Home|Sports|SportsDiana Lynn Classic produces CARIFTA qualifiers Simba French Send an emailFebruary 13, 2023 202 2 minute readFacebook Twitter LinkedIn Share via Email

It seems like at every local meet this year there is a new CARIFTA qualifier and the Diana Lynn Thompson Classic at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium this past weekend was no different as there were four more unofficial qualifiers for The Bahamas for the 2023 CARIFTA Games.

The meet was hosted by the Roadrunners Track and Field Club. The four CARIFTA qualifiers joined the list of 24 qualifiers to increase the number to 27.

Koi Adderley was able to meet the qualifying mark in the under-20 girls high jump as she seeks to make The Bahamas’ CARIFTA team again. Ironically, she qualified for CARIFTA last year at this same meet. The Fast Forward athlete’s only challenge in that age category on Saturday was the bar itself, and in the end, she cleared 1.65 meters (m) (5’ 5”) which is the qualifying height.

The high jump area was the hot spot for the day as the under-17 girls high jump had a Family Island qualifier. Andros Heats’ Tylah Pratt had a good day as she won that event with a jump of 1.57m (5’ 2”) which matched the qualifying standard.

Finishing second behind her was Xtreme Athletics’ Alexandria Komolafe, who has already qualified in that event. She cleared 1.55m (5’ 1”). Finishing third was Leap of Faith’s Paris Rolle who recorded a jump of 1.49m (4” 10-1/2”).

There was another qualifier in the field events. This time, it came from Demian Brice II in the under-17 boys triple jump. The Xtreme Athletics’ athlete had a leap of 13.06m (42’ 10”) to comfortably surpass the qualifying standard of 12.94m (42’ 5-1/2”). Finishing behind him in second place was Speed Capacity’s Jayden Cooper who jumped 12.88m (42’ 3-1/4”). Davon Davis, who is with the T-Bird Flyers, jumped 12.10m (39’ 8-1/2”) to place third.

On the track, Kenny Moxey Jr. was able to dip under the qualifying standard in the under-17 boys 110m hurdles. The Panthers Track Club athlete was able to clock 15.60 seconds to go under the qualifying time of 15.65 seconds. Moxey was too much for his counterparts. The closest competitor to him was Kersch Mackey from the Sunblazers Track and Field who crossed the finish line in a time of 18.45 seconds. Placing third was Fast Forward’s Zion Munroe who ran 19.18 seconds.

Although she has already qualified for CARIFTA, shot put throwing sensation Terrell McCoy from Triple Threat Throwing Club, a CARIFTA medalist, threw a new personal best of 13.26m (43’ 6”) to win the under-17 girls shot put. She improved on her previous CARIFTA qualifying distance which was 12.85m (42’ 2”). McCoy said was happy to have a personal best and is still working on qualifying in the under-17 girls discus. She held off Blue Chip Athletics’ duo of Danielle Nixon and Anthonece Papageorge who were second and third, respectively. Nixon threw 11.43m (37’ 6”) and Papageorge’s throw landed on the 9.34m (30’ 7-1/2”) mark.

The 50th CARIFTA Games is set to be held at Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium from April 8-10. The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) CARIFTA Trials is set for March 25-27 at the national stadium.

Next up on the local calendar is the BAAA Relays, set for Saturday at 12 p.m. at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium.

https://thenassauguardian.com/diana-lynn-classic-produces-carifta-qualifiers/

 Home|Sports|SportsJohnson sets new state record in the pool Simba French Send an emailFebruary 13, 2023 206 2 minute readFacebook Twitter LinkedIn Share via Email

Bahamian junior swimming sensation Marvin Johnson put on a record-breaking show at the Tennessee Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association’s (TISCA) High School Swimming and Division State Championships, which was held at the University of Tennessee’s Allan Jones Aquatic Center in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Johnson, who swims for the McCallie School out of Chattanooga, Tennessee, broke two state records – the 50- and 100-yard freestyle races. Also swimming for McCallie and breaking a school record was Bahamian Caden Wells. Bahamian Asher Johnson also swam for McCallie. All three swimmers will be looking to represent The Bahamas at the upcoming 2023 CARIFTA Swimming Championships.

