As of Monday, September 5, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#AFTER getting shutout on a no-hitter the night before by the front running C&S Hitmen, the second place Mystic Marlins bounced back on Saturday night and took their frustration out on the fourth place Chances Mighty Mitts in a slugfest.

#In their back-to-back nightcap in the New Providence Softball Association’s 2022 fastpitch season in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex, the Marlins pulled a 25-14 rout over the Mighty Mitts after their 8-0 shellacking to the Hitmen on Friday night.

#Second baseman Stephen Russell went 3-for-3 with four runs batted in and scored four times, highlighted by a three-run home run in a four-run fourth inning that sealed an abbreviated four-run stoppage to push their second place win-loss record to 8-2 behind the Hitmen’s 8-1 mark.

#Just before their game was played, the R&B Operators also played their second game in two nights, but they won both of them, producing a high scoring 20-9 decision over the University of the Bahamas Mingoes and a 20-0 whitewashing of the Johnson’s Lady Truckers on Saturday night.

#With the victories, the Lady Truckers pulled even with the Sunshine Auto Wildcats for first place in the ladies’ division with a 7-2 win-loss record.

#The losses kept the Lady Truckers in third at 4-5 and the Mingoes in fourth at 2-6. The Black Scorpions occupy the last spot at 1-6.

#Marlins 24, Mighty Mitts 14: While Stephen Russell earned the most valuable player award for his efforts, just about every player except one got at least one or more hits as they redeemed themselves from Friday night.

#“Last night (Friday) was one of those nights. I guess the guys were a little scary or shaky against Edney (Bethel), but tonight we came out and played with heart and hit the ball,” said Charlie Rolle, a coach for the Marlins.

#“Last night (Friday) was one of those nights. That is behind us. We’re looking forward now.

#“Forward ever, backward never. The next time we meet them (Hitmen), come to the park and see. I think it will be a much better game.”

#Centre fielder Angelo Watson led off the parade by going 2-for-2 with four runs scored, left fielder Winston Seymour Jr followed with a 1-for-2 outing with three RBI and three runs scored, catcher Garfield Bethel was 1-for-4 with four runs scored, shortstop Austin Hanna was 1-for-3 with two RBI and three runs scored, first baseman Thomas Davis was 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored, third baseman Anton Hanna was 1-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored and centre fielder Elli Adderley was 1-for-3 with two runs scored. Deon Whyte went the distance for the win on the mound, giving up nine hits with two strike outs, while Michel Ingraham suffered the loss on 12 hits. Catcher Rashad Martin was 3-for-3 with five RBI and two runs scored to lead Chances, whose manager Alphonso ‘Chicken’ Albury tried to keep them motivated throughout the game. Shortstop Stephen McKenzie went 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored and left fielder Juneil Bain was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

#Operators 20, Lady Truckers 0

#In a dominating pitching performance, strongwoman Brendia Ferguson tossed a no-hitter, striking out two and she helped her own cause by going 2-for-2 with three RBI and three runs scored in their shutout.

#“It’s been a long while,” said Ferguson of her performance that earned her the MVP honours. “I’m just coming back after being out of the league for about four years. I’m pretty proud of what I’m doing now. It takes a lot of work, but I’m happy with the results.”

#R&B also saw third sacker Michelle Thompson go 2-for-3 with a RBI, left fielder Sheryl Evans 1-for-1 with four runs scored, catcher Lathera Brown 1-for-2 with a RBI and three runs scored and centre fielder Melinda Bastian 1-for-3 with two RBI and three runs scored.

#“I’m pretty confident in my team. We didn’t come out tonight with a full team, but we were able to place our members anywhere,” Ferguson said. “We have a versatile team and we got the job done, so I’m pretty happy with the way we performed tonight.”

#Hitmen 8, Marlins 0

#Edney ‘the Heat’ Bethel had another masterful performance on the mound, firing a no-hitter with nine strike outs in the C&S whitewashing of the Marlins on Friday night.

#Richard Bain went 2-for-4 with a RBI and two runs scored, Sherman Ferguson was 1-for-3 with a run scored, Deno Sweeting was 1-for-3 with a RBI and Philp Johnson was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Thomas Davis threw a seven-hitter, striking out five, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Hitmen.

#Operators 20, Mingoes 9

#Diva Burrows picked up the win on an eight hitter and two strike outs and she got all the support she needed from her teammates to seal the deal on Friday night.

