas had another chance at scoring just before the half-time whistle when William Bayles struck the ball from outside the 18-yard box to call the Trinidadian goalkeeper Niklas Frenderup into action. He made his first save of the game and denied The Bahamas an opportunity.

With Trinidad and Tobago scoring at such a high rate, it appeared that they had more in their arsenal. However, The Bahamas’ side did not concede another goal in that first half and the visitors went into half-time up 3-0.

Jean said he expected Trinidad and Tobago to come out like this.

“We expected them to be aggressive. If you watched the last two games that we played them, we knew they were coming because we played them close the previous two games. Our guys are young and they are going to make mistakes,” Jean said.

In the second half, the Bahamian side was playing a lot more relaxed and composed. They were unable to find the back of the net although they had several chances to score. They did not concede any more goals.

One of those young players who Jean spoke about is center back Roen Davis. He had some key defensive plays and even created some attacking for The Bahamas.

“I just wanted to go out there today (Friday) and play some defense and not give up a goal,” Davis said. “It was a tough game today and we have to learn from our mistakes. I learned to not step too high and to compose myself.”

Playing on the side of Davis was veteran Lesly St. Fleur who said that it is a learning process.

“It is a pleasure playing with them,” St. Fleur said. “Being an older player on the team, I learn from them and they learn from me – we have to learn from each other to make the team better. It is a young squad and we have to keep them going with a mix of veterans to keep the team going.”

Both teams left The Bahamas to play their final game of the tournament. The Bahamas’ team is in St. Vincent and the Grenadines to take on that country in a match where they have to win or draw to stay in League B. A loss will relegate The Bahamas to League C. St. Vincent and the Grenadines has one point. That match will take place at the Arnos Vale Stadium in the capital city of Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Jean said that they will be ready for that match.

“We need to get our heads up. They did well today (Friday),” Jean said. “We are going to tweak a little because they (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) are a different team. They play a different formation. We did our studies and we will be ready.”

Trinidad and Tobago went home to play the Group C leader, Nicaragua, who has one more point than them. That game, which will be played in Tobago today, will determine the winner of the group.

https://thenassauguardian.com/trinidad-and-tobago-blanks-the-bahamas-3-0/

 Home|Sports|Number of qualifiers soars to over 50Sports

CARIFTA Trials/High School Nationals wrap up today at Thomas A. Robinson stadium

Sheldon LongleySend an emailMarch 27, 2023 74 8 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

As expected, there have been a significant amount of qualifiers for the 50th Oaktree CARIFTA Games over the first two days of the ICS Security Concepts Bahamas National High School Track and Field Championships/CARIFTA Trials, adding to the 40 who had previously qualified.

The three-day meet wraps up this evening at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium – the same venue for the actual CARIFTA Games in less than two weeks’ time. This is the first time that the high school nationals and the CARIFTA Trials are being combined, and the event is serving as a test event for the CARIFTA Games.

In the overall school competition, the St. Augustine’s College (SAC) Big Red Machine are in the lead going into the final day of competition today with 354 points. The Queen’s College Comets are second with 298 points and the St. John’s College Giants round out the top three schools with 123 points. The top government school is the C.R. Walker Knights who are fourth overall with 103 points. The Sunland Baptist Stingers lead the Family Island schools, and are fifth overall, with 94 points. C.H. Reeves is the top junior school with 47 points.

Up until Saturday, there was just one qualifier for one of the marquee events in sprints at the junior level, the under-20 boys 100 meters (m). After the final of that event on Saturday, there are now four. The top three on Saturday qualified and one previously qualified.

Carlos Brown, of C.R. Walker, led the way, winning the gold medal in a season’s best time of 10.49 seconds. Running unattached, Adam Musgrove finished second in a personal best time of 10.55 seconds and Zion Campbell, also unattached, rounded out the top three with a personal best of 10.60 seconds. Jeremiah Adderley, of Nassau Christian Schools (NCS), finished fourth in 10.61 seconds and SAC’s Jonathon Fowler finished fifth in 10.74 seconds. The qualifying time for CARIFTA was 10.60 seconds. Fowler had previously qualified, running 10.60 seconds at the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) Track and Field Championships.

Brown and Musgrove both dipped under 10.60 seconds this season but the times were wind-aided.

