Monday, December 21, 2020

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#SEVEN athletes attained the qualifying standards for the CARIFTA Games at the Blue Chip Athletics Throwers Meet on Saturday as competitive track and field returned at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

#It was the first meet held since sports came to a halt in March during day one of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s National Track and Field Championships at the adjacent TAR National Stadium.

#The throwers meet preceded the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ Odd Distance Track Meet, dubbed “Track is Back,” at the TAR National Stadium on Saturday as well.

#In the discus, Calea Jackson, who is in boarding school in the United States, threw 37.34 metres or 122-feet, 6-inches to surpass the under-17 girls’ standard of 36.88 (121-0). She was joined by Tarajh Hudson in the under-20 boys’ division as his winning toss of 53.66m (176-0) went above the standard of 52.13m (171-0).

#The other five qualifying performances came in the javelin. Collegian Rhema Otabor, home from her first semester as a freshman at Florida International, won the under-20 girls event with a heave of 47.15m (154-8), well over the standard of 38.39m (125- 11). Camitra Mackey also did the standard in the under-20 girls division with her second place mark of 38.53m (126-5).

#Kamera Strachan threw 34.47m (113-1) to go over the Under-17 girls’ standard of 34.39m (112-10), but she is too young to be eligible to compete at the games.

#Kaden Cartwright did 51.38m (168-7) for the under-17 boys’ standard of 50.65m (166-2) and Keyshawn Strachan, competing in the under-20 boys division, won with 64.45m (211-5) to surpass the standard of 60.94m (199-11).

#Blue Chip coach and meet director Corrington Maycock said there was a lot of excitement and a very impressive performance with seven qualifiers from the throwers in one meet.

#He called it highly successful.

#“We still had them practicing, although we had to obey the COVID-19 rules and laws,” Maycock said. “We were able to do so much with the kids. We worked a lot on their techniques and it paid off.”

#As of today, Maycock said his athletes will begin their weightlifting training in the gym so that they can get stronger as they prepare for 2021.

#“I expect better performances as we look forward to next year,” Maycock said. “For those athletes who haven’t qualified as yet, we hope that by February or March, they will have done the standards.”

#Maycock, however, said there is a possibility because of COVID-19 that the CARIFTA Games could be pushed back from the Easter holiday weekend in Bermuda to probably July. If it does, Maycock said the throwers will have more time to qualify, but the problem will be ensuring that they get into the various meets in order to achieve their goal.

#As for Saturday’s meet, Maycock said they did the necessary temperature checks and ensured that the throwers did their hand sanitising and social distance.

#“It worked out pretty well,” he said.

#“Everybody wore their masks, including the throwers. They only took it off when they threw. Once they finished, they put them on. “I think the BAAA did a good job adhering to the safety measures (put in place by the Ministry of Health and the Competent Authority).

#“It went pretty well and pretty smooth. We didn’t have any hiccups.”

Tuesday, January 12, 2020

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#JAMAL Wilson, who missed the opportunity to compete at the IAAF World Championships last year, is on the road to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the 2016 Olympic Games.

#Over the weekend at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium, Wilson led the list of outstanding performances at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ Odd Distance Track and Field Meet when he won the men’s high jump with a personal best leap of 2.30 metres or 7-feet, 6 1/2-inches.

#Wilson, 27, surpassed the automatic qualifying mark of 2.29m (7-6). He is hoping to be one of the high jumpers who are eligible to compete for the Bahamas when the IAAF publishes the final list of qualifiers on July 12. In the process, Wilson also went above his previous best of 2.28m (7-5 3/4) that he posted at the same track in 2013.

#The meet, which kicked off the BAAA’s 2016 season, saw athletes compete in different events on the track and from shorter distances in the jumps and in standing up positions in the throwing events. Wilson, representing RC Athletics and coached by Ronald Cartwright, easily won over his nearest rival Blayre Fernander, 19, who did 2.05m (6-8 3/4).

#In the marquee event of the day, rising star Steven Gardiner, who established a new men’s national record in winning the men’s 400 metres at the BAAA National Championships, surged to victory in the 300 metres, clocking 32.64 seconds to hold off Ramon Miller, who did 33.36 for second. Andretti Bain was also expected to participate in the race but didn’t.

#Among the multiple performers at the meet were Doneisha Anderson, who was a triple threat, winning the under-18 girls’ 150m (18.51) and 300m (40.29) as well as the high jump with 1.68m and was joined by Tiffany Hanna, who did the same, sweeping all three throwing events in the open division by taking the shot put with 11.84m (38-10 1/4); discus with 33.65m (110-4) and the javelin with 17.40m (57-1).

