As of Wednesday, August 10, 2022

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Gold medalist Shaunae Miller-Uibo during the World Athletics Championships medal ceremony. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Devynne Charlton, left, and LaQuan Nairn show off their silver (100 metre hurdles) and gold (long jump) medals respectively won at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#COMING on the heels of the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon three weeks ago and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, the focus now switches to the North American, Central American and Caribbean Championships in the Bahamas.

#The event, to be hosted here for the first time, will be staged from August 18-21 at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex in Grand Bahama and is expected to attract over 400 athletes from within the region.

#NACAC president Mike Sands said the event is gearing up to be one of the most competitive track and field meets ever to be held in the Bahamas, although all roads will lead into Grand Bahama.

#“We’re looking forward to the event in the next 10 days in Freeport, Grand Bahamas,” Sands said.

#“We have a preliminary list of about 420-450 athletes, but once the final submissions are in, we expect the numbers to remain pretty close to that.

#“We have some pretty interesting marquee names who will be attending, so we will do a full release on that in a short while. But we expect a very competitive event. Everyone is talking about it, the athletes, coaches and officials, who will be attending the event.”

#With so much anticipation for the event, Sands said there have also been some inquiries from persons attending, who just want to take a few days to relax and enjoy themselves in the Bahamas once the event is completed.

#“There are a couple of things that have sparked the interest of so many athletes,” according to Sands. “The winners in the vast majority of events and I say vast majority because there are several events like the marathon, distance running and the walk races, which does not apply, but the winners automatically qualify for the World Championships next year.”

#The 2023 World Championships is scheduled for Budapest, Hungary, and Sands said the winners in the majority of events contested in Grand Bahama would book their tickets as NACAC representatives and will only have to concentrate on their training.

#Additionally, NACAC will be offering a prize for all, including for the top three finishers. They will include $2,000 for first place, $1,000 for second and $500 for third.

#The relay teams, which will also get to qualify for the World Championships, will also collect prize money.

#“World Athletics is now moving to a ranking system as a part of their major qualifying system, so they will receive Diamond League type points awarded to athletes, based on their placing here,” Sands said.

#“As this meet has all of the makings of a real success in terms of the competition, the meet director was in Grand Bahama making sure that all of the nuts and bolts are tight and he’s working with the operational people in Grand Bahama.

#“The organisational delegate, who is also the general secretary, will be landing on Grand Bahama tomorrow, so the guys are working in tandem to make sure that all of the events are in place.”

#Bahamasair, Sands revealed, will be the official airline carrier and will take extra flights out of Miami, Florida into Grand Bahama for persons coming in from the region, including the Cuban delegation.

#“This is a very busy period, but everything is in order,” Sands disclosed.

#Sands, however, said he would prefer not to release the names of the marque athletes coming in, especially from Jamaica, which has submitted a list of more than 20 athletes, but they haven’t crystalised it yet.

#A number of athletes, including two-time Olympic and current world champion Shaunae Miller- Uibo, world indoor and Commonwealth Games silver 100m hurdler Devynne Charlton, sprinters Tynia Gaither and Terrance Jones, quarter-miler Alonzo Russell, high jumper Donald Thomas, triple jumpers Kaiwan Culmer and Tamara Myers and Commonwealth Games’ long jump gold medallist LaQuan Nairn are all expected to represent the Bahamas.

#Sands said while a budget has been compiled in conjunction with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the Ministry of Finance, he was not at liberty to disclose the full amount. He, however, thanked the Bahamas Government, through the two ministries, for their assistance in making the event happen.

#“We always talk about the expenses, but we also have to look at the economic impact,” Sands said. “The fact that we are talking about sports tourism or Sports in Paradise, this is an event where we hope to have at least 450 persons on the island of Grand Bahama.

#“So it was a deliberate decision to host this event on Grand Bahama and I want to thank the support given to help stimulate the economy in Grand Bahama.

#“We have rooms all over Grand Bahama and so that means that the monies will be spread around.”