They helped the boys team to victory with 352 points. They finished ahead of Baylor School (343 points) and Montgomery Bell Academy (222 points). McCallie School had to settle for second place in the combined scores with the same 352 points as they didn’t have a girls squad. Baylor had 496 points to finish first. Ensworth School was third with 281 points.

Marvin Johnson was on a mission in the 100-yard free on Friday when lowered the previous state record of 44.60 seconds, touching the wall in 43.60 seconds – shaving an entire second off the record to win the race. He took down Montgomery Bell Academy’s Oliver Plinkinton who came into the final with the fastest time. Plinkinton clocked 43.92 seconds. Johnson had some ground to make up after the first 50 yards as Plinkinton had the faster split of 20.82 seconds compared to Johnson’s 21.08 seconds. After the turn, the sophomore out of The Bahamas pulled ahead and set the state record in the event.

Concord Christian School’s Logan Hall swam 45.67 seconds to finish third.

On Friday night, Johnson blew past Plinkinton in the 50-yard free. Like the 100-yard race, Plinkton had the fastest time in the preliminaries. 

Johnson went into another gear for final, proving to be too much for Plinkinton. Johnson went under the 20-second mark with a blistering 19.87 seconds to win that race. He comfortably lowered the previous state record of 20.28 seconds. Plinkton settled for second with a time of 20.22 seconds. Johnson’s teammate, Benton Grutter, swam 20.81 seconds to finish third.

The Bahamian trio teamed up with Benjamin Bevill in the 200-yard medley relay and they won the silver medal. The quartet clocked 1:32.79 to finish behind Baylor School who clocked 1:30.96. Wells swam a split of 25.64 seconds before Asher Johnson took over on the butterfly leg and turned in a split of 23.48 seconds. Jonson brought it home for the team in 19.54 seconds – the fastest split on that leg. Montgomery Bell Academy placed third with a time of 1:32.79.

The three schools finished in the same order in the 400-yard free relay. This time, Marvin Johnson teamed up with Grutter, Max Manolache and Jackson Vineyard. The group that was anchored by Johnson touched the wall in a time of 3:03.46. Baylor won when they clocked 3:01.29. Montgomery Bell settled for third with a time of 3:09.02.

Wells was in action in the 100-yard breaststroke ‘A’ final where he finished sixth overall with a personal best time of 57.17 seconds. That time set a new school record. Merrol Hyde Magnet High School’s Jeffrey Hickson won that race with a time of 55.82 seconds.

Wells also swam in the 200-yard individual medley (IM) and was able to clock 1:57.81 to seventh in the ‘B’ final and 15th overall.

Asher Johnson powered his way to finish 17th overall in the 100-yard fly with a time of 51.95 seconds. The Grand Bahama native was also in action in the 100-yard backstroke preliminaries and he finished 35th overall with a time 56.14 seconds.

https://thenassauguardian.com/johnson-sets-new-state-record-in-the-pool/

 Home|Sports|Simba French Send an emailFebruary 10, 2023 342 2 minute readFacebook Twitter LinkedIn Share via Email

Bahamian collegiate swimmers DaVante Carey and Keianna Moss, representing the McKendree University Bearcats, got in some action at the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Swimming and Diving Championships at the Deaconess Aquatic Center in Evansville, Indiana, yesterday.

Moss was up first, competing in the women’s 100 yards butterfly. She clocked a time of 57.37 seconds to finish with the 11th fastest time overall, falling short of a spot in the ‘A’ final by less than a second. She swam splits of 26.49 and 30.88 seconds. The freshman was scheduled to be in the pool last night to swim in the ‘B’ final but the result was unavailable up to press time.

Carey was set to swim in the men’s 100 yards fly but scratched from that race.

In Wednesday’s action, Moss swam in the 50 yards free ‘C’ final. She placed 23rd overall. Her time of 24.22 seconds was a personal best for her. Earlier, in the morning session, she powered her way to touch the wall in 24.26 seconds which was a personal best at the time. Moss had the 21st fastest time in the preliminaries.

Carey took part in the 50 yards free on Wednesday and clocked a personal best time of 21.22 seconds. The collegiate senior finished 33rd overall.