“I feel really good about finally qualifying, especially coming off an injury,” said Brown on Saturday. “I didn’t get as good of a start that I wanted to, but I just wanted to get my knees up and keep my composure and finish strong. I feel like I was able to do that. I just want to thank the Lord for coming out of it injury-free and now it’s on to the CARIFTA Games. I’m looking forward to performing well and representing my country well at CARIFTA.”

In the under-20 girls version of that race, Shatalya Dorsett, the silver medalist from last year’s CARIFTA Games in Kingston, Jamaica, qualified again in her specialty, running a a season’s best time of 11.81 seconds for the gold medal – a tenth of a second off her personal best time.

The Sunland Baptist athlete said she was pleased with the result, but knows there are aspects of her race she could fix going forward.

“It feels good to qualify again. That was the main thing,” she said. “I just hope that I go out there at CARIFTA and do what I need to do to win a medal for my country. I was kind of nervous today and my start was a li’l off, but I pulled through with a season’s best time and I’m glad with that.”

Giving Dorsett a push and also qualifying for CARIFTA, for the first time, was SAC’s Amari Pratt. Pratt, who had previously qualified in the 200m, ran a personal best of 11.86 seconds for second on Saturday night. Finishing third was Nia Richards, of Queen’s College, in 12.19 seconds. The qualifying time for CARIFTA was 11.90 seconds.

In the under-17 boys 100m, Ishmael Rolle, of St. John’s, qualified for CARIFTA again, winning the gold medal in 10.93 seconds. Andrew Brown, of SAC, who has previously qualified for CARIFTA, was second in 11 seconds flat, and Trent Ford, of SAC, rounded out the top three in 11.01 seconds.

Rolle suffered a slight hamstring strain at the BAISS Championships about three weeks ago, but said he feels close to full strength.

“I still feel the hamstring a bit but I try not to think about it. I’m just focused on running my race,” said Rolle. “I feel good about qualifying again, but I know I could do better. I’m just glad to get it out of the way and now I’ll looking forward to CARIFTA.”

The qualifying time for CARIFTA in the under-17 boys 100m was 10.96 seconds.

Jamiah Nabbie, of Queen’s College, won the under-17 girls 100m in 11.89 seconds, qualifying for CARIFTA for a second time in that event. Shayann Demeritte, of SAC, was second in 12.20 seconds, also qualifying for CARIFTA for a second time, and Shekinah Johnson, running unattached, finished third in 12.47 seconds. The qualifying time for CARIFTA in the under-17 girls 100m was 12.20 seconds.

Nabbie also qualified again in the under-17 girls long jump, leaping 5.59m (18’ 4-1/4”). Phebe Thompson, of Bishop Michael Eldon High, and Jamiah Hepburn, of Sister Mary Patricia Russell Junior High, finished tied for second, both jumping 5.23m (17’ 2”). The qualifying mark for CARIFTA was 5.46m (17’ 11”).

Over in the 400m finals, there were a couple of qualifiers in the under-17 girls division, and shockingly one of them had just turned 13 years old and is ineligible to compete at CARIFTA. Reference is to Keyezra Thomas, of Bishop Michael Eldon High School, who ran a torrid 56.28 seconds for the gold medal in that event in the under-14 girls division. She finished more than eight seconds faster than second-place finisher, Trinity Rolle, of Sunland Baptist, who clocked 1:04.54. Cierra Delancy, of Queen’s College, ran 1:05.95 for third. Thomas also won the under-14 girls long jump, leaping 4.86m (15’ 11-1/2”). SAC’s Jayla Smith finished second with a leap of 4.42m (14’ 6”), and Inaya Nesbitt, of Sister Mary Patricia Russell, finished third with a leap of 4.21m (13’ 9-3/4”). Thomas also qualified for the under-14 girls 200m final with the fastest time, running 25.30 seconds. That final will be ran today.

SAC’s Darvinique Dean is eligible and won the under-17 girls race in 56.58 seconds. Her school and club teammate at Red-Line Athletics Bayli Major finished second in 57.36 seconds and Ta’mia Taylor, of St. John’s, broke up a SAC sweep, running 57.70 seconds for third. The qualifying time for CARIFTA was 56.64 seconds.