#The technical officials are expected to stay at Club Fortuna, the senior officials, including the council members and dignitaries, will be at the Lighthouse Pointe and the Athletes’ Village will be at the Breakers Cay.

#“When you look at the economic impact, the transportation, the meals, the accommodation that the visitors will spend, we take into consideration the temporary employment that will be needed to pull this event off,” Sands said.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/aug/10/nacac-champs-grand-bahama-attract-over-400-athlete/?news

WORLD ATHLETICS CONTINENTAL TOUR

Tynia Gaither and Donald Thomas.

As of Wednesday, August 10, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#Sprinter Tynia Gaither and high jumper Donald Thomas, competing on the World Athletics Continental Tour 2022, got fifth and sixth place in their respective events as they continued to compete in Europe on Monday.

#Competing at the 12th Gyulia Istvan Memorial in Székesfehérvár, Hungary, Gaither sped to a fifth place in the women’s 200 metres in 22.63 seconds as Jamaica’s world champion Shericka Jackson took the victory in 22.02.

#Mujinga Kambundji, of Switzerland, was the runner-up in 22.45, while Americans Kayla White was third in 22.46 and Tamara Clark was fourth in 22.56. It was Gaither’s second straight meet since she left the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, where she placed seventh in the final of the women’s 100m behind Jamaican gold medallist Elaine Thompson-Herah.

#Gaither, the 29-year-old national 100m champion, just competed in the Slesia Wanda Diamond League on Saturday when she ran 22.70 for fourth place in a race that saw two-time Olympic and current world 400m champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo place second in 22.35. Jackson won in 21.84.

#National champion Thomas, competing in his specialty in the men’s high jump at the meet in Hungary, was tied for sixth place with Péter Bakosi after they both cleared 7-feet, 0 1/4-inches or 2.14 metres.

#Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy won the event with 7-4 ¼ (2.24m), the same height of Tobias Potye of Germany. Ukraine’s Andriy Protsenko was third, Edgar Rivera of Mexico fourth and Péter Bakosi fifth, all with the same height of 7-1 ¾ (2.18m).

#It was Thomas’ first meet since Birmingham where he fell short of getting on the podium with fourth place in the men’s high jump at the Commonwealth Games.

#Today in the next meet in the Monaco Wanda Diamond League, Thomas and Miller-Uibo are expected to take to the track.

#Thomas, 32, is entered in the men’s high jump where he will be facing Qatar’s world champion Mutaz Essa Barshim, Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi and Americans JuVaughn Harrison and Shelby McEwen as well as Django Lovett of Canada. With some unfinished business in the 400m, 28-year-old Miller- Uibo will return to the 400m where she will contend with Barbados’ Sada Williams, who is coming off her Commonwealth Games record-setting performance in the women’s 400m in 49.90.

#Gaither, Thomas and Miller-Uibo are then expected to return home to compete in the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Championships.

#The latter event (see sidebar), is scheduled for August 18-21 at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/aug/10/gaither-5th-thomas-6th-hungary-meet/?news

 Home|Sports|The Bahamas finishes sixth at CAGCSports

Iberri had the highest finish among the men; Michel, Smith finish 13th and 14th

Sheldon LongleySend an emailAugust 9, 2022 237 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Both The Bahamas’ men’s and women’s teams finished sixth at the 65th Annual Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships (CAGC) that wrapped over the weekend at the Royal Turks and Caicos Golf Club in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands.

In the Hoerman Cup Division (men), The Bahamas’ team of Richard Gibson Jr., Sebastian Iberri, Heathcliffe Kane, Horace Miller, Nolan Johnson and Lynford Miller shot a collective 79-over par 943, occupying the sixth spot. The bottom two scores each day were dropped from the applicable score.