#Melinda Bastian went 3-for-5 with three RBI and four runs scored, Jeanette Hilton was 2-for-2 with two ERBI and two runs scored, Michelle Thompson was 3-for-5 with a RBI and three runs scored, Vanessa Sawyer was 2-for-5 with a RBI and two runs scored, and Brendia Ferguson was 1-for-3 with three runs scored.

#Solana Brown was tagged with the loss for the University of the Bahamas.

#Sophia Cartwright went 2-for-3 with a RBI and run scored, Nabria Hamilton was 1-for-3 with two runs scored, Ramazia Rolle was 1-for-1 with two RBI and a run scored and Aallyah Williams was 1-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored..

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/sep/05/npsa-mystic-marlins-rout-mighty-mitts-25-14-slugfe/?news

As of Monday, September 5, 2022

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TYNIA GAITHER

Anthonique Strachan (File photo)

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemdedia.net

#ALTHOUGH they competed in two different heats, Bahamas national champion Tynia Gaither had a better showing than runner-up Anthonique Strachan in the women’s 100 metres at the XXXV Meeting Citta’ Di Pasdova, Italy.

#Competing at the Assindustria Sport Padova in Padova, yesterday, Gaither got fourth in the first of two heats in 11:42 seconds for ninth place in the two heats combined, while Strachan was eighth in the last heat in 11.66 for 15th overall.

#Strachan was a little perturbed by the news of the passing of her former teammate and friend Shavez Hart in Abaco on Saturday morning.

#She said she tried not to let it affect her as she concentrated on the task ahead of her. “Today, I didn’thave a good performance,” said Strachan, running out of lane one. “My quad still isn’t 100 percent and the 100 metres is 10 times more aggressive and more detailed than the 200m.

#“But running so many bends back-to-back has made my legs so sore and it’s very uncomfortable and I’m just learning how to bear with the discomfort to see how it goes. I have one more 200m in Hungary and hopefully it goes better there than it did here.”

#Marie-Josée Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast won the second heat in a meet record of 10.94 for the fastest time overall, followed by American Terry Twanisha in 11.14. Jamaica’s Natasha Morrison, the winner of heat two, had the third fastest time of 11.22 and American Sha’Carri Richardson, third in the second heat, was fourth overall.

#Also at the meet, Commonwealth Games’ gold medallist LaQuan Nairn had to settle for sixth place in the men’s long jump with a best leap of 24-feet, 10-inches or 7.57 metres on his first attempt. Winning the event was Tajay Gayle of Jamaica with 27-1 ¼ (8.26m) on his third attempt.

#Strachan and Gaither earn 1-2 finish in the 200 metres

#In their first head-to-head showdown since the Bahamas Amateur Athletic Association’s National Championships at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium in June when Gaither took the 100m over Strachan, while Strachan came back for second ahead of Gaither in the 200m won by Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Strachan took the title over Gaither in the 200m on Friday.

#Strachan, getting back to full form after she suffered an injury at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon in July, won the 200m in Budapest on Friday in 22.63 with Gaither taking second in 22.89, while Jamaican Natasha Morrison got third in 23.95.

#“The meet was good. I’m happy with it,” said Strachan of her performance.

#Coming off her victory on Tuesday in Lucerne, Switzerland in 22.68, Strachan said she didn’t have any expectations going into Friday’s race.

#“All I wanted to do is stay sub-23 to set me up for next season,” Strachan said.

#Strachan, however, said it was good to have a compatriot competing in the event.

#“I enjoy competing with familiar faces especially my fellow country competitors,” she noted.

#The feeling was neutral for Gaither, the NACAC 200m silver medallist and member of the women’s 4 x 100m relay team of Printassia Johnson, Strachan and Charlton that clinched the silver behind the USA on her brilliant comeback effort over Jamaica on the anchor leg.

#“It was nice having Anthonique there,” Gaither said. “Anytime I line up with one of my countrywomen, it feels like we’re doing it for our country. I love that feeling.”

#Gaither, also 29, even noted that she was content with her performance in the race.

#“It was my first out of the last four races of my season and so I’m just really allowing myself to fully enjoy these last few moments and trust my body,” she stated.

#Charlton sixth

#At the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Brussels, World Indoor Commonwealth Games silver medallist Charlton, running out of lane one, ended up sixth in the women’s 100m hurdles in 12.66, but secured her berth into the finals in Zurich, Switzerland, from September 7-8 with a fourth place with 19 points.

#Running a season’s best of 12.27 for a meet record, the power packed Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico took the title over the American duo of Tian James (personal best of 12.38) and former world record holder Kendra Harrison (12.40).