“I feel great,” said Dean who has qualified for CARIFTA in three events and is the only Bahamian athlete to do so. She previously qualified in the 100m and 400m hurdles. “I’m glad that I was able to run my race the way I wanted to. I’m happy to represent my school and come out with the win. I’m proud of myself. I’m excited. This will be my first CARIFTA, and to come out here and qualify in three events is a good feeling. There’s two weeks to go, so I just have to put in the final touches and come here ready for CARIFTA.”

Terrell McCoy, of Windsor School, had a toss of 12.37m (40’ 7”) to win the under-17 girls shot put event. Danielle Nixon, of Queen’s College, finished second with a toss of 12.25m (40’ 2-1/4”), and Saana Roberts, of Bishop Michael Eldon High, rounded out the top three finishers with a throw of 11.39m (37’ 4-1/2”). McCoy previously qualified for CARIFTA, surpassing the qualifying distance of 12.56m (41’ 2-1/2”) with a massive throw of 13.53m (44’ 4-3/4”) at the BAISS Track and Field Championships.

Qualifying for CARIFTA in the under-20 girls 1500m on Saturday was Akaya Lightbourne, of Sunland Baptist. She ran 5:02.93 for the gold medal. Finishing a distant second was Jasmine Mackey, who ran unattached. Mackey ran 5:18.15. Coming in third was Alfrenique Knowles, of St. George’s High, who ran 5:20.39. The qualifying time for CARIFTA was 5:03.24 seconds.

Lightbourne came back and won the open women’s 3000m on Sunday, but didn’t qualify for CARIFTA in that event. She won in 11:18.52. Raynia Russell, of C.R. Walker, finished second in 11:21.27, and Grace Farrington, of St. Andrew’s, rounded out the top three in 12:44.22. The qualifying time for CARIFTA was 11:15.63.

“I feel like the 1,500 could have been better. In the 3,000, I tried my best and tried to pace myself. Not qualifying last year motivated me to qualify this year and it feels good to do it. I just hope that I’m ready. I prey to God that I do my best and we’ll just see what happens,” said Lightbourne.

Over in the under-17 girls high jump, a couple of athletes qualified for a second time each. Tyler Pratt, of Huntley P. Christie High out of North Andros, won the gold medal, soaring a personal best of 1.64m (5’ 4-1/2”). Alexandria Grace Komolafe, competing unattached, finished second, matching the CARIFTA qualifying mark for a second time this season, leaping 1.57m (5’ 1-3/4”). Kennedy Hanna, of St. Anne’s, finished third with a clearance of 1.51m (4’ 11-1/2”).

Also qualifying for CARIFTA for a second time was University of Miami bound Calea Jackson in the under-20 girls discus. She turned in a massive personal best heave of 48.21m (158’ 2”) for the gold medal, surpassing her previous personal best by almost three meters. Cailyn Johnson, also competing unattached, finished second with a best throw of 40.57m (133’ 1”), and coming in third was Annae Mackey, of Queen’s College, who has qualified for CARIFTA in the under-20 girls shot put. In the discus, Mackey could only muster a throw of 32.22m (105’ 8”) for the bronze. The qualifying mark for CARIFTA was 41.23m (135’ 3”).

There were a couple qualifiers for CARIFTA in the under-20 girls triple jump event. Lanaisha Lubin, of Queen’s College, won the gold medal with a leap of 12.51m (41’ 0-1/2”). Apryl Adderley, of SAC, who had previously qualified for CARIFTA in the under-20 girls long jump, added the triple jump qualification to her accomplishments on Saturday. She leapt 11.89m (39’ 0-1/4”) to finish second, just going over the qualifying distance of 11.88m (38’ 11-3/4”). Adonya Taylor, of Queen’s College, finished third with a leap of 11.49m (37’ 8-1/2”).

On Sunday, three young women went under the qualifying standard in the women’s 400m hurdles, but they had also previously qualified. It was a 1-2 finish for SAC as Dean won in 1:01.84 and Major was second in 1:02.13. Just like in the 400m, Taylor broke up a SAC sweep as she finished third for St. John’s, running 1:06.69 seconds. The qualifying time for CARIFTA was 1:09.86.