The two swimmers were a part of their respective 200-yard medley relay teams on Wednesday. Carey teamed up with Noah Tague, Alireza Yavari and Mario Torrado on the Bearcats ‘B’ team and they placed second in the ‘B’ final. The quartet finished with a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II provisional time of 1:27.80.

Moss swam with the Bearcats’ ‘B’ team. They were able to place third in the ‘B’ final with a time of 1:45.70. The freshman’s team included Caitlyn Sligh, Emily Drabick and Gabriela Lima.

Moss is set to compete in the 200-yard fly today which will wrap up her first conference championship. She is ranked sixth out of 27 swimmers in the conference with a time of 2:05.48. Carey has one more individual race left in his last conference championship – the 100-yard back set for today. He enters that event with the 17th fastest time of 50.12 seconds.

Action at the GLVC Championships wraps up on Saturday. A total of 10 men’s teams and nine women’s squads are vying for the conference championships.

The next Bahamian who will experience action at a conference championship is Henderson State Red Wave’s Lamar Taylor. He will be swimming at the New South Intercollegiate Swim Conference (NSISC) Championships set for February 15-18 at the Ronnie Mayers Aquatics Center in Cleveland, Mississippi.

https://thenassauguardian.com/carey-moss-swim-at-conference/

 Home|Sports|Carey, Moss swim at conferenceSports

Both collegiate swimmers will be in action today

Simba FrenchSend an emailFebruary 10, 2023 220 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Bahamian collegiate swimmers DaVante Carey and Keianna Moss, representing the McKendree University Bearcats, got in some action at the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Swimming and Diving Championships at the Deaconess Aquatic Center in Evansville, Indiana, yesterday.

Moss was up first, competing in the women’s 100 yards butterfly. She clocked a time of 57.37 seconds to finish with the 11th fastest time overall, falling short of a spot in the ‘A’ final by less than a second. She swam splits of 26.49 and 30.88 seconds. The freshman was scheduled to be in the pool last night to swim in the ‘B’ final but the result was unavailable up to press time.

Carey was set to swim in the men’s 100 yards fly but scratched from that race.

In Wednesday’s action, Moss swam in the 50 yards free ‘C’ final. She placed 23rd overall. Her time of 24.22 seconds was a personal best for her. Earlier, in the morning session, she powered her way to touch the wall in 24.26 seconds which was a personal best at the time. Moss had the 21st fastest time in the preliminaries.

Carey took part in the 50 yards free on Wednesday and clocked a personal best time of 21.22 seconds. The collegiate senior finished 33rd overall.

The two swimmers were a part of their respective 200-yard medley relay teams on Wednesday. Carey teamed up with Noah Tague, Alireza Yavari and Mario Torrado on the Bearcats ‘B’ team and they placed second in the ‘B’ final. The quartet finished with a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II provisional time of 1:27.80.

Moss swam with the Bearcats’ ‘B’ team. They were able to place third in the ‘B’ final with a time of 1:45.70. The freshman’s team included Caitlyn Sligh, Emily Drabick and Gabriela Lima.

Moss is set to compete in the 200-yard fly today which will wrap up her first conference championship. She is ranked sixth out of 27 swimmers in the conference with a time of 2:05.48. Carey has one more individual race left in his last conference championship – the 100-yard back set for today. He enters that event with the 17th fastest time of 50.12 seconds.

Action at the GLVC Championships wraps up on Saturday. A total of 10 men’s teams and nine women’s squads are vying for the conference championships.

The next Bahamian who will experience action at a conference championship is Henderson State Red Wave’s Lamar Taylor. He will be swimming at the New South Intercollegiate Swim Conference (NSISC) Championships set for February 15-18 at the Ronnie Mayers Aquatics Center in Cleveland, Mississippi.

https://thenassauguardian.com/carey-moss-swim-at-conference/

 Home|Sports|‘Buddy’ drops in 29 but Pacers fall to the HeatSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailFebruary 10, 2023 204 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

It was a strong night on the offensive side for Bahamian professional basketball player Chavano ‘Buddy’ Hield as he scored a team-high 29 points but his Indiana Pacers fell 116-111 in an Eastern Conference showdown against the Miami Heat on Wednesday night.