#The Jamaican pair of Britany Anderson (12.44) and Megan Tapper (12.51, a personal best as well), finished ahead of Charlton in fourth and fifth respectively.

#Camacho-Quinn pushed her lead in the field with 32 points, followed by world record holder Tobi Amusan, the World Championships and Commonwealth Games’ champion from Nigeria, in second with 29 and Anderson in third with 23.

#Charlton, 26, was the only Bahamian competing at the meet.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/sep/05/gaither-strachan-burn-track-italy/?news

Candace Parker helps Sky beat Sun 76-72

CONNECTICUT Sun forward Jonquel Jones reacts during Game 3 of a WNBA basketball semifinal playoff series against the Chicago Sky yesterday in Uncasville, Connecticut. (AP Photos/Jessica Hill)

As of Monday, September 5, 2022

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#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#The Connecticut Sun lost a pivotal game three of the WNBA semifinals and surrendered home court advantage for the remainder of the series, but the story emerging out of yesterday’s game was the limited time Jonquel Jones received down the stretch.

#With Connecticut trailing 66-64 with 3:37 left to play, Sun head coach Curt Miller subbed Jones out of the game. She checked back in with 54 seconds left to play and the Suns down by six.

SKY forward Candace Parker reacts after injuring her eye yesterday.

#Jones finished with just six points on 3-10 shooting from the field with eight rebounds and two blocked shots in just 24 minutes.

#Miller explained his late game substitution pattern in his post-game availability. “It’s sometimes offence-defence and it’s so much harder at the pro level to do that unless there’s a dead ball, you can’t be offence-defence substituting at the pro level is difficult. At times, now can we get them spread out moving with a smaller lineup,” Miller said.

#“I have to make those calls, difficult decisions, all the time. At times they don’t come with as many doubles to Bri Jones so at times do we get the ball inside with spacing that we want because they send so much attention to JJ.

#“It’s kind of a feel and there’s always going to be second guesses when you don’t win. When you win people will say you pushed the right buttons. Searching, when we were struggling to score and trying to find some more movement late in that game when we were struggling to score.”

CONNECTICUT Sun forward Jonquel Jones, right, knocks away a shot-attempt by Chicago Sky guard Kahleah Copper, centre, as Sun guard Natisha Hiedeman, left, defends during Game 3 of their WNBA basketball semifinal playoff series yesterday. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

#The Sky leads the best-of-five series 2-1. The Sun will host game four 8pm Tuesday night at Mohegan Sun Arena.

#The Sky’s Kahleah Copper made a three pointer to give her team the aforementioned 66-64 lead with 6:14 left to play. Both teams followed with a nearly four-minute drought.

#“It was 66-64 forever,” Miller said. “I wondered if one team would have an offensive run. It was to the point where if a team could put back-to-back baskets together, they would have all sorts of momentum. … We just couldn’t put together that offensive run when we needed it.”

#Connecticut led 23-21 after one quarter but Chicago took a 40-38 lead at the half and a 56-55 lead heading into the final period.

#Jones is averaging 15.2 points on 51 percent shooting from the field, 43 percent from three-point range, and 8.5 rebounds per game this postseason.

#She shot just 5-8 from the field in game one, followed by 10-17 shooting in game two. “They’re trying to limit shots by Jonquel and shots by Bri Jones and really coming with doubles. It’s hard sometimes to score through that, step through that, I think they’re making good plays out of doubles. Can we repost?

#“The challenge is trying to get them some touches before they are loaded up. Once they get into the halfcourt and they have their style of play defensively and schemes defensively situated they’re just sending so many bodies toward our postgame so it’s difficult at times,” Miller said.

#“Everyone gets hung up on shot attempts but we want to know that we are taking good shots, taking shots when we can get the spacing and have them spread out. In stretches we won that battle and stretches they forced us to do different things.”

#Each game in the series has been a single-digit margin for the winning team through three games with the Sun taking a 68-63 win in game one, followed by the Sky’s 85-77 win in game two.

#“We’ve talked a lot in this series about how hard we have to play and how we have to make the game messy, we got the game way that we truly relieved we can be successful. Our defensive energy and effort was unwavering even when they made some plays,” Miller said. “We were excited we got the game in the style of play we thought we could be successful.