After qualifying in the under-17 boys 110m hurdles earlier in the season, SAC’s Quinton Rolle added the 400m hurdles qualification to his list of accomplishments, finishing first in 56.23 seconds. St. John’s Zion Davis finished second in 56.90 seconds and Christian Pierre, of C.R. Walker, was third in 59.67 seconds. The qualifying time for CARIFTA was 56.31 seconds.

Running unattached, Shimar Bain qualified in the under-20 boys 400m hurdles, winning that event in 53.25 seconds. SAC’s Clinton Laguerre, who qualified earlier in the season, qualified again as he ran 54.19 seconds for second. Berkley Munnings, of St. Anne’s, was third in 55.36. The qualifying time for CARIFTA was 54.43 seconds.

There was a qualifier for CARIFTA in the open women’s heptathlon as Essence Sands, of Doris Johnson Sr. High School, scored 4,011 points to win that title. Kaily Pratt, of Sunland Baptist, finished second with 3,838 points, and LaShae Smith, competing unattached, rounded out the top three with 3,790 points. The qualifying standard for CARIFTA was 3,924 points.

There was another qualifier in the open men’s octathlon as Lavardo Deveaux scored 4,989 points while competing unattached. Reanno Todd, of C.R. Walker, was second with 4,683 points, and Brandon Hutchinson, competing unattached, rounded out the top three with 4,485 points. The qualifying standard for CARIFTA was 4,869 points.

Also on Sunday, there were a couple of qualifiers in the under-20 boys long jump – both had previously qualified. Johnathon Rodgers, of C.I. Gibson, won that event with a leap of 7.32m (24’ 0-1/4”). Robert Stuart, of St. George’s, was second with a leap of 7.14m (23’ 5-1/4”), and Stephan Farquharson, competing unattached, rounded out the top three with a leap of 7.11m (23’ 4”). The qualifying mark for CARIFTA was 7.14m.

More results can be found on the website tekresults.net.

The 50th Oaktree CARIFTA Games is just 12 days away, set for April 8-10 at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium. The ICS Security Concepts CARIFTA Trials/High School Nationals wraps up today.

Tickets for CARIFTA can be purchased online at the website www.carifta50.com or in person at the box office at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium. Daily rates start at $5 and go up as high as $50 for the VIP section. There are also tickets for all three days that start from $40 for the bronze section and go up to $130 for the VIP section.

https://thenassauguardian.com/number-of-qualifiers-soars-to-over-50/

 Home|Sports|SportsTemple Christian celebrates growth of athletics program The Nassau Guardian Send an emailMarch 23, 2023 195 3 minute readFacebook Twitter LinkedIn Share via Email

School pride is at an all-time high at Temple Christian High School following their historic third-place finish at the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) Track and Field Championships. The achievement is a remarkable one that reflects positively on the school and its athletics program.

According to Perry R. Cunningham, the high school’s principal, finishing third in the BAISS championships is no small feat, and is something that should be celebrated and recognized by the entire school community.

“This accomplishment is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the student-athletes, coaches, and staff who have worked tirelessly to prepare and compete at the highest level,” said Cunningham. “Our high school’s achievement sets a new standard of excellence for future athletic teams to strive for. It demonstrates that with hard work, dedication, and commitment, anything is possible. The school community is proud of the student-athletes, coaches, and staff who have brought honor to the institution.”

Reflecting on the journey to this point, he said, “The team faced several challenges leading up to the BAISS Track and Field Championships, including COVID-19, injuries, lack of equipment and staff, limited financial support, and balancing academic work with athletic training. However, they were able to overcome those obstacles through hard work, dedication, and the support of their coaches, parents, staff, and community.”

Looking to the future, the principal said, “To maintain and build on this success, the school’s athletics program has several goals, including identifying new talent, improving facilities, implementing a physical conditioning program, inviting accomplished athletes to motivate student-athletes, implementing a mentorship program, participating in more competitions, increasing athletic scholarship awards, and gaining more parental support.”

Coach Kenya Culmer is the head of physical education and head of the track and field program at Temple Christian. She has been with the school for six years and has a background in track and field as a former athlete. She attended Temple Christian Elementary and was introduced to high jump by Coach Nekeno Demeritte.

After high school, Culmer was awarded a full track scholarship at Southern Illinois University (SIU), where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management. In 2012, Culmer made history as the first Bahamian woman to jump over six feet, becoming the national high jump record holder. She originally came to Temple Christian to help out on a short-term basis, but six years later, she is still with the school, making a significant impact on its athletics program.