Playing on the road at the Miami-Dade Arena in Miami, Florida, the Pacers received their seventh straight road loss and they dropped to 12th in the Eastern Conference Standings of the National Basketball Association (NBA) with a 25-31 win/loss record. They have lost 13 of their last 15 games.

Hield finished the night shooting 10-for-18 from the field. Six of those made field goals came from behind the three-point line. It moved his total three-point made shots this season to 214 three-pointers which leads the league. His closest competitor is Portland Trail Blazers’ guard Anfernee Simons with 192 three-pointers. Hield decided to make a return to the three-point competition at the NBA’s all-star weekend. The 2020 champion will compete among the league’s best shooters in the Starry Three-Point Contest at the NBA All-Star Weekend this year.

On Wednesday, to go along with his 29 points, the Bahamian had seven rebounds and two assists.

The Heat was led by center Bam Adebayo with 38 points and nine rebounds.

In the fourth quarter on Wednesday, the Pacers got off to a rough start as the Heat went on a scoring run and took a 97-85 lead with 8:47 left in the game. The Pacers stuck close, shrinking the deficit to three points at one point. Hield missed a potential game-tying three pointer with 5:40 left as the Heat led 101-98 at that point. The Heat went up 109-101 at the 1:28 mark of the final quarter, but on their next possession, Hield made a shot from deep to cut the margin to 109-104. The Pacers, needing a stop down the stretch, got a steal from Hield with 19.1 seconds left on the clock. They got the margin down to 112-109, but the Heat made their free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Hield hit a three-pointer with 9:17 left in the first quarter to tie the game at nine points each. It went downhill for the Pacers after that as the Heat went on a 14-0 scoring run to take a 23-9 advantage. At the end of the first quarter, the Pacers cut that lead to single digits, trailing 39-30.

The Pacers were more fortunate in the second quarter as they went on to claw their way back and eventually took a 52-51 lead at the 4:22 mark. Chris Duarte hit a jump shot to give them that lead. Hield’s layup with 35 seconds left in the first half put the Pacers up 63-60 and the score remained at that after the first 24 minutes of play.

The two teams shot almost the same from the field with the Pacers hitting 48.7 percent of their shots and the Heat shooting 46.8 percent. The Heat were a force on the boards, winning that battle 48-31.

Hield and the Pacers will face fellow Bahamian DeAndre Ayton and the re-tooled Phoenix Suns (30-26) tonight. That game will be played at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, and tip-off is set for 7 o’ clock.

Ayton has been on a tear in February, averaging 25 points and 12.5 rebounds per contest. He is also shooting a blistering 74.1 percent from the field. He had back-to-back 30-plus points and 15-rebounds games in the past week. The 35 points Ayton had against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday matched a career-high for him. His scoring will definitely take a hit with guard Devin Booker back and with the addition of Kevin Durant, but the Suns are now regarded by many analysts as one of the better teams in the league.

https://thenassauguardian.com/buddy-drops-in-29-but-pacers-fall-to-the-heat/

 Home|Sports|Mariposa Gold Drops picks up win in BIEL competitionSports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailFebruary 10, 2023 168 1 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Mariposa Gold Drops emerged victorious for the second time this year in Bahamas Interscholastic Equestrian League (BIEL) competition. Four teams comprised of 20 young riders from different schools competed in the league’s winter term competition, held last weekend at the Camperdown Equestrian Centre under the watchful eye of USEF (United States Equestrian Federation) Judge Lori Arnold of Sorrento, Florida.

This second win of the season for the Gold Drops was a much closer call than their fall term victory. This time around, the competition was hotly contested at all levels, with just six points separating the top three teams. At the end of the day, the Gold Drops finished in front with 45 points. Finishing second was the Mariposa Monarchs with 40 points, and the CEC Blue Marlins fell just one point short of second, finishing in third with 39 points. Finishing fourth was the CEC Sand Dollars, who obtained 25 points. Erika Adderley, of Mariposa Stables, is the coach of the Gold Drops and the Monarchs while Kimberly Johnson, of the Camperdown Equestrian Centre, coaches the Blue Marlins and the Sand Dollars.