#“Unfortunately, we didn’t get to the finish line but our players have to leave confident that we can make games against Chicago the type of style we want and desire to have,” explained Miller.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/sep/05/jonquel-jones-and-sun-fall-2-1-hole/?news

As of Tuesday, September 6, 2022

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UB Mingoes pitcher Solana Brown in NPSA action against The Sunshine Auto Wildcats at The Bankers’ softball field on September 4. The Mingoes won 10-9. Photos: UB ATHLETICS

UB Mingoes infielder Cyntese Cooper slides into third base against The Operators on September 2 at The Bankers’ softball field. The Mingoes lost 16-9.

UB Mingoes outfielder Nabria Hamilton lays down a bunt against the Wildcats.

#THE University of The Bahamas Mingoes women’s softball team defeated the defending New Providence Softball champions Sunshine Auto Wildcats 10-9 on the last play of the game on Sunday at The Bankers’ softball field.

#The two teams exchanged leads early in the game but heading into the fifth and final inning The Wildcats held a 9-7 lead.

#The Mingoes’ defence held The Wildcats scoreless in the top of the fifth. Syazha Kelly got on base thanks to an error and scored on a single from Cyntese Cooper.

#The Mingoes, with two outs and Cooper and Nabria Hamilton on second and first, sent infield Adonya Rolle to the plate. With a full count on her, she connected for what could have been a routine out to second base.

#The throw was bobbled and that allowed Cooper and Hamilton to score to end the game at 10-9. Rolle still made a victory run to home but her run did not score.

#“I was very nervous,” Rolle said.

#“But I said I couldn’t be nervous and I just need to hit the ball and try to get on base or at least bring someone home. My teammates were telling me not to be nervous but that made me more nervous. I powered through it and got the win.”

#Head coach Shane Albury said it was a good win for the team.

#“Our starting pitcher was doing a good job but our defence was just letting us down,” he said.

#“I have been preaching that for the past few games with the team. We have been right in games and errors and mistakes cost us runs that we shouldn’t.”

#Albury added the win was the first time UB has not only defeated The Wildcats but also the first time to beat a number one seeded team.

#“I believe we can do that on a consistent basis,” he said. “We have quite a number of young ladies on the team so it’s just a matter of everyone buying in and believing that we can win. Once we minimise the amount of errors that we have been committing we will see more games in the victory column.”

#The Mingoes also lost on Friday against the Operators 16-9. The Mingoes now have a record of 3-8 on the season.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/sep/06/ub-mingoes-upset-npsa-defending-champions-sunshine/?news

As of Tuesday, September 6, 2022

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#THE Retired Boxers Association Inaugural Hall of Fame Awards programme originally scheduled for Sunday, September 18 has been postponed and will now take place at a date to be announced in late October.

#A spokesman for the organisation, headed by Pat ‘The Centreville Assasin’ Strachan, said that the event was put off because of circumstances beyond the control of the organisers.

#However, plans are being made to hold the event in late October at the same venue – JCN Broadcast Centre on University Drive.

#The association will induct former world champion Oswald ‘Elisha Obed’ Ferguson, Gomeo Brennen, William ‘Yama Bahama’ Butler Jr, Ray Minus Sr, Nathaniel ‘Nat’ Knowles, Garvin ‘Garry’ Davis, Charlie Major Sr., Kirkwood ‘Baby Boy’ Rolle, Leonard ‘Boston Blackie’ Miller, Bertram ‘Bert Perry’ Perigord, Wilfred Coakley Jr., Wilfred ‘Battling’ Douglas, Clifford ‘Sugar Cliff’ Francis and Andre Seymour into the Hall of Fame Class of 2022. The association will also recognise Tureano Johnson, Ray Minus Jr., George ‘Boo’ Wilmore, Everette Jackson, L. Garth Wright, Paul Thompson, Gladstone Thurston, Chris Malakius, Roger Kelty, Charlie Major Sr., Frederick Sturrup and Valentino Knowles for their outstanding contribution to amateur and professional boxing.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/sep/06/retired-boxers/?news

As of Tuesday, September 6, 2022

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#TEAM Bahamas concluded competition at the FINA World Junior Championships in Lima, Peru with a pair of semifinalists over the weekend.

#Rhanishka Gibbs reached her second semifinal of the meet and Nigel Forbes advanced for the first time at the Videna Aquatics Centre.

#Gibbs concluded day five with an 11th place finish in the women’s 50m Freestyle with her time of 26.68 seconds – a new personal best.

#She advanced to the semi-finals with the 14th fastest time out of the prelims, 26.99. Keianna Moss also contested the event and finished tied for 23rd overall with her personal best time of 27.70.