Among the other four players, Gibson shot a 12-over par 84 on the first day of competition, a 5-over par 77 on the second day of competition, and an even par 72 in the third and final round. Iberri had a 3-over par 75 on the first day of competition, a 6-over par 78 on the second day of competition, and a 4-over par 76 in the third round. Kane had a 12-over par 84 on the first day of competition, withdrew from the second round, then came back and shot a 4-over par 76 on the third and final day of competition. Horace Miller shot an 11-over par 83 on the first day of competition, had an 11-over par 83 on the second day of competition, and ended his play with a 7-over par 79 in the third round.

Iberri had the best day for The Bahamas on Wednesday, Lynford Miller came in and shot a 1-over par 73 to produce the best round for The Bahamas on Thursday, and Gibson turned in the best performance for the country on Friday, shooting an even-par.

In the individual standings, Iberri finished 17th with a 13-over par 229, Gibson finished in a five-way tie for 22nd with a 17-over par 233, Lynford Miller finished 36th with a 27-over par 243, Horace Miller was 38th with a 29-over par 245, and Johnson finished 42nd with a 42-over par 258.

Overall, Puerto Rico won the team competition, shooting a 4-under par 860, the Dominican Republic was second with an 18-over par 882 and the Cayman Islands rounded out the top three nations for the Hoerman Cup with a 22-under par 886.

For the George Teale Trophy (women), The Bahamas’ team of Ashley Michel and A’Marie Smith shot a collective 97-over par 529 over the three days of competition to finish sixth.

Individually, Michel shot a 15-over par 87 on the first day of competition, another 15-over par 87 on the second day of competition, and a 14-over par 86 on the third and final day of competition. Smith shot an 18-over par 90 on the first day of competition, a 21-over par 93 on the second day of competition, and a 14-over par 86 on the third and final day of competition.

In the final standings, individually, Michel and Smith finished 13th and 14th, respectively. Michel finished at 44-over par 260 and Smith at 53-over par 269.

Jamaica won the team competition with a 34-over par 466, Puerto Rico was second with a 46-over par 478, and the Dominican Republic rounded out the top three nations for the George Teale Trophy with a 52-over par 484.

The three-day event was hosted by the Turks and Caicos Islands Golf Association in conjunction with the Caribbean Golf Association (CGA).

Competing this year were teams from The Bahamas, Barbados, the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, the US Virgin Islands (USVI) and the host nation Turks and Caicos Islands.

https://thenassauguardian.com/the-bahamas-finishes-sixth-at-cagc/

 Home|Sports|BBF Summer of Thunder continues; Egypt takes down SDSUSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailAugust 10, 2022 82 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Bahamas Basketball Federation’s (BBF) Summer of Thunder showcase is in full swing. Action continued on Monday with Egypt’s national team dropping the South Dakota State University (SDSU) Jackrabbits, 67-62, in the Imperial Ballroom at Atlantis.

The Egyptians were led by Ehab Amin. He led a very balanced Egyptian scoring attack with 10 points. All but one of 12 Egypt’s players got on the scoreboard.

The Jackrabbits Zeke Mayo led all scorers with 12 points.

Both teams shot under 40 percent from the field, as Egypt shot 37.5 percent while the Jackrabbits posted 31.9 percent shooting from the field. They were even from deep in made shots as they both connected on eight three-point shots.

In rebounding, Egypt won that battle, 47-37. It was a sloppy game as both teams kept turning over the ball. The Jackrabbits had 15 steals and Egypt had 12 steals.

It was a close game in the first quarter. The Jackrabbits held the biggest lead of the first quarter at five points, but Egypt came back and sent it into the second quarter tied at 15 points apiece.

Egypt came out of the break fired up as they went on a 10-2 scoring run in the opening two minutes of the quarter. They led 25-17 at that point. Amir Zahran made one of two free throws to give Egypt a 29-19 lead – the first double-digit lead of the game. That came at the 4:18 mark of the second quarter.

Mayo was huge down the stretch of the first half for the Jackrabbits as he made a three-point shot with under a minute left to bring his team to within 36-31. The score remained 36-31 at the end of the first half.

