Chavez Young shines in Cubs series

As of Friday, July 22, 2022

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CHAVEZ YOUNG

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#THE Buffalo Bisons split their six-game series with the Iowa Cubs and Chavez Young emerged as one of the club’s offensive leaders as he looks to gain ground in the International League (AAA) standings.

#Young recorded a hit in each of the six games and finished with an average of .478 (11-23), five runs and three RBI.

#The 24-year-old outfield prospect had his best games of the series in Buffalo wins and finished 2-5 with a run and an RBI in a 5-4 game three win and 2-5 with two runs in a 6-5 win in game five.

#In his other games of the series he went 1-4 with a run, 1-2 with a run, 1-3 and 1-4 with two RBI in the series finale.

#The Bisons are 46-44 in the International League East.

#Young was recognised as the club’s Player of the Week in the final week of June. In six games he hit .368, scored six runs, with three stolen bases a .478 on base percentage and a 1.004 OPS.

#His week included several highlights defensively in the field to coincide with his production at the plate.

#In a June 21 8-7 win over the St Paul Saints, Young made a spectacular leaping catch over the centrefield wall to rob the Saints’ Jermaine Palacios of a grand slam. He finished 2-3 and scored a run in the Bison’s 2-1 win Sunday to conclude the six-game set against the Saints.

#In 44 games with Buffalo this season, Young is hitting .255 with 16 stolen bases, five doubles, a triple, three home-runs, and 18 RBI.

#Young was also a non-roster invitee to 2022 Spring Training for the second consecutive year and spent time with the major league roster in the Grapefruit League.

#He initially intended to begin the season with the Bison when he was assigned to the club on April 5, but was placed on rehab assignment with the Dunedin BlueJays in Single A baseball on May 14.

#In five games with Dunedin he hit .278 and slugged .444 with one stolen base.

#Young spent last season with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in the AA Eastern League. He appeared in 78 games with the Fisher Cats and hit .265 with 74 hits and 52 RBI. He also had an .758 OPS, slugged .409 with 20 stolen bases, 41 runs scored, 15 doubles, two triples, and seven home runs.

#He spent time last offseason in the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente (LBPRC), commonly known as the Puerto Rican Winter League and with the Canberra Cavalry of the Australian Baseball League.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/22/chavez-young-shines-cubs-series/?news

As of Friday, July 22, 2022

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CHAVEZ YOUNG

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#THE Buffalo Bisons split their six-game series with the Iowa Cubs and Chavez Young emerged as one of the club’s offensive leaders as he looks to gain ground in the International League (AAA) standings.

#Young recorded a hit in each of the six games and finished with an average of .478 (11-23), five runs and three RBI.

#The 24-year-old outfield prospect had his best games of the series in Buffalo wins and finished 2-5 with a run and an RBI in a 5-4 game three win and 2-5 with two runs in a 6-5 win in game five.

#In his other games of the series he went 1-4 with a run, 1-2 with a run, 1-3 and 1-4 with two RBI in the series finale.

#The Bisons are 46-44 in the International League East.

#Young was recognised as the club’s Player of the Week in the final week of June. In six games he hit .368, scored six runs, with three stolen bases a .478 on base percentage and a 1.004 OPS.

#His week included several highlights defensively in the field to coincide with his production at the plate.

#In a June 21 8-7 win over the St Paul Saints, Young made a spectacular leaping catch over the centrefield wall to rob the Saints’ Jermaine Palacios of a grand slam. He finished 2-3 and scored a run in the Bison’s 2-1 win Sunday to conclude the six-game set against the Saints.

#In 44 games with Buffalo this season, Young is hitting .255 with 16 stolen bases, five doubles, a triple, three home-runs, and 18 RBI.

#Young was also a non-roster invitee to 2022 Spring Training for the second consecutive year and spent time with the major league roster in the Grapefruit League.

#He initially intended to begin the season with the Bison when he was assigned to the club on April 5, but was placed on rehab assignment with the Dunedin BlueJays in Single A baseball on May 14.

#In five games with Dunedin he hit .278 and slugged .444 with one stolen base.