Coach Culmer credits the team’s success to a rigorous six-month training program that focused on endurance, strength, and technical aspects of each event.

“Our students and coaches sacrificed much time into the preparation for the BAISS competition,” she said. “We took the time to test each athlete and identify their strengths, which allowed us to put them into events where they could excel. The athletes themselves deserve much of the credit for their consistency and dedication, leaving everything on the track and in the field in each event. The athletes handled the pressure exceptionally well, with not one expressing fear of competing against larger, more dominant schools. We taught them how to be confident and most importantly to believe that they can do all things through Christ who strengthens them.”

Coach Culmer leads a team alongside coaches Marvin Darville and Kevin Armbrister. An experienced coach, Armbrister was instrumental in the development of C.H. Reeves’ track and field program for over 20 years. C.H. Reeves was dominant in the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) Junior Track and Field Championships. 

Darville has been the head coach of the SunBlazers Track and Field Club for 19 years, specializing in the sprints and hurdling events. Culmer credited Darville’s experience in this area as a strong factor for the Suns’ success in the hurdles events at the BAISS championships.

“As a team, we were able to achieve this success through strong collaboration between the coaches and athletes. In addition, we were fortunate to have the support of dedicated parents and volunteer coaches, all of whom worked together to make this achievement possible. As we always say, ‘teamwork makes the dream work’.”

Principal Cunningham added, “By recognizing and celebrating these achievements, we can inspire and motivate future generations of athletes to strive for greatness and continue to build a strong athletics program at Temple Christian High School. This historic achievement shows that with the right resources, support, and guidance, even a relatively small student population can achieve great things. It is a reminder that hard work, dedication, and teamwork are the keys to success, and that anything is possible when we set our minds to it.

“This achievement is a testament to our school’s commitment to excellence and the development of well-rounded students. This accomplishment is not only a victory for the athletics program, but for the entire school community, and it should serve as inspiration for all students to strive for greatness in all aspects of their lives.”

Now that they have cracked the top three, the Suns are looking to continue to improve and achieve even better results in the future.

 Home|Sports|Sports‘Let’s Move Bahamas’Fun run/walk set for Easter Monday morning at Arawak Cay; all are invited to take part Sheldon Longley Send an emailMarch 23, 2023 139 4 minute readFacebook Twitter LinkedIn Share via Email

Under the patronage of Lord Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics, the Let’s Move Bahamas CARIFTA Fun Run/Walk is expected to be one of the more grand events of the CARIFTA weekend, set for Easter Monday, April 10, starting and ending at Arawak Cay.

The event will get underway at 6 a.m., leaving Arawak Cay and heading west to the roundabout at Baha Mar Blvd., circling around and heading back to Arawak Cay. Registration is online by sending an e-mail to the address info@bahamastrackandfield.org. There will also be onsite registration on the morning of the event at 5:30 a.m. at Arawak Cay.

The community-based event, which will be one of the highlights of the CARIFTA weekend, is expected to attract participants in the thousands, including regional and international guests who will be here for the CARIFTA Games. All are invited to take part, particularly former CARIFTA athletes, who would have represented The Bahamas, or their respective countries, over the years.

“When you look at, there are about 4,500 athletes who would have represented The Bahamas at CARIFTA from 1973 to present day – 50 years of CARIFTA. We want every member of The Bahamas’ CARIFTA teams over the years to be a part of this event. Anyone who could be here, who once represented The Bahamas, and wore the 242 across their chest, is welcomed to come out and be a part of this event. This is an invitation to every former CARIFTA athlete to be a part of the Let’s Move Bahamas Fun Run/Walk,” said Drumeco Archer, president of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA).

“The idea for us in track in field is to make this sport a bigger sport, so we are attracting more fans to come on board with us. One of the themes of this administration is to really engage the community, not only just in track and field, but the Bahamian community at large. It is a mandate of World Athletics, and we are pleased to say that the president of World Athletics Lord Sebastian Coe will be the patron of this event and he is incredibly excited about running with us on April 10. I can’t stress enough how important this event is, not only to the federation, but to the country. We want to promote wellness and we want to encourage everyone from every walk of life to be a part of this community-based event. We are extending an invitation out to the entire country.”