In the third quarter, Egypt gave up just eight points, and on the offensive side, they touched the 50-point mark by the end of the third period. Heading into the fourth period, it was a comfortable position for the Egyptians to be in as they led 50-39.

At the 1:48 mark of the fourth quarter, Mayo converted an and-one play and Egypt’s lead dwindled to four points, 63-59. Egypt weathered the storm to record the 67-62 win.

The Egyptians wrapped up its second game in a three-game rodeo at the Summer of Thunder tournament. They lost the first game, 72-68, to the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday. They will wrap up their time in The Bahamas with a matchup against the Puerto Rico national team on Thursday at 5 p.m. in the Imperial Ballroom at Atlantis.

This was the first of two games that the Jackrabbits will play at the Summer of Thunder. They will play their second and final game today against House of Hoops in the first game at 3 p.m.

Both games are at the Imperial Ballroom.

On Sunday, the Buckeyes defeated the Puerto Rico national team, 75-68.

https://thenassauguardian.com/bbf-summer-of-thunder-continues-egypt-takes-down-sdsu/

 Home|Sports|Knowles, Murray start August strongSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailAugust 10, 2022 74 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The first week of August in Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is in the books, and Bahamian players D’Shawn Knowles of the Tri-City Dust Devils and Bertram Murray Jr. of the South Bend Cubs had good production.

Knowles had a tough experience in July with a batting average of .172 but although it is early in August, he is batting .273 this month. He ended July with a season’s batting average of .195, and after Sunday, he is averaging .203 on the season.

Knowles, an outfielder, and the Dust Devils had a difficult time against the Vancouver Canadians in High-A Affiliate action. The Dust Devils lost that series as they were only able to win one game in the six-game series. They now have a 12-24 win/loss record on the season and they sit at the bottom of the Northwest League.

Individually, Knowles had a great series as he came away with six hits in 22 at-bats. He had multiple hits in two games – two hits in each of those games. His best hitting game in the series came when he went 2-for-3 on Sunday in a 6-3 loss. He had eight total bases in the series and one stolen base.

On the season, Knowles has 47 runs scored, 90 hits and two home runs. He has 41 runs batted in (RBIs) and 17 stolen bases. Knowles has an on-base percentage (OBP) of .339 and a slugging percentage (SLG) of .320. His on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) is .659.

The MiLB season is about to close for the 21-year-old, and he will look to take his game up a notch as he looks to move up the rankings for the Los Angeles Angels. They returned home for a series against the Everette AquaSox. That series began last night in Pasco, Washington. They will be in action again tonight.

Murray Jr. was in action for the Cubs in High-A Affiliate action. In their most recent outing, the Cubs were in a six-game series against Fort Wayne TinCaps. That series was split three games apiece.

The 22-year-old is averaging .238 for the month and .262 on the season. In the series against the TinCaps, which began at the beginning of August, Murray went 5-for-21. He had one run and five total bases in that series.

His best hitting game came on Saturday when he went 2-for-3. It was also the only game in the series in which he had multiple hits.

Murray has 42 runs scored, 66 hits and five home runs to go with 43 runs batted in (RBIs) on the season. He also has five stolen bases. His OBP is .416 while his SLG is .416 causing him to have an OPS of .832.

The Cubs have the best record in the Midwest League West Division at 23-13.

Murray is looking to continue to produce. He and the South Bend Cubs take on the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in a six-game series at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute, Wisconsin. That series started last night, and they will be in action again tonight.

https://thenassauguardian.com/knowles-murray-start-august-strong/

Bahamian sprinter says she doubts she will compete at area championships in Freeport

Sheldon LongleySend an emailAugust 10, 2022 70 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

From Eugene, Oregon, to Birmingham, England, to Chorzów, Poland, and finally to Székesfehérvár, Hungary, it’s been a busy three weeks for Bahamian sprinter TyNia Gaither, and now it appears that she can finally get some rest before heading home.