#Charisma Taylor led a field of double winners in the under-28 60m hurdles in 8.77 and the long jump with 4.72m. Darvinique Dean did her feat in the under-10 80m (12.32) and 150m (24.07); Sarah Hepburn in the under-12 80m (11.17) and 150m (21.04); Anthaya Charlton in under-14 300m (44.23) and long jump (4.32m or 14-2 1/4); Megan Moss in the under-26 girls 150m (18.92) and 300m (40.27) and Mica Evans in the open 150m in 18.44 and the 300m in 41.42.

#Tamara Myers, in her post-collegiate appearance, opened up with a victory in the open triple jump with a leap of 12.58m (41-3 1/4).

#On the men’s side, Branson Rolle picked up where he left off last year by producing his hat trick by taking the under-16 150m in 16.73, the 300m in 34.92 and the javelin with 49.80m (163-4).

#Edward Kemp picked up a pair of victories in the open division in the shot put with 11.63m (38-2) and the discus with 34.56m (113-4). Trent Ford doubled up in the under-10 boys’ 80m in 12.02 and the 150m in 22.73; Meleek Pierre duplicated the feat in the under-14 boys’ 80m in 10.26 and the 150m in 20.13.

#Lavardo Smith had the fastest time in the open men’s 150 in 16.20.

#The meet was also the first for the new administration led by Rosamunde Carey, who ousted Mike Sands as president in November during the BAAA annual general meeting and election of officers.

AN athlete competes in the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ first track and field meet – held on Saturday at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium – since the coronavirus pandemic broke out in March. Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

Monday, December 21, 2020

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#Under the theme: “Track is Back,” the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations hosted its first track and field meet since the coronavirus pandemic broke out in March.

#The BAAA, in closing out what has been a dramatic year of postponements and cancellations of various local and international sporting events, staged the Odd Distance Track and Field Meet at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium on Saturday.

#“We’ve been planning for the COVID-19 environment since the lockdown and we recognised very early that certain things had to be in place,” said BAAA president Drumeco Archer. “We’ve been in communication with the Competent Authority, giving them the assurance that we could do this and we could do this well.”

#Archer said the meet on Saturday was proof that they could host a safe and successful meet, so he was very happy with the outcome, considering that the athletes performed at a very high level.

#“I think what we know we have to look at is that our competition will have to be in a non-spectator environment and so we will have to absorb all of the expenses,” he said.

#“At the end of the day, I think we will have to wrap our heads around how we can deliver a safe meet for our athletes in readiness for regional and international competition.”

#With all indications that the CARIFTA Games might have to be pushed back from the Easter holiday weekend until the summer in Bermuda, Archer said they will have to concentrate on finding more meets for their athletes to sustain their training programme.

#Just before the Odd Distance Meet took place, the Blue Chip Athletics Club hosted a Throwers Meet at the original TAR Stadium where seven athletes attained the qualifying standards for CARIFTA.

#However, one of the athletes is only 13 years old and is not eligible for the games as athletes must be 15 years or older in order to participate.

#There were no qualifying standards for CARIFTA or any other international meets attained at the Odd Distance Meet, but for the most part, most athletes were just delighted to be competing again.

#Hurry Murray’s Breyana Kemp was one of them. She easily won both the girls’ under-17 600 metre race in one minute and 45.40 seconds over 4D Stallions’ Aliyah Brown, who did 1:51.69 and Red- Line’s Sara Williams, who was third in 1:54.67. Kemp, a 15-year-old 11th grader at St Augustine’s College, also captured the 1,000m in 3:21.27 with Ezthia Maycock of Red-Line second in 3:30.01 and Leahja Williamson of Fast Forward third in 3:45.75.

#“It’s good to be back. We’ve been out since March. No competition, so competing today was a good thing,” Kemp said. “Next year, I want to run my personal best in all my races and qualify for the national teams.”

#In winning his heat of the boys’ under-17 600m in 1:29.09, but placing third overall, T-Bird Flyers’ Amando Poitier too was thrilled to be back on the track. “I feel good. I came out here to participate and to do my best,” the 16-year-old Doris Johnson Senior High 12th grader said. “I felt very good. It was good to get back on the track.”

#Tyler Miller of Bahamas Speed Dynamics was the overall winner in 1:27.48, followed by Dion Major of T-Bird in 1:28.82.

#While the focus was on the younger athletes, some of the senior and elite athletes also competed.

#The open women’s long and triple jumps saw collegian Charisma Taylor surge to victory in both events, while placing second in the 150m.

#In the triple jump, Taylor, representing Leap of Faith, cleared 12.81m (42-0 1/2) for the victory over team-mate Tamara Myers, who did 12.70m (41-8).