Not just Lord Coe, but other members of the World Athletics family including former World and Olympic Champion Edwin Moses and the great Willie Banks will be here taking part in the Let’s Move Bahamas CARIFTA Fun Run/Walk. The event is free of charge and all entrants will receive a Puma T-shirt. Also, the first 1,000 finishers will receive a medal. A raffle will also be held.

“We want everyone to take part. We are calling all former CARIFTA athletes and medalists to be a part of this grand event. We are expecting the numbers to be in the thousands, so we are asking people to register as soon as possible,” said Demrius Cash, BAAA special events coordinator. “Registration is open and you can register today by sending an e-mail to info@bahamastrackandfield.org expressing interest. Once you do that, there will be a registration form sent to you that could be filled out. Come one, come all and be a part of this great event.”

The Local Organizing Committee of the 50th Oaktree CARIFTA Games (LOC) has come on board with the event, offering its full support.

“We certainly endorse this event and we will be a part of the Let’s Move Bahamas CARIFTA Fun Run/Walk,” said Lynden Maycock, chief executive officer (CEO) of the LOC. “We invite our regional guests and partners to join us in this event and walk and run with us on April 10. We know that The Bahamas is a place for early morning walks and runs, so we invite all those early walkers and runners to come out and be a part of this great event.”

Also speaking on behalf of the LOC was the Dame of the 50th Oaktree CARIFTA Games Pauline Davis.

“We’re so excited to be able to participate in this event in support of the BAAA,” said Davis. “We want to congratulate the BAAA for organizing and staging this event, we believe it is a great gesture, and we wish you the best. We certainly look forward to taking part and joining in with the former CARIFTA athletics, our regional friends and members of World Athletics.”

Bahamian president of the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) Mike Sands said there is already overwhelming support in favor of the Let’s Move Bahamas CARIFTA Fun Run/Walk. NACAC is the owner of the CARIFTA Games.

“NACAC is very proud to be a part of this event and I could say that the Let’s Move Bahamas event has certainly resonated among the masses,” said Sands. “I could tell you that the World Athletics family is very excited to be here for CARIFTA, particularly the Let’s Move Bahamas Fun Run/Walk. Lord Coe is a two-time Olympic champion and he is an avid walker and runner. He has pledged to be here, he is looking forward to this, and he will be participating. I am encouraging all Bahamians, and all visitors and everyone else, to take part. Let us unite as one Bahamas and let us all join in with this event.”

Following the Let’s Move Bahamas CARIFTA Fun Run/Walk, the final day of competition of the CARIFTA Games will commence at 9 a.m. The 50th Oaktree CARIFTA Games is set for April 8-10 at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium. Thirty-two countries are expected to take part in the CARIFTA Games. Perennial champions Jamaica, in particular, has pledged a full contingent, and has already paid for their charter flight into The Bahamas.

The final local trials for CARIFTA, the CARIFTA Trials/High School Nationals, is set for this weekend, March 25-27, at the Thomas A. Robinson stadium. It is a test event for the CARIFTA Games itself.

https://thenassauguardian.com/lets-move-bahamas/

 Home|Sports|SportsTeam Bahamas hoping third time is a charm Simba French Send an emailMarch 23, 2023 195 4 minute readFacebook Twitter LinkedIn Share via Email

It has been about eight months since The Bahamas senior men’s national soccer team experienced action on the pitch. They will return to play tomorrow when they take on Trinidad and Tobago in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Nations League at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium. The pivotal match gets underway at 4 p.m.

This will be the third time in the last two years that these two teams play each other with the first one ending in a 0-0 stalemate and the second one ending 1-0 in favor of the Trinidad and Tobago ‘Soca Warriors’ last June. The third time just may be a charm for Team Bahamas as they look for a favorable decision this time. According to assistant head coach for Team Bahamas Kevin Davies, preparation will be a key aspect.

“I don’t think it has much to do with luck but how you prepare,” Davies said at a press conference at the Bahamas National Beach Soccer Stadium yesterday. “The team has been preparing well. I always try to keep a positive mindset, regardless of the situation. I always try to keep the message positive to help motivate them. They are playing on the national team and they should be self-motivated by having the Bahamian flag on their chests. That should be motivation in itself. If we stick to our game plan and execute, I think we will come out with a good result.”