The Bahamian speedster has been named to Team Bahamas for the 4th North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Track and Field Championships, set for next weekend at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex in Freeport, Grand Bahama, but the question is, will she run? Gaither has already said she doubts she will compete because of a compacted schedule.

Gaither, 29, hails from Freeport, Grand Bahama, and is regarded as the best female sprinter to come from the nation’s second city. So, one would naturally expect that she would want to run at home in Freeport in the first ever area championships to be held in The Bahamas. Additionally, a victory would give her a wildcard entry into next year’s World Athletics Outdoor Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Gaither is listed to run the 100 and 200 meters (m) in Freeport, as well as the women’s 4x100m relay. She is a part of a 30-member team that will represent The Bahamas here at home. However, it remains to be seen if Gaither will compete. Following NACAC, there are still a few more meets on the schedule in Europe before the Wanda Diamond League Final in Zurich, Switzerland, from September 7-8.

At her last event, a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold Meet, dubbed the Gyulai István Memorial – Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix Meet, in Székesfehérvár, Hungary, on Monday, Gaither finished fifth in the women’s 200m in 22.63 seconds. Jamaican Shericka Jackson, the second-fastest woman ever in that event, won in 22.02 seconds, Mujinga Kambundji, of Switzerland, finished second in 22.45 seconds, and American Kayla White rounded out the top three in 22.46 seconds. Another American, Tamara Clark, also finished ahead of Gaither, shopping the clock in fourth in 22.56 seconds.

This has been a phenomenal year for Gaither, coming close to her personal best time (PB) in the 100m and setting a new PB in the 200m. The latter has always been her preferred event – she is a two-time World Athletics Championships finalist in the 200m, just missing a third straight finals appearance in Eugene, Oregon, this year. Still, she was able to run PB of 22.41 seconds in the women’s 200m semifinals in Eugene.

In the 100m, Gaither’s personal best time is 11.02 seconds – just outside the 11-second barrier. She is number eight all-time among Bahamians in the women’s 100m and number seven all-time among Bahamians in the women’s 200m.

Just one other Bahamian was in action at the Bregyó Athletic Center in Székesfehérvár, Hungary, on Monday.

Donald Thomas, now 15 years removed from that world title in Osaka, Japan, finished tied for sixth in the men’s high jump, clearing 2.14m (7’ 0-1/4”). Gianmarco Tamberi, of Italy, won that event, clearing 2.24m (7’ 4-1/4”). Tobias Potye, of Germany, finished second. He also cleared 2.24m but lost to Tamberi based on number of knockdowns. Andriy Protsenko, of the Ukraine, finished third with a clearance of 2.18m (7’ 1-3/4”).

Meanwhile, Gaither apparently has her sights set on finishing the season strong by qualifying for the Wanda Diamond League Final in Zurich. Just the top eight athletes in each discipline will qualify for the final. Gaither is currently in a four-way tie for fifth place in the women’s 200m standings with 10 points – five from a fourth place finish in Stockholm, Sweden, at the end of June, and five from a fourth place finish in Chorzów, Poland, on Saturday past.

If Gaither stays in the top eight, she will earn a chance to compete in the final in Zurich, where she will have an opportunity to be crowned Wanda Diamond League Champion.

In the last three weeks, Gaither has run eight races – four rounds of the 100m and another four rounds of the 200m. Be that as it may, she continues to progress nicely through what has been one of her better seasons in athletics.

https://thenassauguardian.com/will-tynia-run-at-nacac/

As of Friday, August 5, 2022

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Alonzo Russell being interviewed.

Alonzo Russell checking the replay.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#BIRMINGHAM, England: Alonzo Russell felt he gave all he had but, despite a comeback down the stretch, it wasn’t enough to get a lane in Sunday’s final of the men’s 400 metres.

#In his semi-final run at the Commonwealth Games on Friday night at Alexander Stadium, Russell had to make up a huge deficit in lane nine coming off the final curve – but he managed to surge from sixth place to fourth.