#Young spent last season with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in the AA Eastern League. He appeared in 78 games with the Fisher Cats and hit .265 with 74 hits and 52 RBI. He also had an .758 OPS, slugged .409 with 20 stolen bases, 41 runs scored, 15 doubles, two triples, and seven home runs.

#He spent time last offseason in the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente (LBPRC), commonly known as the Puerto Rican Winter League and with the Canberra Cavalry of the Australian Baseball League.

http://sportsinthebahamas.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=4407&action=edit

As of Friday, July 22, 2022

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#HEAD coach Corrington Maycock likes the make-up of the 11-member team that will represent the Bahamas at the World Athletics’ 2022 Under-20 Track and Field Championships.

#The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations made the announcement this week of the team that will compete at the championships in Cali, Colombia from August 1-6.

#“We have a strong team with very disciplined athletes,” Maycock said. “My hopes is that each and every athlete participates for personal records.”

#The team will comprise of Javonya Valcourt, Grand Bahamian Shatalya Dorsett, Paige Archer and Lacarthea Cooper on the girls’ side. The boys’ team will include Antoine Andrews, Zachary Evans, Carlos Brown, Zion Campbell, Keyshawn Strachan, Wanya McCoy and Shamar Bain.

#Maycock, who will travel along with team manager Laketah Charlton, assistant manager Sharon Gardiner, coaches Daron Lightbourne and John Ingraham, therapist Terell Major and doctor Alvery Hanna, said he expects some great things from Team Bahamas.

#“They all competed at a high level all season, now it’s time to execute,” Maycock said. “We also have a chance at placing a solid 4×1 boys’ and girls’ team. I have really high hopes for them this time around.”

#Valcourt and McCoy are currently in Eugene, Oregon, as members of the Bahamas’ team at the World Championships.

#“When the puzzle pieces are all together then we can build a solid and unified team,” Maycock said.

#“I expect personal bests from all of the athletes and some hardware to go with that.”

#The team is scheduled to depart for Cali on Thursday, July 28.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/22/team-bahamas-named-u-20-track-and-field-worlds/?news

As of Friday, July 22, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#AS they went through their final day of practice at the National Tennis Centre, members of the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s team for the 2022 Billie Jean King Cup said they are ready.

#The team, consisting of Grand Bahamian player/ coach Simone Pratt, Sydney Clarke, Elana Mackey and Sierra Rodgers, are slated to leave town for Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, today.

#They will be in competition on the hard courts at the Centro Nacional de Tenis Parque del Este from July 25-30 against teams from Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, US Virgin Islands and Venezuela.

#The top two teams will be promoted to the Americas Group One for 2023, but all of the other teams will remain in Group II. The Bahamas, currently ranked at number 53 in the world, finished third in Group II last year after the team of player/captain Kerrie Cartwright, Pratt, Mackey and Sierra Donaldson defeated El Salvador in the playoffs in Panama City, Panama.

#After missing out on travelling with the team last year, Pratt is back for her fifth year and her first since 2018. She said she’s delighted to be named as the player/captain and she’s eager to serve with her fellow team-mates.

#“I talked to Marvin Rolle and Kerrie Cartwright, and they gave me quite a few tips on what to do and what to expect, so I’m really looking forward to using those tips that they gave me,” Pratt said.

#Having played on the team in the past, Pratt said she has an idea of what to do and she’s looking forward to developing a cohesive unit with the team as a whole as they represent the Bahamas.

#“I know it’s going to take a lot of hard work, but we just have to go out there and give it our all,” she pointed out. “That’s all anyone could ask for.”

#In preparation for the tie, Pratt said she’s been putting in a lot of work and is eager to go out and see how she can contribute to the team’s overall success, not just as a captain, but a player as well.

#Having played on three teams in 2021, 2019 and 2017, Clarke said she’s excited over the fact that they can travel and not worry about all of the restrictions surrounding COVID-19. “I feel pretty prepared being able to play over the years and even playing with some of girls, whom I played with as juniors,” Clarke said. “So, I feel as though we have a good chance at taking the title this year.

#“Once we plan and work hard, we should be fine.”

#With Pratt as the most experienced player on the team, Clarke said she’s eager to learn from her and she is confident that she should do a good job in leading the team.

#“I know the competition is really high. Some of the girls are in college like me and playing professionally,” Clarke stressed. “It’s great to be able to compete at a high level.”