The Bahamas has only scored one goal in the current Nations League competition and has been defending for most part. Davies said they are looking to open up more. He said he has seen an improvement over the last eight months.

“We have been preparing and I have seen some great improvement in a lot of the guys like Omari Bain who has shown that he has an ability to find the back of the net. There is Peter Julmis who is also capable of striking. In the midfield, we have Christopher Rahming, Marcel Joseph, Elijah Mitchell who are very capable of finding the back of the net. These are young and hungry guys who want to prove to the team and nation that they can do it. I am confident that they can do it. We have a few games under our belt and I see the improvement in the team. I am very confident that they will perform to the best of they abilities on Friday (tomorrow),” Davies said.

Bain, who plays the midfield position, was available for all but one game of the Nations League competition so far, due to an injury. He is more than ready for this game, having spent some time in Spain developing as a player.

“I am happy with how the team has been preparing so far. I returned from Spain and it is great to be home with the team. We have been preparing for this match both on and off the field. We have been mentally and physically preparing for this match. We did well in the warmup matches against Turks and Caicos and I have no doubt in my mind that we aren’t going to have any complications in terms of technical ability of the team,” Bain said.

Nicolas Lopez, who is also a midfielder, returned home from school to train with the team on Monday. He is looking forward to playing in his first 2022-2023 Nations League competition.

“There are few faces on the team that I know and a few who I am looking forward to meeting and working with. It is great to be back in that environment. I am looking forward to Friday,” Lopez said.

Sports Officer from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture Adam Miller cited a study that showed that The Bahamas had the youngest senior national men’s team in the world last year. That study, from the International Center of Sports Studies, looked at over 150 men’s teams average age. He encouraged Bahamians to come out and support the team.

“The BFA (Bahamas Football Association) is willing to not only invest in the youth but also give opportunities to the players to represent their country at the men’s level. I want to commend the coaching staff and technical staff of the BFA on their preparation for these Nation League games. Good luck to the players on their quest to play in the Nations League and represent The Bahamas,” said Miller.

Davies urged the public to come out and support the team as they have been working out for months to prepare for this game.

“The Bahamian public can expect a group of young men who have been working hard who is ready to put everything on the line for this game. They are excited and they want to prove that they can play with the big boys in the region. I can assure you that they will have a good showing and we will have them prepped and ready to go. I always try to preach a positive message,” Davies said.

The Bahamas sits in third place in its group with a 1-3 win/loss record and three points. Trinidad and Tobago is in second place with a 3-1 record and nine points. In its second game in this window, The Bahamas will head to St. Vincent and the Grenadines to play that nation. St. Vincent and the Grenadines sport a 0-1-3 win/draw/loss record and have one point. They sit in fourth place in the group. The Bahamas’ only win in the group came against St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a 1-0 victory.

The Bahamas takes on St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Monday in an away fixture.

https://thenassauguardian.com/team-bahamas-hoping-third-time-is-a-charm/

As of Wednesday, March 22, 2023

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#THE Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools has returned to soccer play after a three-year hiatus as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which shut down soccer action. The BAISS division continues to grow with the addition of Windsor Academy fielding teams this season. The soccer convener is Yiorgo Coyle of St. Andrews School.

As of Wednesday, March 22, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#GRAND Bahama — The inaugural Island Relays for visiting college teams over the weekend at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex gave some of the local athletes a chance to improve on their performances before they come to New Providence for the National High Schools Championships and final CARIFTA Trials this weekend.

#Tervon Clarke, the 16-year-old 10th grader at Eight Mile Rock High, was the winner of the boys’ 100 metres in 11.43 seconds, holding off Michael Riley, who did 11.44 for second, while Aiden Kelly was third in 11.65. Clarke said he just wanted to gauge himself going into the Nationals and CARIFTA Trials.

#“I just want to do my best and hopefully I can make the CARIFTA team,” Clarke said. “I know the competition will be stiff, but I’m looking forward to competing in it.”

#Shatalya Dorsett, in winning the girls’ 100m in 12.57, also showed that she’s ready for the dual meet and a chance to secure another berth on the CARIFTA team. She took the title over Phebe Thompson, who did 13.05, followed by Kianna Henchell in 13.27.