#At the finish line, he was timed in 46.40 in the last of the three heats which was won by England’s Matthew Hudson-Smith in 45.77. Russell’s performance placed him 10th overall, two spots shy of getting into Sunday’s final.

#“I still have to give God thanks for allowing me to recover from the flu and to bringing me to this point to run in the semi-finals,” he said, noting that he under the weather when he got here. “I give God thanks for being here.”

#The 30-year-old Russell qualified out of the heats on Wednesday with the 15th fastest time of 48.41. The Grand Bahama native, who has a season’s best of 45.65, which was just off his personal best of 45.25,

#Russell is coming off an appearance at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon two weeks ago when he ran with Doneisha Anderson, Megan and Bradley Dormeus for 15th place overall in the mixed 4 x 400m relay in a season’s best of 3:19.73.

#Prior to this year’s Commonwealth Games, Russell participated on two men’s 4 x 400m relay teams that won silver in the Gold Coast, Australia in 2018 and in Glasgow, Scotland in 2012. With no relay team here, Russell was hoping to at least get in the final in the individual 400m.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/aug/05/alonzo-russell-misses-out-final-place-finishes-fou/?news

As of Friday, August 5, 2022

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Kendrick Thompson

DECATHLETE Kendrick Thompson is interviewed by the media yesterday. He was in 7th place after day one of the decathlon at the Commonwealth Games.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#BIRMINGHAM, England — Although he’s currently in seventh place in the men’s decathlon at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Kendrick Thompson said he still has the confidence that he can perform much better.

#In his debut at the global international level, Thompson mustered a total of 3,883 points from the first five events on day one of the men’s decathlon yesterday at the Alexander Stadium. Grenada’s Lindon Victor is out front with 4,327 points.

#“For my first major decathlon, I fell short in a couple of events, but I’m happy with the results. I’m really happy with myself,” Thompson said. “I know what I have to do tomorrow (today) to get back in the competition, so I just have to go out there and do it.”

#Thompson, making history as the first Bahamian to compete in the multiple events at the games, was even more ecstatic when he watched as LaQuan Nairn became the first Bahamian male jumper to win the Commonwealth title.

#“I was really proud of LaQuan. He inspired me to go out there and really do the 400m,” said Thompson, whose final event of the day came just as Nairn was taking his victory lap.

#“He told me to go out there and do my thing. When he won the gold, I was very proud of him. 242 to the world.”

#As he started off the two-day competition, Thompson shook off a false start as he had to settle for seventh in the second run of the 100 metres in 11.18 seconds for 821 points.

#He then got fourth in the long jump with a leap of 24-feet, 4 ½-inches or 7.43 metres for 918 points, seventh in the shot put with a heave of 38-2 (11.63m) for 584 points, sixth in the high jump with 6-4 ¼ (1.94m) for 749 points and was seventh in the 400m in 50.07 for 811 points.

#“The crowd was so supportive of all of us,” Thompson said. “I never heard so much people cheering for me in my life. That helped to encourage me to go out there and do it when I struggled in some of my events.”

#The 24-year-old Thompson, who attends the University of the Bahamas, will come back today to close out competition in the 110m hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and the 1,500m.

#Yesterday, Denisha Cartwright just missed out on a spot in the semi-final of the women’s 200 metres after she placed fifth in the fifth of seven heats in 24.49 for 25th overall. Abi Galpin of Guuernsey got third in the third heat in 24.47 for the 24th and final spot.

#The top qualifier was Favour Ofili of Nigeria in 22.71. Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah, coming off her gold medal in the 100m the night before, had the second fastest time of 22.80.

#Tynia Gaither, seventh in the 100m, was scheduled to compete in the half-lap race, but she left for Poland to compete in her next meet on the European circuit.

#Today, joining Thompson in competition will be Devynne Charlton and Alonzo Russell, while Kaiwan Culmer will have to wait until Sunday to get in his action.

#Charlton, the national record holder, will open her quest for her first Commonwealth Games medal to add to the World Indoor silver she got in March when she competes in the second of three heats in the 200m hurdles in lane five at 5:36am EST.