Established in 2017, BIEL competitions have been a perennial favorite among junior riders because of the team emphasis and the unique format, based on collegiate competition rules, in which riders and horses are matched by random draw. The teams are ‘mixed’, comprised of students from schools across New Providence, and provide riders with an exciting opportunity to show their skills in the ring while riding unfamiliar horses. Sponsored by Equestrian Bahamas, the national federation, the league consists of a series of three competitions, culminating in a national championship. The final BIEL competition of the year will be held at Camperdown Equestrian Centre in May.

https://thenassauguardian.com/mariposa-gold-drops-picks-up-win-in-biel-competition/

 Home|Sports|Scotiabank comes on board as gold partner of CARIFTASports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailFebruary 10, 2023 253 5 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

About two months from the staging of the Oaktree Medical 50th CARIFTA Games, another partner has come on board, defraying the cost of the mega junior regional event.

Scotiabank Bahamas Ltd. is no stranger when it comes to the financial support of sports in The Bahamas, in particular, track and field. In fact, the Canadian banking institution is a former title sponsor of the national high school track and field championships and the Olympic Trials.

This week, the bank has partnered with the Local Organizing Committee of the 50th CARIFTA Games (LOC) as a gold elite sponsor – to the tune of $100,000.

Managing Director at Scotiabank Bahamas Ltd. Roger Archer said they are happy to assist in the staging of the region’s premier junior track and field event and look forward to what they anticipate will be a thrilling competition.

“We are really excited to be here and excited to be a part of the CARIFTA Games – this is indeed a monumental milestone for us,” he said. “CARIFTA is the cornerstone of regional athletics on the junior side and our region is the birthplace of some of the best athletes that the world has ever seen. For most of them, the CARIFTA Games has been a solid foundation. This is where our regional stars emerge on to the world stage. CARIFTA has nurtured world and Olympic champions. The CARIFTA Games remain an important part of our athletic tradition in the Caribbean, and Scotiabank is proud to support this iconic regional legacy so that our region can continue to create avenues for our emerging athletes. We are honored to be a part of CARIFTA and we look forward to welcoming our Caribbean neighbors to the stunningly beautiful islands of The Bahamas. Let’s continue to celebrate and move our region forward.”

Scotiabank has been based in the Caribbean for over 130 years, and in The Bahamas for over 65 years, and has regularly been a supporter of sports, and in particular, track and field.

“We have always been a part of the athletic landscape in The Bahamas and we will continue to support sports in the Caribbean,” said Archer. “We believe in unifying the restorative and transformational power of sports and we believe in its ability to change lives for the better. Track and field creates a future for the athletes and their families. Our athletes place the country on the world stage, and show that as a region, we are powerful. At Scotiabank, we are proud to support our athletes and invest in their future. We understand the success of regional institutions like CARIFTA and that our contributions help to continue the success of our regional athletes where they can get an opportunity to shine and unlock the power of their future.”

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg said Scotiabank’s support shows commitment and dedication to the growth and development of young people and genuine care for sports.

“On behalf of the government of The Bahamas, we are very happy for Scotia coming on board and being a gold sponsor for the CARIFTA Games,” he said. “CARIFTA is the birthplace of all of the greatest athletes of this region, and with Scotia being well established in the Americas and the Caribbean, the brand of Scotiabank will be well-accepted and seen at the CARIFTA Games. You have helped the government spend less money, so we are happy when corporate sponsors like yourself come on board. The government alone cannot fund all of the sporting activities, so thanks to Scotia for being an elite gold sponsor.”

The bank is respected as a valued member of the community where they operate through donations, sponsorships and employee volunteerism. They have been an integral part of building communities in The Bahamas and throughout the Caribbean region.

“We are delighted to know that Scotiabank has come on board as a responsible corporate citizen for the development of our communities, and particularly, the community of track and field,” said Drumeco Archer, president of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA). “Scotiabank has made a clarion call, not only to the banking community, but to the entire corporate community, that we need to do more and give more to this sport, and more to young people. Scotiabank is the only Canadian bank that will have regional presence at the CARIFTA Games. Thank you for being so generous. It is a giant step for track and field and we say thank you.”