#If they can play with a lot of “guts,” the 20-year-old Clarke, who attends the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said the Bahamas should be a contender.

#Mackey, a 19-year-old heading into her junior year at Mars Hills University, said with the talent assembled on the team, the Bahamas has the potential to at least get into the semifinals or even reach the final.

#“I think of some of the level of the other teams and what to expect,” said Mackey, who previously played on the Bahamas’ teams in 2017 and 2021. “I know what type of balls to expect and how to play in order for me to win.”

#With Rodgers as the new member of the team, Mackey said she would just encourage her to “try her best and give her best effort on the team.”

#And to Pratt as the first-time player/captain, she advised her to “just critique us, tell us what we’re doing right and what we can do to get better.”

#Still on a high from her competitive collegiate season, Mackey said she’s been practicing a lot and she’s prepared to help the team win.

#“I have a little bit of experience, so I think I should be able to play very well,” she said. “I just have to be smart and strategic and just stick to the game plan.

#“If you are down, you just have to keep playing and not get mad,” she said. “Don’t worry about what the other player is doing on the other side of the court. You can only control what you know.”

#As the youngest member of the team at age 16, Rodgers said she’s thrilled to be in the company of the older players.

#“I think this is a real extraordinary opportunity for me. I just really want to learn and grow from this experience,” Rodgers said. “I’m among some really great tennis players, so it’s going to be a fun trip. So, I really want to learn and grow.”

#Coming off an injury to her knee, Rodgers said she’s gotten through her therapy, and she is looking forward to performing just as her other teammates, whom she called amazing.

#“I love Simone and Sydney and Elana. When I was younger, I really looked up to them,” Rodgers said.

#“So, it’s really amazing to be with them. I worked really hard to get on the team. I felt really good. I felt all of the hard work and dedication was put into making the team.”

#BLTA president Perry Newton said they are excited about this team travelling.

#“It’s going to be a big competition, but the ladies are prepared, and we wish them safe travels,” he said. “I think it’s really good that they are given the opportunity to go out there and compete on the international stage again.

#“We’re also really thankful that we have a sponsor like Fidelity Bank, which has come on board to support this team. I think their commitment will go a long way in helping this team to do well.”

#Paige Nixon-Bartlett, the media and communications coordinator at Fidelity Bank, said as a major contributor to sports in the country, when the request was made by the BLTA to assist the team, they wholeheartedly came on board.

#“I just want to tell this group of young ladies to keep their heads up, do what they are doing, stay active and we give them their full support in doing their best,” Nixon-Bartlett said.

#Newton said the BLTA is particularly pleased that Rodgers will get to make her debut with a couple of veteran players, who should be able to guide her along the way.

#“Simone is definitely the most seasoned player on the team, so we are happy to have her here,” Newton said. “She was supposed to travel with the team last year, but unfortunately she couldn’t participate.

#“We are anxious for them, and we know that while we can’t send a contingent with them, we know that the country is praying for them, and we know that they will do very well.”

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/22/billie-jean-king-cup-team-ready-after-final-practi/?news

As of Friday, July 22, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#AS a part of their mandate to help the developing countries around the world, the International Gymnastics Federation has decided to hold their 2022 Board Meeting in the Bahamas.

#The meeting, closed to the public, got started on Tuesday and will conclude on Saturday at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island.

#The federation, headed by president Morinari Watanabe, is the governing body for gymnastics worldwide. It is the oldest established international federation of an Olympic sport and has participated in the Olympic Games since their revival in 1896.

#Through its operation, the federation governs eight sports, including gymnastics for all, men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline, comprising of double mini-trampoline and tumbling, aerobics, acrobatics and parkour.

#Cora Hepburn, president of the Gymnastics Federation of the Bahamas since taking over from the late Barbara Thompson three years ago, welcomed the 25 visiting delegates to the international federation’s meeting that is normally held in Lausanne, Switzerland, where their headquarters is located as they oversee 156 national member federations.

#“It was originally scheduled for 2021, but due to the pandemic, it had to be rescheduled to this year,” Hepburn said. “It has come to fruition, and they are here.”