#Tobi Amusan of Nigeria, who established a world record in the semi-finals before she won the gold medal in the final, is a part of the field that will also include Jamaica’s Megan Tapper, who will run in lane three in the same heat with Charlton. Amusan will be in heat three.

#The final is set for Sunday at 5:25 am EST.

#The 30-year-old Russell, who got third in his first round heat in 46.41 for 15th place overall, will run out of lane nine in the last of the three heats of the men’s 400m semi-finals.

#He will have to be one of the top finishers or wait for one of the two slowest times to advance to Sunday’s final at 5.45 am EST.

#Culmer’s triple jump has gone to a straight final on Sunday at 8:05 am EST. He will be the final competitor to compete for the Bahamas as there are no teams entered in the 4 x 400m relays for women and men to bring the curtain down on these exciting games.

#On Saturday, the wrestling competition will begin with two Bahamians participating at the Coventry Stadium.

#Thorn Demeritte will be up first when he takes on Charlie Bowling from England in the men’s freestyle 74 kilogram class, while Rashji Mackey will follow when he faces Tayab Raza of Pakistan in the men’s freestyle 87 Kg class.

.http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/aug/05/decathlete-ken-thompson-7th-after-day-1/?news

LORIN SAWYER, chef de mission Roy Colebrooke, Felix Neely and Kenton Roker are pictured above, left to right.

As of Friday, August 5, 2022

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BAHAMIAN cyclist Felix Neely is interviewed by the host broadcast team yesterday after competing in the time trials of the cycling competition at the Commonwealth Games.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#BIRMINGHAM, England — Having gotten their feet wet in the time trials yesterday as the cycling competition got underway at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, both Lorin Sawyer and Felix Neely indicated that they will now be better prepared for Sunday’s gruelling road race.

#The duo, competing in their first global competition, had their share of difficulties on the course in West Park, but survived with a 44th place for Sawyer in one hour, two minutes and 19.72 seconds and 54th for Neely in 1:07.58.03 in the final spot.

Lorin Sawyer on his bike after his race.

#“It was a rough course. It’s a lot different from what we’re used to in the Bahamas,” said Sawyer, a businessman from Spanish Wells. “We’re used to having a flat course in the time trials, but there was a lot of turns and we really didn’t get a chance to test out the course.

#“We got here late and only had a chance to ride it in a car. So we were totally blinded going into the race. It’s totally different when you are actually out there riding the course. There were a lot of turns and you kind of slow down more than you think. So it was very technical and that was what killed me.”

#Sawyer, who was accompanied by his wife Dianne, said he anticipates a much better showing in the road race. “Being in the peloton makes it so much easier,” he pointed out. “I have a lot of confidence going into the race. It’s also good to have a teammate in the race. So I think we should be able to work well together.”

#For Neely, the youngest competitor in the field at age 19, it was an experience that he won’t soon forget.

#“I felt like I did the best I could in the time trials and that should get me ready for the road race,” Neely said. “I just want to say thank you to the Bahamas Cycling Federation for allowing me to make it here and also the people from Black Village, who really supported me.”

#At the start of the race, both Neely and Sawyer also slipped and fell on the first turn as they had to slow down and adjust their brakes to avoid colliding into the barriers along the course that separated the spectators.

#“That was a very sharp turn and I wasn’t expecting it. As I approached it, I said I was going too fast, so I had to slow down.

#“Then my brakes slipped, but I managed to hold it just before I hit the railing,” Neely said.

#“I was able to make up the time, but it was cold and windy. I wasn’t used to it. It was a very hard course. I’m happy that I finished, I was very proud when I passed the finish line.”

#As he prepares for the road race, the CR Walker Secondary High School graduate now employed at Cycles Unlimited as a mechanic, said he will use the next two days to do some hydration before he goes “full blast” on Sunday.

#Kenton Roker, who serves as the coach of the team, said he felt Neely and Sawyer did the best that they could.