President of the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Bahamian Mike Sands said The Bahamas did an awesome presentation in its bid for the 50th CARIFTA Games and that the BAAA always had the confidence that Corporate Bahamas would step up to the plate and assist in the funding of this mega event.

“The 50th CARIFTA Games was awarded to The Bahamas on the basis that the executive board of NACAC felt confident that The Bahamas would do a yeoman’s job,” said Sands. “Scotiabank is no stranger when it comes to supporting sports, in particular, track and field. On more than one occasion, Scotiabank has been a major sponsor of track and field. That is the kind of support that Scotiabank has shown throughout the years, and it is indeed a pleasure on behalf of NACAC, to say thank you for the continued support of sports in the country, and in particular in support of the BAAA.”

Scotiabank Managing Director Archer spoke proudly of their support of the development of young people, particularly in the key areas of education, sports and community awareness. He said their support of this event shows that they believe that the development of our youth is the security of our future.

A total of 28 of the 36 countries in the NACAC region have confirmed participation in the 50th CARIFTA Games, set for the Easter holiday weekend – April 8-10 at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium. Over 600 athletes are set to take part.

Former Austin Sealy winner Pauline Davis-Thompson, the LOC’s Honorary Dame of the 50th CARIFTA Games, said she is proud to be a product of track and field and the CARIFTA Games. The Austin Sealy Award is given out annually to the CARIFTA Games’ best athlete.

“Track and field is something that has made the lives of so many young people better. It has given them opportunities they otherwise wouldn’t have had access to,” she said. “The growth I had as an individual and as a professional, I would not have had if not for track and field and the CARIFTA Games. We are grateful to Scotiabank for their support and their belief in the goals of the CARIFTA Games and what they mean to the development of young people, not just here in The Bahamas, but throughout the region as well.”

Davis-Thompson, the country’s first individual Olympic gold medalist, is encouraging more companies and corporate citizens to come on board with the LOC in the staging of CARIFTA.

Tickets are available to be purchased on the 2023 CARIFTA Games website, www.carifta50.com, or at the CARIFTA Games box office at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium. For more information, persons can visit the website, send an e-mail to info@carifta50.com or call 808-Gold (4683). Interested persons can also follow the CARIFTA Games progress on its social media platforms @carifta2023.

https://thenassauguardian.com/scotiabank-comes-on-board-as-gold-partner-of-carifta/

 Home|Sports|Chickcharney Challenge deemed a successSports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailFebruary 9, 2023 113 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Chickcharney Challenge’s return is now officially in the books, with event organizers already setting their sights on a possible relay event which they hope can be held in tandem with the country’s upcoming 50th anniversary of independence celebrations.

“For our first event out of the gate, after the COVID-19 pandemic, I thought that we had a decent turnout,” said Chickcharney Chirren Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Chester Robards. “The course was a nice and pretty fluid course. A lot of people talked about how challenging it was but also said that it was fun. It was a decent restart to the Chickcharney Challenge. We had a lot of teams come out to compete, as well as some gym representation and so as usual there was some fun competition there.”

The Chickcharney Challenge, which is billed as the country’s premier obstacle course event, was held on January 28 at Clifton Heritage Park. This year’s event, which was dubbed “The Return”, was powered by Colina Insurance. The wildly popular event tested the fitness and endurance of participants over a three-mile course which featured about 16 obstacles.

“I really want to thank the sponsors,” said Robards. “Colina was our title sponsor and there was also Advantage Insurance, Guardian Radio 96.9, Powerade, Kalik, Everything Local, Art of Graphix and of course Clifton Heritage Park; all of whom helped to make the event a success.”

The top prize – a stay at Comfort Suites – was generously donated by the Paradise Island resort. Robards said he’s now looking ahead to a possible Chickcharney relay event for the country’s 50th anniversary of independence.

“That’s something we are really looking forward to, a relay event to mark the growth of obstacle course racing,” said Robards.

In the fall, Robards said he hopes to pull off another event – a Chickcharney zombie run for Halloween.

“We are hoping to host our Chickcharney Zombie Run which is our Halloween event,” he noted. “We’re looking to collaborate with some other private entities, maybe from the US. All in all, it was a good first event out of the gate. It wasn’t without its challenges but with obstacle course racing, there is always a challenge.”