#Forbes finished 12th overall in the men’s 50m Butterfly with a new personal best time of 24.71.

#Forbes finished 17th in the preliminaries with a time of 25.12 and was an alternate for the semifinal round.

#After a withdrawal of an athlete in the top 16, Forbes received the opportunity to swim in the semifinals.

#Marvin Johnson also swam the 50m Butterfly and finished 35th overall with a time of 26.06. Team Bahamas reached the semifinal round in four events at this year’s World Championsships.

#Gibbs was the first to advance out of the prelims with her 14th overall (33.46) finish in the 50m Breaststroke last Tuesday.

#Johnson advanced to the semis of the 50m Freestyle and finished 13th overall in 23.39.

#All six members of Team Bahamas participated across four events on day five.

#Johnson and Forbes both contested the 100m Freestyle.

#Forbes finished 30th in 52.29 and Johnson was 39th in 52.95.

#Gibbs was 35th in the 100m Butterfly in 1:09.97.

#In addition to Moss’ aforementioned appearance in the 50m Freestyle, she also swam the 100m Butterfly and finished 22nd in 1:05.21.

#Erald Thompson III and Emmanuel Gadson finished 20th (30.17) and 31st (31.45) respectively in the 50m Breaststroke.

#On the final day of competition, Gadson and Forbes were the only members to compete in an individual event – the 200m Butterfly.

#Forbes finished 21st overall in 2:06.75 while Gadson was 31st in 2:18.05.

#The duo then went on to team with Thompson and Johnson to finish 12th overall in the 400m Medley Relay.

#More than 500 of the world’s best junior swimmers from over 80 countries competed over the six-day event which concluded on Sunday, September 4.

#This Videna Aquatics Centre also hosted the XVIII Pan American and Parapan American Games in 2019, the 2021 South American Youth Aquatic Sports Championship and the 2022 FINA Water Polo World League Intercontinental Cup.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/sep/06/gibbs-and-forbes-reach-semi-finals-fina-world-juni/?news

As of Tuesday, September 6, 2022

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BERMUDA has now topped The Bahamas in three consecutive matches at the CONCACAF Men’s U17 Qualifiers level.

Bermuda emerged with a 4-0 win yesterday over The Bahamas as Group A play continued at the IMG Academy Field in Bradenton, Florida.

With the win, they secured qualification to the CONCACAF U17 Championships in Guatemala in 2023.

The sides previously met in the 2010 edition of the qualifiers when The Bahamas won the first match 1-0 and Bermuda followed with a 5-1 win. At the 2014 qualifiers, Bermuda took a 4-0 win.

Bermuda now tops Group A with 12 points and an unblemished 5-0 record while The Bahamas fell to 2-2 and fourth in the group with six points.

Bonaire is second in the group with nine points (3-1), Guyana is third with seven points (2-1-1), the British Virgin Islands is fifth with one point (0-3-1) while Saint Martin has yet to tally a point in the tournament (0-4).

The Bahamas closes out the round robin group stage with a matchup against Bonaire Wednesday September 7 at 9:10am. Bermuda looks to remain undefeated with a matchup against Guyana at 11:15am.

Bonaire opened the competition with a 4-2 win over Guyana, followed by a 2-1 win over BVI, a 2-0 loss to Bermuda and a 2-1 win over Sait Martin. The Bahamas opened competition with a 2-1 win over Saint Martin led by goals from Reuben Edgecombe and Kai Perez.

In their second match, they suffered a 4-0 loss to Guyana. They then improved to a 2-1 record as they blanked BVI 1-0 on Saturday via a goal from Robert Holcombe.

The four group winners will advance to the 2023 CONCACAF Men’s U17 Championship.

In addition to Bermuda leading Group A, Aruba leads Group B at 3-0, Dominican Republic leads Group C at 3-0 and Nicaragua clinched Group D.

They will join the top 16 ranked nations that have been seeded directly into the group stage of the 2023 CMU17 Championship.

Sprinter, high hurdler all set for big event in Zurich

SPRINTER Tynia Gaither, left, and high hurdler Devynne Charlton, right, are the only two Bahamians who secured a spot in the Wanda Diamond League Final this week in Zurich, Switzerland.

As of Tuesday, September 6, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemdedia.net

#After four months and 12 meetings, high hurdler Devynne Charlton and sprinter Tynia Gaither are the only two Bahamians who survived for a spot in the Wanda Diamond League Final this week in Zurich, Switzerland.

#The league’s most dramatic climax will take place on Wednesday and Thursday when 32 champions will be crowned with the prestigious Diamond Trophy in the series final at Weltklasse Zurich.