#Taylor also captured the long jump with a leap of 5.59m (18-4 1/4) with fellow collegian Andira Ferguson placing second with 5.20m (17-0 3/4) and college bound high school sensation Anthaya Charlton coming in third with 5.20m (17-0 3/4) as well.

#“On the whole, I think I did very well,” Taylor said. “It’s still early. It’s December, but I feel I’m in a good position for the season.

#“There’s still some things I need to work on, but it was a good meet. I still have some things to work on.”

#In August, Taylor returned to college and was training in preparation for competing at both the NCAA indoor and outdoor nationals, if they are contested, and going on to represent the country at the postponed 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan in July, 2021 in the 100m hurdles and the triple jump.

#“The hurdles have been going really good. My technique has gotten better, my approach has also gotten better, so I’m just looking forward to seeing how well I can do it at that event,” she noted.

#Myers, based here at home after graduating from college, said she was trying out a new technique and it turned out to be an indication of where she’s at in her training.

#“It could have been better, but considering all that has happened, I’m pleased,” Myers said. “I’m in good shape, I’m eating healthy, I’m training hard, so I feel awesome. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”

#Myers said she was looking forward to competing at the World Athletics’ World Indoor Championships, but that meet has been postponed due to COVID-19.

#“We will see if we can get into some meets before the outdoor season,” said Myers, whose goal is to make the Olympic team as well. “If not, we will wait outdoors and go for it.”

#Ferguson, currently at Fresno State in California, said she too was delighted to be home and competing.

#“It was good to get my feet wet for the outdoor season,” she said. “It was good to see where I’m at. I spotted the few things that I did wrong, so I know what I have to correct.”

#As for next year, the 22-year-old Ferguson said she is planning to see whatever senior meet she can qualify for, but there’s no major priority.

#Meanwhile, Charlton, who has already secured an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Kentucky next year, won the open women’s 150m in 18.25 with Taylor showing her versatility coming in second in 18.61. Laila Cleare of Fast Forward was third in 18.67.

#Home after graduating from the University of Nebraska in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in construction management and now working with his family plumbing/construction company, Kaiwan Culmer said it was good to compete in another Odd Distance Track Meet.

#Culmer, competing for Leap Of Faith, won the men’s triple jump with 15.26m (50-0 3/4). Keianno Rolle of the University of the Bahamas, was the only other competitor, placing second with 14.15m (46-5 1/4).

#“Instead of the full runway, we had to use an approach of 49 feet, which is not much,” Culmer said. “My usual approach is 131 feet, so it’s a significant amount of steps that I was losing out.

#“Other than that , I jumped 15.26 (50-0 3/4), which is pretty good. When I was in school, I did 14.9 (48-10 3/4) with 12 steps and in this meet, I had eight steps so that performance was pretty good.”

#The goal for Culmer next year is to qualify for the Olympics.

#“That’s the only thing I’m shooting for,” said Culmer, who celebrated his 24th birthday on October 25. “That’s the only reason why I’m out here.”

#Some of the other outstanding performances from the Odd Distance Meet came from some of the younger athletes, including the following:

#Daveigh Farrington on Hurry Murray, winner of the girls under-11 80m in 12.10 and Taree Forbs of Boost Athletics won the 150m in 33.49.

#Travis Rolle of the Bahamas Speed Dynamics in the under-11 boys 80m in 11.49 and Michael Ford of Spirit of Excellence in the 150m in 22.18.

#His team-mate Shekinah Johnson took the girls under-13 80m in 10.59 and she doubled up in the 150m in 19.76, while Darvinique Dean of the 4D Stallions emerged as the champion of the 300m in 43.13.

#In the under-13 boys division, Rolinny Labranche of the Star Trackers won the 80m in 10.45 and Tyler Frazier of the Red-Line won both the 150m in 18.32 and the 300m in 40.61.

#The girls under-15 division saw Nya Wright of Red-Line clinch the title in the 150m in 19.39; Malynte Clarke of Bahamas Speed Dynamics won the 300m in 42.26; Katia Archer of the Star Trackers took the 600m in 1:50.10 and Kristi Ford of Spirit of Excellence won the 1,000m in 3:28.15.

#On the under-15 boys side, Tumani Skinner of Red-Line captured the 150m in 17.29; Philip Gray of DTSP Wolfpack won the 300m in 37.57 and Breck Kemp of Hurry Murray won the 600m in 1:45.71 and the 1,000m in 3:06.97.