The top three male participants of the Chickcharney Challenge were Mackey Williams, Robbie Corriveau and Jeffrey Burnside in that order. The top three female participants were Barbara Kiraly, Tangerine Dinnick and Alicia Curry in that order. The top three teams were Team Payne (Rashad Rolle, Duran Ching, Jamaal Curry and Ryan Payne), the Goat Peppa Steppas (Rashad Adderley, Devaughn Fraser and Noel Henderson) and Top Gun (Cordero Bonamy, Jamie Saunders, Kohen Kerr and Kent Bonamy) in that order.

In the 17-and-under category, the top three participants were Rathan Corriveau, Na’aman Thompson and Taevia Wright in that order.

https://thenassauguardian.com/chickcharney-challenge-deemed-a-success/

 Home|Sports|US Embassy launches program for coaches and administratorsSports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailFebruary 9, 2023 265 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The United States of America (US) Embassy here in The Bahamas has launched a new program that will look at sending Bahamian track and field coaches and administrators to the US in a two-week program dubbed “Bridging the Gap: Sports Visitor” in Los Angeles, California, and Eugene, Oregon, from May 6-20, 2023.

The announcement came at a press conference held at the American Corner, located in the Harry C. Moore Library at University of The Bahamas yesterday. The fully funded exchange program is in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. The exchange is aimed to provide support for Bahamian coaches and administrators in their efforts to create and/or build upon their Family Island track and field youth programs. The exchange program will also focus on ways to increase girls’ participation in sports.

Deputy Chief of Mission for the US Embassy Lance Posey spoke about what the program will entail.

“Participants will engage with their American peers and sports practitioners,” said Posey. “They’ll participate in clinics and sessions on leadership, team building and inclusion, and equity in sports. This ‘Bridging the Gap’ series is the theme that we have at the US Embassy that we’re initiating in bridging several gaps. First of all, what it intends to do is to bridge the gap with gender issues, by encouraging specifically, and targeting specifically, girls participation.”

There are 14 spots available – seven males and seven females to make the trip in May. The criteria for the program include being a Bahamian, vaccinated for COVID-19, involved in youth and/or sports, preferably track and field, and about two years’ minimum experience coaching or being an administrator. The deadline is Wednesday, February 22. Applications can be found on their website, bs.usembassy.gov, or on their Facebook and Instagram pages.

Posey said they are looking at the Family Islands and explained why they chose the sport of track and field.

“We’re focusing on the Family Islands – targeting recruitment to as many of the Family Islands as possible. We chose track and field because it’s a sport that is unique where you don’t need lots and lots of equipment. It’s something where the resources on the Family Islands can be able to meet the track and field needs. It is also one of the most popular sports in The Bahamas,” said Posey. “As you all know, and myself included, there are all kinds of education opportunities through sports. We also know that all students don’t make it to the college level, but there are many students who benefit from sports to get through school and get to universities in the US, so that is another opportunity we are looking to provide.”

The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture in conjunction with the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) will be helping the embassy in the selection of 14 coaches and administrators. Undersecretary at the ministry Montez Williams said they are grateful for the opportunity to work with the embassy and know that it will yield great results.

“We know they are eager and ready to take great advantage of this opportunity, so we will be tasked with identifying the coaches,” said Williams. “I know our doors are going to be knocked on because that’s going to be a task within itself because we have so many people who are working in the trenches, especially on the Family Islands. This program is aimed at reaching as many as possible in the Family Islands, so we’re going to do our homework and make sure that we have the best representation.”

According to US Embassy Public Affairs Officer Suemayah Abu-ouleh, they are looking for it to be a long-term program but cannot confirm if it will be an annual program. They are also looking into different ways to create different sports exchange programs.

https://thenassauguardian.com/us-embassy-launches-program-for-coaches-and-administrators/

 Home|Sports|Four champions crowned in the BAISSSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailFebruary 9, 2023 118 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The brooms were out at the Kendal G.L. Isaacs National Gymnasium Wednesday night as all four teams that had the upper hand got a sweep in the championships of the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS).