#While six finals will take place at a city event on Wednesday, Gaither and Charlton will be among the remaining 26 featured at the Letzigrund Stadium on Thursday.

#The duo earned their berths in the series of events that took place from May 14 in Doha, Qatar, to Brussels, Belgium on September 2. In the series of meets throughout that period, athletes earned points from 13 meetings across four continents.

#Notably absent from the list is Olympic and world champion Shaunae Miller- Uibo, who qualified in both the women’s 200 and 400 metres, but she opted not to compete.

#Instead, she shut down her season after winning the gold medal at the North American, Central American and Caribbean Championships in Grand Bahama a few weeks ago.

#The 28-year-old Bahamian multiple national record holder finished the series in fourth place in the 200m with 12 points from two meets, while she occupied the second spot in the 400m with 22 points in thee meets.

#Gaither, the 29-year-old Grand Bahamian native, is having undoubtedly her finest season, having emerged in her first Diamond League Final tied for fifth place with American Gabrielle Thomas, Swiss sprinter Mujinga Kambundji and Great Britain’s Beth Dobbin, all with 10 points from two meets.

#Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson tops the field with 23 points from three meets. Jackson, who has had a terrific transformation from the 400m to the sprints, winning a medal in just about every international meet she competed in, is also entered in the 100 at number three behind Marie-Josee Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast and fellow Jamaican sensation Shelly- Ann Fraser-Pryce, who is going for her fifth Diamond League title.

#Like Gaither, national record holder Charlton is making her debut in the women’s 100m hurdles as she capped off a tremendous season that started with a silver medal at the World Indoor Championships, another at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England and a bronze in the NACAC Championships at home.

#Charlton, 26, is tied for second place in the standings with Puerto Rico’s Olympic champion and world championship bronze medallist Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, both with 16 points from a pair of meets.

#The leader of the pack is World and Commonwealth Games champion Tobi Amusan, the world record holder with 22 points from three meets.

#The women’s 100m hurdles will take place at 7:25pm on Thursday with Charlton competing against Amusan, Camacho-Quinn, Jamaican world championship silver medallist Britany Anderson, former world record holder Kendra Harrison along with Nia Ali and Tia Jones, all from the United States, Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji and Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska.

#“I’m feeling pretty good, looking forward to rounding out my season with a strong performance,” Charlton said.

#“It’s a tough field and should make for a really fast race. “I’m focused on having a good execution to put myself in the running.”

#Charlton, ranked at number seven in the world and a seventh place finisher at the World Championships, heads into the meet having lowered the Bahamian national record to 12.46 for her lifetime best at the Bahamas National Championships at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium in June.

#Amusan clocked 12.12 in the semi-finals at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon in July for the world record before she lowered it in a wind-aided 12.06 in the final that wasn’t a legal time.

#The 29-year-old Gaither, on the other hand, rebounded from a false start in the 100m at the World Championships to make the semi-finals of the 200m.

#Then she went on to the Commonwealth Games where she got seventh in the 100m and was a silver medallist in both the 100m and the women’s 4 x 100m on a brilliant comeback leg at the NACAC Championships.

#Gaither, currently ranked at No.27 in the world with her lifetime of 22.41 this season, will run in the 200m at 9:42 pm against a stacked field.

#The field includes Jackson with the world’s fastest time of 22.41 this year, Americans Thomas, Jenna Prandini and Tamara Clark, Swiss’ Kambundji, Dobbin from Great Britain and Ida Karstoft from Denmark.

#In addition to winning the Diamond League trophy, athletes will be competing for a total of $30,000 in prize money with a further $30,000 distributed amongst the other finalists. While first place will pocket $30,000, second place will collect $12,000, third place $7,000, fourth place $4,000, fifth place $2,500, sixth place $2,000, seventh place $1,500 and eighth place receives $1,000.

#From the Diamond League series, the overall winner will also get $10,000, second place $6,000, third $3,500, fourth $2,000, fifth $1,250, sixth $1,000, seventh $750 and eighth earns $500.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/sep/06/gaither-charlton-diamond-league-final/?news

 Home|Sports|Archer said he is shaken by Hart’s deathSports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailSeptember 6, 2022 285 4 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

For Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) President Drumeco Archer, the death of standout Bahamian athlete Shavez ‘Sparky’ Hart, an Olympian and world championships medalist, really hit home. Not only was he a mentor to Hart as the head of the BAAA, but he said he spoke with him personally many times over the phone regarding athletics and other aspects of life.