#On their arrival here, the delegates were feted to a welcome dinner reception on Tuesday at Cafe Martinique and on Wednesday, the Bahamas Olympic Committee hosted a dinner that included representatives from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Education.

#Today, the members will be touring the booster clubs, headed by Nicola Thompson, and the Nassau Nastics, headed by Trevor Ramsay. Hopefully through their tour, Hepburn said the international federation will be able to provide some more assistance to their federation for the future development of the sport in the country.

#Watanabe, a Japanese native, said the Bahamas and Paradise Island has turned out to be an excellent venue for their meeting.

#“The Bahamas has been a very good host to us. We are very happy with the way they have treated us here,” said Watanabe, who began his tenure as president in October 2016.

#“This is the first time that we are hosting the meeting in this region, and everything has gone very well. We are very pleased with how the meeting has gone.”

#Watanabe said they have been able to discuss a number of important topics pertaining to the further growth and development of the sport, but he can’t elaborate on what decisions and conclusions that they came to. “This is important for us as a board to meet and we are happy and delighted that we can get to do it here in the Bahamas,” Watanabe said.

#Hepburn, a vice president of the BOC, said she was pleased that so many people came together to make the trip a success for the international federation.

#While some delegates will leave town today, the majority of them will depart on Saturday.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/22/international-gymnastics-federation-holding-annual/?news

 Home|Sports|Major to throw his name in the hat for boxing federation presidentSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailJuly 21, 2022 111 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

There is no date set as yet for the Bahamas Boxing Federation’s (BBF) election of officers but it is due to happen at some point this year. One of the persons who is interested in the presidency is retired boxer Meacher “Major Pain” Major.

Major has been around the sport since he was 12 years old and said he is not happy with the condition that the sport, which he loves, is in, locally.

“I love the sport of boxing, I know what it has done to help an inner city individual like myself and many others. I have no personal agenda. I just want to see it progress for the betterment of the sport for which I have sacrificed so much during the course of my career,” Major said.

The veteran boxer wants the sport to expand and for it to become a vehicle for sports tourism in the country.

“I know I am the one who can make the changes that is needed to evolve the sport. We need new ideas, new vision to inspire others to get involved on all levels. I know I have the experience, being one of Ray Minus’ first boxers when I started boxing in 1994. I have seen what was done, what can be done, what needs to be done to help the sport to become bigger and better for the upcoming generation of boxers. Boxing in The Bahamas can become a sports tourism tool. We need a new training camp facility which can allow international amateur and professional boxers to hold their training camps in The Bahamas,” Major said.

The 40-year-old commended coaches such as Keishno Major, Valentino Knowles and Kayla Johnson, and even professional boxer Tureano Johnson who offers guidance to aspiring young boxers. Major said they are making sacrifices to have the young people more involved in boxing. He said those coaches have inspired him to run for the presidency of the BBF.

If he wins the presidency, Major said he will have to step down from his position as a member of the Bahamas Boxing Commission. He also serves as regional director in the Pan American Caribbean Boxing Organization (PACBO).

Major is looking to help boxing programs on the Family Islands, knowing that it is not an easy task.

“We have never had this amount of former boxers become trainers in the history of The Bahamas,” Major said. “Inagua and Freeport have active boxing programs. Exuma and a few other Family Islands are interested in having boxing programs, so, once I become president, I want to be able to make those a reality. I know it’s not an easy task, and so much work needs to be done, but with God on our side, and an amazing team, we will succeed.”

The current BBF president is Vincent Strachan. He was voted in as president in 2018 and it is unclear if he is running for a second consecutive term.

https://thenassauguardian.com/major-to-throw-his-name-in-the-hat-for-boxing-federation-president/

 Home|Sports|BAAA names 11-member team for World JuniorsSports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailJuly 21, 2022 111 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Right on the heels of the 18th World Athletics Outdoor Championships comes another global athletics event as the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) continues its trek on a busy summer.

The BAAA has ratified an 11-member team for the World Athletics Under-20 (U20) Championships, also known as the World Junior Championships or World Juniors, which is set for August 2-7 at Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero in Cali, Colombia.

The World Juniors is an international athletics competition for athletes qualifying as juniors (born no earlier than January 1, 2003), and all members of Team Bahamas have achieved qualifying standards that were in place from the beginning of the season and set by World Athletics.