The C.W. Saunders Cougars won the ‘Battle of the Baptist Schools’ competition when they won a close 54-50 game against Jordan Prince William to carry the senior boys basketball trophy to Jean Street. After a one-point victory in Game One, the Kingsway Academy Saints easily took care of the St. Augustine’s College (SAC) Big Red Machine, 25-12, to repeat as the champions in the junior girls division.

In the junior boys division, the Jordan Prince William Falcons overpowered SAC, 49-41, to win that best-of-three series 2-0. After seeing their junior boys and girls teams fall, SAC senior girls put on a dominant performance to get a 53-21 victory over the St. John’s College Giants to sweep that series two games to none.

Junior Girls

Saints 25, SAC 12

The Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the junior girls division Andica Curtis was strong for the second straight game for the Saints, scoring seven points, but it was her teammate Dashante Sears who came up with a game-high eight points to lead the Saints to the championship.

Head Coach Tamaro Butler said the game plan coming into this one was to play defense.

“The last game they had a lot of fastbreak points so coming into this game we had to limit their fastbreak points and force them to play half court basketball,” Butler said.

Curtis, who is in grade seven and has two more years at the junior level, was happy to win the title.

“From we saw the competition that we had, we assumed that we were going to win. We were not thinking about a game three,” Curtis said.

Zion Carey led SAC with six points.

Junior Boys

Falcons 49, SAC 41

The junior boys game was all Falcons before SAC cut into the lead with 3:50 left in the game. SAC got close to Prince William, trailing 33-32 at that point, but they couldn’t surge ahead. The Falcons turned up their defense and turned SAC’s turnovers into points to seal the game and complete the sweep.

Micheal Munnings was clutch in the final quarter for the Falcons, putting in nine of his 24 points in that stanza, to lead them to victory. He had 10 points in the first quarter. Broc Glinton chipped in with 12 points for the Falcons.

“We worked all season to get this so we deserve this. We just had to relax and let the game come to us,” Glinton said.

Nathan Rolle led SAC with 20 points.

Senior Girls

SAC 53, Giants 21

The scoreline shows a dominant performance by SAC but early in the second quarter, the Giants held a slim 10-9 lead. That was the wake-up call that SAC needed. SAC went on to lead 22-14 at the half.

SAC dominated the second half, 31-7.

Head Coach for SAC Anastasia Sands-Moultrie said she told the girls to pick up the pace.

“I told the girls about the slow start and that they have to pick it up. They did not have any energy in the early going but they put out more energy and went from there,” Sands-Moultrie said.

Moultrie’s daughter, Antonicia Moultrie, was tough to guard. She finished with a game-high 17 points. Her teammate Dior-Rae Scott finished with 16 points.

Coach Sands-Moultrie said they had to bring one home for SAC.

“My team did well,” Sands-Moultrie said. “I knew we were going to win the game, not being cocky but we knew what we had and what we came out here to do,” she said.

Reyannah Green scored 15 points to lead the Giants.

Senior Boys

Cougars 54, Falcons 50

C.W. Saunders Cougars’ big man Nakero Brown-Cox rocked DeAndre Ayton’s purple Puma shoes and was a menace on the defensive side. Ayton is the starting center for the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association (NBA). As for Brown-Cox, he was swatting away shots after shots and he scored 10 point to help his team record the win and sweep the Falcons.

“It feels great to win the championship,” The grade 11 student said. “I just go up and block shots and time it properly,” he added about his defensive prowess.

This game had no double-digit lead and was very competitive right down to the final whistle.

The Cougars got out of the third quarter with a 41-38 lead, but the Falcons battled back to tie the game at 44 points apiece. That came with 5:08 left in the game. The Cougars went on a 6-0 scoring run to go up 50-44 with 3:49 left. The Falcons did not back down as they went on their own 6-0 run to tie it at the 1:54 mark of the fourth quarter.

The Falcons had their chances but could not score in the final two minutes Brown-Cox’s presence was felt. A 4-0 run to end the game gave the Cougars the victory.

Cougars’ Head Coach Dario Burrows said he was happy with his team’s fight to get the victory.

Ramon Woods led the Cougars with 22 points, including 10 points in the third quarter.

Kamari Minnis led the Falcons with 19 points in a losing effort.

https://thenassauguardian.com/four-champions-crowned-in-the-baiss/