#“It was a good opportunity for me to showcase my talent in front of my home crowd,” said Dorsett, a 16-year-old 12th grader at Sunland Baptist School.

#“I feel confident that I will qualify again and make the CARIFTA team. I’m in good shape and I don’t have any injuries.”

#Akerman Bowleg said he got some valuable advice from one of the collegiate athletes and it helped him as he went on and won the boys’ 400 metres in 49.79 seconds over Javano Bridgewater, who did 50.03, followed by Jayden McGregor in 50.77.

#“Instead of me just going there and running, I decided to take her advice and to go out there and see how it works,” said Bowleg, a 17-year-old 12th grader at St George’s High.

#As he prepares to make the trek to New Providence this weekend, Bowleg said he just wants to do his best and see how well he can perform as he competes in both the 200 and 400m.

#Bishop Michael Eldon’s seventh grader Thomas, just 13 years old, said it was fun running against the older competitors.

#“I’m just glad that I came out injury free,” Thomas said.

#“I am coming for the Nationals, but at my age, I don’t think I would be able to make the CARIFTA team. But if I do, all thanks be to God for making it possible.”

#Treasure Burrows was the winner of the girls’ 800m in 2:22.99 over Erin Barr, who trailed the entire race for second in 2:36.25.

#Zion Musgrove was third in 2:30.52. “I listened to my coach and I ran a strong first lap. On my second lap, I made a move coming through the last two hundred metres to get the win,” she said. “I felt very good. I am looking forward to competing in the Nationals. Hopefully I can run a PR and qualify for CARIFTA. I hope that me and Barr can make it. It would be good to have two competitors from Grand Bahama in the event.”

#Swift Athletics’ Kenzie Knowles is a little too late for CARIFTA at 19, but he was just delighted to get the opportunity to compete in the meet. He won the boys’ 800m in 2:02.71.

#“It’s a blessing competing in this event. I tried to push myself in every event and try to run my PR (personal best) because I really want to go off to college,” said Knowles, a recent graduate of St John’s College.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/22/athletes-get-ready-nationalstrials/?news

As of Wednesday, March 22, 2023

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VERSATILE Grand Bahamian Launy Duncombe is coming to town this weekend to compete in the CARIFTA Trials.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#GRAND Bahama – After falling short of making the Bahamas Aquatics’ national team for the CARIFTA Swimming Championships in Curacao, versatile Grand Bahamian Launy Duncombe is coming to town this weekend to give it a shot at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ track team for CARIFTA here at home.

#Duncombe, the overall male winner of the BAARK’s 10th annual Powerade Potcakeman Triathlon that was held on Jaws Beach on March 5, came through as the junior boys’ winner of the Grand Bahama Cycling Association’s Time Trials over the weekend.

#He said he used the event to get him geared up for the competition in the under-17 boys’ division of the BAAA National High School and final CARIFTA Trials at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium.

#“When I went to the swim CARIFTA trials, I didn’t qualify, so when my coach told me I had a chance to qualify for the track team for CARIFTA, I decided to prepare myself for it, along with the CARIFTA triathlon,” he said.

#“I love competing in cycling and then swimming and track. But I enjoy competing in all three because they help me to become a better triathlete. I just hope that I can make the CARIFTA team this weekend in track.”

#Look for 15-year-old Duncombe to make his presence felt in the 1,500m.

#Duncombe, a ninth grader at St Paul’s Methodist College, started swimming from the age of two, but just recently got involved in cycling and running long distances to help him gear up for the triathlon.

#“It was a good experience for me,” said Duncombe of winning the Potcakeman Triathlon. “I didn’t have any high expectations. I just wanted to put myself in a position to be one of the competitors they picked for CARIFTA later this year.

#“So I just went there to make sure that I solidified by spot. But I didn’t expect to come out with the position that I got. When I saw I had the opportunity to win it, I took it and pushed myself across the finish line.”

#Although he had the fourth fastest time in the Time Trials on Saturday, Duncombe said he just wanted to compete with the older competitors, who are all training for the Bahamas Games in Juily.

#“It was fun competing against them,” Duncombe said.

#“I hope that I can make the team to represent Grand Bahama at the Bahamas Games as well.”

#He certainly has a bright future ahead of him as a multiple sport standout.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/mar/22/duncombe-coming-town-carifta-team-trials/?news