A total of seven young men and four young women will represent The Bahamas in Cali, Colombia, in this global event.

Named to the team are Antoine Andrews, Zachary Evans, Carlos Brown, Zion Campbell, Keyshawn Strachan, Wanya McCoy and Shimar Bain for the boys; and female athletes Javonya Valcourt, Shatalya Dorsett, Paige Archer and Lacarthea Cooper.

Corrington Maycock is the head coach of the team and he will be assisted by Daron Lightbourne and John Ingraham. The team manager is Laketah Charlton and she will be assisted by Sharon Gardiner who is also the COVID liaison officer. Dr. Alvery Hanna is the team doctor and Terell Major is the team therapist.

The squad will be led by Strachan who is the highest ranked athlete on the team, listed as the number two under-20 javelin thrower in the world on the World Athletics Top Performance list for 2022.

“We have a strong team with very disciplined athletes. My hope is that each and every athlete participates for personal records,” said veteran throws coach Maycock, serving in a head coaching capacity for the first time on a national level.

“All of the athletes have competed at a high level all season, so now it’s time to execute.”

From the athletes entered, Maycock said they have every intention of fielding relay squads, particularly in the 4×100 meters (m) relays. He likes their chances of making it through the rounds and into the final.

“I have really high hopes for them this time around,” said Maycock. “A couple of the members of this team are currently at the world championships in Eugene and some are on Grand Bahama. When the pieces of the puzzle are all together, then we can build a solid and unified team. I expect personal best performances from all of the athletes and some hardware to go with that.”

McCoy and Valcourt are the two members of the team who are at the World Athletics Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, USA. As Maycock mentioned, others are on Grand Bahama and are scheduled to arrive in New Providence over the weekend.

The team departs for Cali, Colombia, on July 28. Maycock said it’s a business trip for them and they are looking forward to tremendous success.

https://thenassauguardian.com/baaa-names-11-member-team-for-world-juniors/

 Home|Sports|Miller-Uibo cruises into 400m final Sports

No American makes women’s 400m final; six of the eight from the Caribbean

Sheldon LongleySend an emailJuly 21, 2022 118 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Shaunae Miller-Uibo was all business, comfortably getting through to the final of the women’s 400 meters (m) at the 18th World Athletics Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, USA, last night.

Miller-Uibo ran a structured race, finishing first in her semifinal heat in a season’s best time of 49.55 seconds to book an automatic spot for Friday’s final. Miller-Uibo will run out of lane three in the final which is set for 10:15 p.m. on Friday.

Given the form she has shown so far, the Bahamian looks determined to grab the one global title that has eluded her in her professional career. She is a world youth champion, a world junior champion, a world indoor champion and an Olympic champion, but is yet to win a world outdoor title.

That could certainly change tomorrow night when Miller-Uibo lines up in the final of the women’s 400m as she is one of the event favorites. With her sub-50 seconds run in the semis, Miller-Uibo was the fastest qualifier for Friday’s final. She got out to an early lead, powered down the back stretch, was controlled on the second curve and paced herself on the home stretch. She appeared to ease up about 50 to 60 meters from the finish line, cruising to the tape.

The two-time Olympic Champion is expected to be challenged from Marileidy Paulino from the Dominican Republic and Candice McLeod of Jamaica – the second and third fastest qualifiers for the final respectively. Paulino was the silver medalist behind Miller-Uibo at the Tokyo Olympic Games last year, and was the only other runner under 50 seconds in the semis last evening. She won her semifinal heat in 49.98 seconds and McLeod ran a season’s best time of 50.05 seconds.

In a stunning turn of events, no American woman advanced to the final of the women’s 400m. In fact, six of the eight women in the final are from the Caribbean – two from Jamaica, two from the Dominican Republic, Miller-Uibo from The Bahamas and Sada Williams from Barbados. 

Today is an off day for The Bahamas and Miller-Uibo will be the only Bahamian athlete in action tomorrow.

On Saturday, Devynne Charlton will compete in the opening round heats of the women’s 100m hurdles and Ken Mullings will begin his competition in the men’s decathlon. Also on Saturday, the women’s 4x400m relay team will be in action, competing in the heats of that event.