#D’Angelo Collie of Red- Line won the long jump with 5.37m; Zion Evans of Xtreme Athletic took the shot put with 11.18m; Berkley Findley of Quick Step won the javelin with 11.19m.

Texas forward Kai Jones, right, blocks Texas-Rio Grande Valley’s Uche Dibiamaka during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday Nov. 25, 2020, in Austin, Texas. (Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman via AP)

Thursday, November 26, 2020

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#Kai Jones had a perfect season debut while Franco Miller Jr and Radshad Davis shined in their new surroundings in wins for their respective programmes on the opening night of NCAA Division I basketball.

#Jones was 6-6 from the field, 2-2 from the free throw line and scored 14 points for his No.19 ranked Texas Longhorns in their 91-55 win over the Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros last night at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas.

#He also grabbed eight rebounds to equal his career high from his freshman season.

#The Longhorns have been projected to finish No.4 in the Big 12, according to the league’s coaches’ poll.

#Texas concluded last season 19-12 – 9-9 in the Big 12.

#Along with Jones, they return virtually every rotation player from a season ago and welcomed five star prospect Greg Brown to a loaded frontcourt.

#Miller scored nine points in his debut with the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles, a 65-56 win over the Florida A & M Rattlers at the Alico Arena in Fort Myers, Florida.

#The sophomore guard shot 4-7 from the field and added three rebounds with one assist in just 19 minutes. Miller was granted an NCAA waiver for immediate eligibility following his transfer from Ole Miss to FGCU in June.

#Davis also had an immediate impact in his first game with the FIU Panthers. He finished with 15 points and 7 rebounds in the Panthers’ 85-81 win over the Flagler Saints at the Ocean Bank COnvocation Center in Miami, Florida.

#In the final season of his collegiate basketball career, Davis opted to transfer to FIU from the Texas-Arlington Mavericks following a two-year stint in the Sun Belt Conference.

#In addition, for head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin, senior guard Valerie Nesbitt and the Ole Miss Rebels women’s team – their season was cancelled due to positive COVID-19 tests among the Northwestern State programme.

#Ole Miss is now scheduled to open its season against McNeese State at 7pm local time next Monday – November 30 – at home in the Pavilion in Oxford, Mississippi.

Friday, December 18, 2020

RADSHAD DAVIS

FRANCO MILLER JR

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#RADSHAD Davis had the better individual performance and his FIU Panthers got back into the win column with a dominant performance against Franco Miller Jr and the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles.

#Davis scored 12 of his 16 points in the first half and also added eight rebounds while Miller went scoreless in 13 minutes off the bench in the Panthers’ 85-69 win over the Eagles last night in Ft Myers, Florida.

#With the victory, FIU moves to 5-1 this season, while the loss dropped FGCU to 3-2 on the year.

#After cancelled games against Jacksonville State (December 6) and North Florida (December 10), the Panthers suffered their first loss of the season, 80-77 to North Florida on December 12. The Panthers started the contest shooting 43.9% from the floor and 38.1% from beyond the arc while holding FGCU to shooting 31.4% from the field and just 28.6% from three.

#Davis is having a standout redshirt senior season averaging 14 points and a team leading 7.5 rebounds per game. He is shooting 49% from the floor, 39 from three-point range and a perfect 10-10 from the line. It was Miller’s first scoreless game of the season and in his first year with the programme, the redshirt sophomore guard is averaging 6.4 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.

#In his season low total of minutes played this season, Eagles head coach Michael Fly said the entire team struggled on the night.

#“I’m disappointed in our effort tonight to be frank,” Fry said.

#“We talked about not having a let down. I don’t think we had a sense of urgency tonight which is counter to how we’ve been playing. We’re certainly frustrated by how we played but there is the positive that we have a quick turnaround with practice tomorrow and another game Friday night.” The loss began a five-game home stand for the Eagles which continues with matchups against Webber International, Georgia Southern and North Alabama.

Monday, January 13, 2020

#Following the successful hosting of the first three editions of the International Amateur Athletic Federation’s World Relays, World Athletics’ President Lord Sebastian Coe said he’s delighted to be back to launch the opening of the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) office.

#Coe, accompanied by newly elected NACAC President Mike Sands, was on hand yesterday at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium for a trackside chat with local athletes, coaches and officials of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations on the eve of the opening of the office today.

#Among those joining the delegation were Willie Banks, former American world triple jump record holder and now an IAAF Council Member, former Cayman Islands’ sprinter Cydonie Mothersill, a NACAC Council Member, immediate past NACAC president Victor Lopez and former Bahamian IAAF Council Woman Pauline Davis-Thompson.

#For Coe, who is now in his second term as president of the World Athletics, formerly the IAAF, said he can now be considered a regular visitor to the Bahamas, making a trip here at least once a year.