Hart was gunned down early Saturday morning on his home island of Abaco. An altercation had developed in a parking lot of a business establishment situated in Mount Hope, North Abaco, and according to his father, Hart was acting as a peacemaker before being shot in the chest. He was later pronounced dead at the local clinic, succumbing to the gun shot wound just three days before his 30th birthday.

 Archer, who returned to the country after a weekend trip late Sunday night, said he was devastated by the news.

“He was a good boy, positive, responsible, determined and full of life – a life we hope that many young men would emulate one day as an athlete and as a virtuous Bahamian,” said Archer. “He was a bright man with so many brilliant ideas which extended beyond the bounds of sport. He was committed to his family and in the aftermath of the Hurricane Dorian, in order to be closer to his family, he decided to reconvene his training in Freeport instead of returning to training camp in Florida.”

Hart, who is from Treasure Cay, Abaco, attended Treasure Cay Primary and S.C. Bootle Secondary in Abaco before finishing his high school education at St. George’s High in Freeport, Grand Bahama. He went on to attend South Plains College in Levelland, Texas, breaking school records in athletics and receiving conference and national acclaim. Hart finished his collegiate career at the Texas A&M University, setting his mark as one of the more substantial and impactful runners in school history. To date, he is a part of the school’s record team in the men’s 4x100m relay.

Archer said he received a call around 3:30 a.m. Saturday morning informing him of Hart’s passing. He said the talented Bahamian speedster had walked away from the sport about a year and a half ago, but was still active, helping to train young athletes on Abaco.

“I come to you with a heavy heart and a volcano of emotions over the passing of Shavez,” said Archer. “When Shavez bade his goodbyes to the sport, I then realized that he had become a man who was beginning to write a new chapter in his life. It was a chapter filled with new adventure, new beginnings, new entrepreneurial aspirations and even new characters. After the scream of one single word ‘gone’, I realized that the life of a man with so much promise was taken away from us with one single bullet.

“On reflection, this is a testimony of why we as a track and field community work with thousands of athletes on a daily basis. As community developers, we as a track and field family create a safe space for people just like Shavez. It means that his life will not be in vain and we remain inspired to continue the work for children all across this country.”

Hart was a close and personal friend of Fred Kerley – the American who won the 100m world title in Eugene, Oregon in the United States this year, claiming the title of the world’s fastest man. Hart even trained with Kerley on a few occasions and was a huge reason why the American frequented The Bahamas for offseason training and conditioning and leisure time.

In coming home to train, Hart’s focus was to become a home-grown, world-class athlete, until deciding to call it quits a year and a half ago. He is survived by his mother Shammaine, father Sidney, 14-month old son Chase, three siblings and a host of other family members and friends.

“Maybe one day young Chase Hart will continue to live the legacy of his father,” said Archer. “Without the power of being able to make such predictions on one’s life, I take solace in knowing that we as a track and field community will continue to support and raise him as we have raised his father. On behalf of the executive board and the entire BAAA family, we extend our deepest, warmest and most solemn condolences to the family and friends of Shavez Hart. Hart’s heart will forever be in our hearts. May his heart and soul rest in peace.”

Hart ended his athletics career with personal best times of 10.10 seconds and 20.23 seconds in the 100 and 200m respectively, and was a formidable 400m runner as well, thereby setting his mark as one of the best 100-200-400 combo runners in Bahamian history. Indoors, he had personal best times of 6.60 seconds in the 60m and 20.57 seconds in the 200m.

He is a member of the South Plains College record team in the men’s 4x100m relay, a member of the Texas A&M University record team in the men’s 4x100m relay, a member of The Bahamas’ national record team in the men’s 4x100m relay, and a member of The Bahamas’ national record team in the men’s 4x400m relay indoors.

Internationally, he represented The Bahamas at the CARIFTA Games, the Pan American Junior Athletics Championships, the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Athletics Championships, the World Athletics Indoor Championships, the World Athletics Outdoor Championships and the Olympic Games just to name a few.

His most prestigious medal is a silver from the men’s 4x400m relay at the 2014 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Portland, Oregon, US.

https://thenassauguardian.com/archer-said-he-is-shaken-by-harts-death/

 Home|Sports|Charlton and Gaither to go after Diamond League titles on ThursdaySports

Just two Bahamians in DL final

Sheldon LongleySend an emailSeptember 6, 2022 308 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Culminating a fantastic season in athletics, a couple of Bahamians will get a shot to go after Diamond League (DL) titles this week in Zürich, Switzerland.