So far, the highest finish for The Bahamas has been 10th by Anthonique Strachan in the women’s 100m. TyNia Gaither finished 11th overall in the women’s 200m, just coming up short of becoming the first Bahamian to advance to three consecutive finals of the women’s 200m at the world outdoor championships. She now shares the accomplishment of two successive finals in that event, among Bahamians, with Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie who did it twice in her illustrious career.

Both Strachan and Gaither ran personal best times – Strachan in the 100m and Gaither in the 200m.

The Bahamas has won at least one medal at every world athletics championships since 2013, and has won 25 medals in the history of the championships – eight gold, nine silver and eight bronze.

This is the first world outdoor championships that is being held on US soil. A total of 1,972 athletes from 192 countries are competing.

https://thenassauguardian.com/miller-uibo-cruises-into-400m-final/

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 Home|Sports|Williams withdraws; Freeport meet goes on without herSports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailDecember 21, 2020 474 4 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Citing an inability to meet reasonable requests, foreign coach, track analyst and sportscaster Ato Boldon pulled his prized possession, Briana Williams, out of the Neymour Athletics Christmas Odd Distance Track and Filed Classic in Freeport, Grand Bahama, this past weekend, dampening the overall mood of the local meet and causing it to lose some of its luster.

Boldon, of Trinidad & Tobago, a former World Champion sprinter and Olympic medalist, coaches Williams – the World Under-20 (U20) Double Sprint Champion from Jamaica and a regional star at CARIFTA the past two years. She is the darling of track and field on the junior side in the region, and was the headliner of the Neymour Athletics classic this past weekend. The duo, Boldon and Williams, arrived in Freeport on Wednesday and left on Sunday without the latter participating in the weekend event.

Bolden said on social media: “Unfortunately, the organizers of this meet failed to deliver on just about every reasonable expectation that there could be to host a decent track and field event and as a result, I’ve decided to withdraw Briana from participation in this meet.”

Meet organizer Jerell Forbes, the head coach and president of the Grand Bahamian-based Neymour Athletics Track and Field Club, said it’s unfortunate but added that the success of the meet did not rest on Williams’ participation.

“We just couldn’t please him, and we certainly tried,” said Forbes. “I received complaints from some of the foreign coaches on what was said and done, and at that point, I said to myself that I’m not going to let any one person decide how this meet is run. It really started with a Zoom session with a few of the international athletes, with them giving their take about being in The Bahamas but he didn’t want Briana to take part in that. Also, athletes tried to mix with Brianna but he always intervened. He just acted unprofessionally. Briana even asked to run the 150, asking me to ask Coach Ato to let her run the 150, and I was about to do that, until I saw the post on social media. It was egregious and uncalled for. Be that as it may, the event was a success. Everyone who came down here said they were grateful for the opportunity to compete and they enjoyed themselves. It’s just unfortunate that that one incident put a damper on the weekend. Otherwise, it was a great meet.”

Boldon, who was unavailable for comment, also said on social media that Freeport, Grand Bahama, holds a special place in their hearts, having flown there in 2019 to assist in the Hurricane Dorian relief efforts. Prior to her arrival, Williams said to 876 Stream – an online social media site in Jamaica – that she was super excited to be coming to The Bahamas and was looking forward to competing.

There’s no doubt that it has been a rough year for the Northern Bahamas, given the damage and loss of life from Dorian and the ensuing financial impact of COVID-19. Boldon said they wanted to do their part to assist and deemed it a great idea to compete. Forbes said he welcomed the initial interest and even made his father’s plane available for transport into the island for Boldon and Williams, but was caught off guard with what followed. Despite the fallout, the meet took place Saturday at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex in Freeport. Friday’s events were canceled due to a technical error.

Local and foreign athletes, nearly 200 in total, engaged in the 60 meters (m), 150m, 300m, 500m and the one-mile events, in all age groups, on Saturday.