#“Felix is the youngest competitor in cycling and he did extremely well for his age and his experience,” Roker said. “Lorin Sawyer also did extremely well, considering that we don’t have any hills to train on. But the spectators were spectacular. They really cheered them on.”

#Chef de mission Roy Colebrooke, who also serves as the president of the Bahamas Cycling Federation, said the appearances of the two cyclists comes on the heels of Jay Major and Anthony Colebrooke, who both represented the Bahamas at the games in the Gold Coast, Australia, in 2018.

#At those games, Colebrooke got 52nd in the time trials and he and Major didn’t complete the road race. Colebrooke said Sawyer and Neely successfully completed one half of the competition here and they eagerly await to see what they will do in the second half on Sunday.

#“Felix was the youngest competitor in the field, competing against some top-notch competitors and Lorin’s time succeeded any time we would have done previously, so we’re looking forward to the road race on Sunday,” Colebrooke said.

#In preparation for the event, Colebrooke said they will ensure that both competitors get a dry run through the course because it’s so technical when they go out and compete. He said he expects both cyclists will be ready for the challenge ahead of them.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/aug/05/cyclists-get-gear-sundays-gruelling-road-race/?news

As of Friday, August 5, 2022

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By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

BIRMINGHAM, England — In looking at the performances of the nine swimmers as they left the Commonwealth Games and are now heading back home, coach Andy Loveitt said Team Bahamas had a successful showing.

“Training prior to competition went very well and at the team meeting prior to competition we set the goal of swimmers attempting to make the top 16 and hopefully a final,” said Loveitt who, along with Travano McPhee, coached the team.

“We achieved both and the swimmers can be extremely happy with their performances.”

Loveitt said if there’s one swimmer that should be singled out, it was Lamar Taylor, who made the final in the men’s 50 metre freestyle and finished 7th to go along with his other events, including 50m Fly 18th ( PB), 50m Back 20th, 100m Back 21st and 100m Free 23rd.

Two swimmers made semi-final appearances with Lilly Higgs in the 50m breaststroke for 15th place and the 100m breaststroke in 16th, while Davante Carey in the 50m backstroke came in 16th in a new Bahamas national record.

Carey also had strong swims in the 200m backstroke in 18th, 100m backstroke in 19th and the 100m butterfly in 25th place. “The 200m races went straight to final from heats and the Bahamas had two top 16 places achieved by Katelyn Cabral coming in 12th in the 200m backstroke and Zaylie Elizabeth-Thompson was 13th in the 200m breaststroke.

“Zaylie also had a 21st place finish in the 200m freestyle and a 34th place finish in the 100m free.

Katelyn had the following other results – 50m backstroke in 24th, 100m butterfly in 28th, 50m butterfly in 34th and 50m freestyle in 46th.”

The other three members of the team, according to Loveitt, all achieved a top 20 finish. Rhanishka Gibbs, the youngest member of the team at age 16, was 17th in the 50m breaststroke, Luke Thompson was 19th in the 400m freestyle in a personal best and Izaak Bastian got 20th in the 50m breaststroke.

Gibbs also had the following results in the 50m freestyle for 22nd in a personal best, 23rd in the 100m breaststroke and 43rd in the 100m freestyle, while Bastian also had a 23rd place in the 100m breaststroke, Luke-Kennedy Thompson was 24th in the 50m breaststroke and 26th with a personal best in the 200m freestyle.

“The team competed in two relays and they narrowly missed making the mixed 400m free relay final with a 9th place finish and they also placed 11th in the mixed 400m medley relay,” Loveitt said.

“I was extremely happy with the overall performance of the team and thank the swimmers for their efforts. I would like to see these results bettered at next year’s Pan American Games in Chile with all relay teams entered and a goal of progressing forward from the results achieved in the last games in Lima, Peru, in 2019.”

The team departed Birmingham yesterday, spending some time in London before they head home today.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/aug/05/swimmers-can-be-extremely-happy-their-performances/?news