The two-day Wanda Diamond League Final, the Weltklasse Zürich, is set for Sechseläutenplatz on Wednesday September 7 and Letzigrund Stadium on Thursday September 8, in Zürich.

There were actually three who qualified, in four disciplines, but Shaunae Miller-Uibo has decided to shut down her season and not go after a fifth Diamond League title. She is the only Bahamian to qualify in two events this year – both the women’s 200 and 400 meters (m).

Qualifying fourth in the women’s 100m hurdles is Devynne Charlton, finishing with 19 points from the qualifying period. She had a second, a fourth, a fifth and a sixth in her Diamond League races in 2022. Charlton will go up against a tough field on Thursday as she will line up next to former world record holder Kendra Harrison of the United States, current world record holder Tobi Amusan of Nigeria, Olympic Champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico, former World Champion Nia Ali of the United States, world championships silver medalist and former World Youth Champion Britany Anderson of Jamaica and former World Junior Champion Tia Jones of the United States. Pia Skrzyszowska, of Poland, and Ditaji Kambundji, of Switzerland, will complete the field. All of the runners with the exception of wild card entry Kambundji have run under 12.55 seconds this year.

Charlton has had a sensational year, setting a new national record in the women’s 60m hurdles in the semifinals of that event at the World Athletics Indoor Championships at Štark Arena in Belgrade, Serbia, and then matching that time in the final for the silver medal; and also setting the national record twice in the women’s 100m hurdles, climaxed by her blazing 12.46 run at the World Athletics Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, United States (US).

In addition to her world indoors silver, she won a silver in the 100m hurdles at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, and added a bronze in that event at the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) Track and Field Championships in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

Charlton has had the two best runs of her career in the 60m hurdles indoors this year and the three best runs of her career in the 100m hurdles outdoors. In relay action, she was a part of the women’s 4x100m relay team that won a silver medal for The Bahamas at the NACAC Track and Field Championships on home soil.

The other Bahamian who will go after a Diamond League title on Thursday will be TyNia Gaither in the women’s 200m.

Gaither qualified seventh in the women’s 200m, finishing with 10 points in the collection of Diamond League regular season meetings. She had two fourth place finishes. Miller-Uibo finished fourth in the standings with 12 points, but as mentioned, she decided to shut down her season after the NACAC Championships in Freeport.

Gaither will line up next to World Champion Shericka Jackson of Jamaica – the second-fastest woman ever over that distance, Americans Gabrielle Thomas, Jenna Prandini and Tamara Clark, hometown favorite Mujinga Kambundji, of Switzerland, Ida Karstoft, of Denmark, and Beth Dobbin, of Great Britain. Dina Asher-Smith, of Great Britain, has also pulled out. All of the athletes with the exception of Dobbin have run under 23 seconds this year.

Like Charlton, Gaither has also had a splendid season. She ran her three fastest times in the women’s 200m this year and came close to her personal best in the 100m.

Gaither ran a new personal best time in the 200m in the semifinals of that event at the Oregon World Championships, and then matched that personal best time of 22.41 seconds for the silver medal at the NACAC Track and Field Championships in her hometown of Freeport, Grand Bahama.

Earlier in the season, Gaither set her personal best time at 22.45 seconds at the Baylor Invitational at the Clyde Hart Track & Field Stadium in Waco, Texas, and then topped that time twice in the ensuing months. Be that as it may, she will certainly have her work cut out for her in Zürich. Five of the ladies in the race on Thursday have run faster than her this year.

Anthonique Strachan missed out of the Diamond League Final this year, finishing 29th in the standings for the 100m and 16th in the standings for the 200m, but she will be in action at the Hungarian Grand Prix Series Meet, a World Athletics Continental Tour bronze level event, at Sportcentrum in Pápa, Hungary, this week.

Just the top eight athletes in each of the 32 disciplines in athletics are assured of lanes on the track and positions in the field events.

After four months and 12 meetings, the Wanda Diamond League reaches its climax this Wednesday and Thursday as the world’s best athletes will battle for the prestigious Diamond trophies. Six finals will take place at a city event at Sechseläutenplatz on Wednesday and the remaining 26 event finals will take place at the Letzigrund Stadium on Thursday.

A number of present and former World and Olympic Champions, and medalists, will be in action over the two days of competition, looking to climax the season with fantastic performances.

https://thenassauguardian.com/charlton-and-gaither-to-go-after-diamond-league-titles-on-thursday/