“Saturday was a complete success,” said Forbes. “The kids were able to come out and compete and they really enjoyed themselves. The athletes, parents and coaches were excited. The Jamaican athletes and the other international athletes all enjoyed themselves, and that was good to see. This is our legacy and we have to keep it going. We want to take this to new heights. It’s just unfortunate what happed with Coach Ato but it didn’t dampen our spirits. He is impossible to please. With him being in the sport for so long, you would expect him to understand that everything doesn’t go perfect all the time, but he’s making decisions based on what he wants and not on what’s good for her. Be that as it may, we will go on. We will continue to promote this meet in the future and continue to uplift track and field.”

Forbes said they are now in the process of planning the 4th Annual Basil Neymour Construction Classic, which is set for February 12-13, 2021, at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex in Freeport. He said they are expecting a large contingent from Barbados, athletes from Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and a team out of North Carolina in the United States, led by Olympian hurdler and former World Champion Bershawn “Bat Man” Jackson.

“This event was just a precursor for what’s to come,” said Forbes. “We’re looking forward to big things happening for Grand Bahama as far as track and field is concerned and we are not going to be deterred. Track and field must go on. We will continue to move forward.”

The Neymour Athletics Christmas Odd Distance Track and Filed Classic, the first international track and field meet in the country since the advent of COVID-19 in the region, was supported by The Bahamas’ Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the Ministry for Grand Bahama, and was given approval by health officials in the country with the mandate that safety and social distancing measures be adhered to. It was also sanctioned by the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA), the governing body for athletics in the country.

Forbes said he has every intention of making the meet an annual event.

https://thenassauguardian.com/williams-withdraws-freeport-meet-goes-on-without-her/

Bahamian officially signs with the Suns; team keeping nucleus intact

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailJuly 20, 2022 115 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

PHOENIX (AP) — DeAndre Ayton finally has his new deal from the Phoenix Suns, who simply weren’t willing to let him get away for nothing.

A person with knowledge of the situation said the Suns quickly decided to match a $133 million, four-year offer sheet that Ayton agreed to Thursday with the Indiana Pacers. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Suns had not publicly announced the decision.

The Athletic first reported Phoenix matching the offer. ESPN first reported that Ayton had agreed with the Pacers.

The move means the Suns — at least for now — keep their nucleus of Ayton and the All-Star backcourt of Devin Booker and Chris Paul. The trio pushed Phoenix to the NBA Finals in 2021 and a franchise-record 64 wins during the most recent regular season.

The No. 1 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Ayton was eligible to get an extension from Phoenix last summer.

That didn’t happen, and he became a restricted free agent this summer — meaning Phoenix had the chance to match any offers. Once Indiana made its move, the Suns countered quickly.

Phoenix has been linked to interest in acquiring Brooklyn star Kevin Durant during the offseason, but Ayton can’t be used as trade bait because of the new deal.

The Suns’ move is a blow to the Pacers, who were hoping to add Ayton as a pivotal piece in a promising young core that includes 22-year-old point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who was acquired in a February trade with Sacramento.

Ayton — who turns 24 later this month — had a shaky start to his career but became a critical component in the Suns’ run to the Finals. He’s part of the 2018 draft class that includes Dallas’ Luka Dončić and Atlanta’s Trae Young. The two guards have had more individual success, but neither has made it as far in the playoffs.

The athletic 6-foot-11 Ayton is powerful in the low post and has developed a strong mid-range game. He averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game last season while shooting 63.4 percent from the field and 36.8 percent on 3-pointers.

Much of the criticism about Ayton has been about his maturity. He was suspended 25 games without pay by the NBA in 2019 for violating the league’s Anti-Drug Program by testing positive for a diuretic. He was also benched for part of Game 7 of the team’s second-round loss to Dallas this year after appearing to exchange words with coach Monty Williams.

Still, he is generally popular with his teammates. Booker and Paul often praised Ayton, who did a lot of the little things to help the team win.

Even without Ayton, Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard may not be done wheeling-and-dealing. Indiana has three potential first-round picks in next year’s draft and enough players and assets to help other teams looking for a salary-cap dump.

The Pacers announced Thursday that they waived four players — Duane Washington Jr., Nik Stauskas, Malik Fitts, and Juwan Morgan. They were part of Indiana’s trade that sent guard Malcolm Brogdon to Boston, clearing enough cap space to make the pursuit of Ayton or other players realistic.

https://thenassauguardian.com/ayton-staying-with-the-suns/