#“It is so comforting as the president of an international sport, just to go to somewhere where the sport that you love and you that trained in and you raced in and you’ve worked in, has such a local passion,” said Coe after he addressed a number of the athletes.

#“To see that stadium full of young athletes of every age and every ability and to know that there is such immense talent coming through and our challenge is to make sure that we keep it in the sport and we keep that talent developing under the BAAAs and now with this guy (Sands) helping to develop the future of athletics. We are in great shape and we should never forget that this sport is a great sport.”

#In his informal address to the athletes, Coe said he just simply thanked them for choosing to participate in sports and dedicating their evenings to the sport and he further advised them to listen to their coaches, who will play a very important role in their lives in all aspects of life.

#As one of the three global sports, football (soccer) and tennis listed as the other two, Coe said track and field is one of the hardest sports to get a global medal because there are so many athletes trying to attain the same goal.

#With the Bahamas playing a pivotal role in getting the World Relays from its infancy to the strong roots that it has grown to, Coe said he will be eternally grateful to the Bahamas.

#When asked about the possibility of the World Relays returning here after the fourth edition was held last year in Tokyo, Japan, Coe said he would love to see it here again.

#“I was hoping when we first came here a few years ago that this would be a permanent fixture (for the World Relays),” Coe said. “I was a politician. I was a minister one time, so I do understand.

#“The fans were enthusiastic and noisy and absolutely passionate. This is a country that loves track and field and what’s not to love about that.”

#Fast forward to today, Coe said it’s fantastic that his long-time friend is now the president of NACAC and having competed on the international circuit as competitors, they can cement it as administrators as they work together in the World Athletics.

#Sands, a former BAAA public relations officer and president, said he’s ecstatic about this day.

#“I’m looking forward to the support of the council members and indeed the individual federations,” he said.

#“We had a very good day at the council meeting. It was very interactive. We have some plans that we will be sharing, later on, to ensure that our region stays the number one region in terms of performances, so that’s my goal, my objective with the support of the member federations.”

#Sands, who replaced Davis-Thompson as a Bahamian on the World Athletics Board, said he’s delighted that Coe has consented to be here and to officially open the NACAC office today at 10am. 

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SHOWN (l-r) are Keith Joseph, NACAC general secretary, Carlos Clemente, ESA general secretary, Sebastian Coe, WA President, Geen Clarke CRC President, Calixto Sierra, HON President, Isaac Vargas, CADICA general secretary, Michael Serralta, NACAC competition director, Mike Sands, NACAC President, Helen Delanay, World Athletics, Deon Sutherland, BIZ President, Juan Carlos Ramirez, ESA President, Max Mollined, GUA President, Xiomara Larios, NCA President. Photo courtesy of NACAC

Monday, July 20, 2020

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#SINCE coming into office last year, president Mike Sands has made considerable strides with members of the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Confederation.

#While their actual meetings have been hampered this year by the coronavirus, Sands was able to hold a series of virtual meetings that have proven to be beneficial to all members.

#Over the weekend, the latest meeting took place via Zoom with World Athletics President Lord Sebastian Coe accepting the invitation to meet with the presidents of CADICA or the Central America countries.

#“It’s part of our plan to be all inclusive and so we wanted to meet with CADICA, who indicated during the election campaign that there are about seven of them who didn’t feel like they are a part of the NACAC membership,” Sands said.

#“I have given them my commitment that going forward, we will look at their sub division and to hear their concerns and to see how best we can address them.

#“We know we can’t solve all of their problems, but at least we will know what they are and try to address them as best as we can,” he said.

#One of the main concerns coming out of the meeting was how NACAC can assist CADICA in developing their schedule of events where it will be equatable to all of their members.

#“On average, if you took Nicaragua for example, a lot of events are held in El Salvador and people in Nicaragua would have to drive for about 16 hours to get into the competition and turn around and go back,” Sands said.

#“So these are some of the things that we can’t solve overnight because those are logistical problems, but certainly we can find ways to help them lessen the back and forth to help their athletes.”

#Technical training for the membership of CADICA was also discussed as NACAC listened to the six member presidents as they voiced their concerns.

#Sands, whose administration has gotten the approval of World Athletics as he sits on the board as the area representative, said the CADICA members were also delighted to hear directly from Coe, who expressed his gratitude for the invitation and once again pledged his commitment to NACAC.

#Since taking over from Victor Lopez as president, Sands was able to relocate NACAC’s office from Puerto Rico and it is now based at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

#Coe, along with a host of other dignitaries, were on hand for the official opening in January.

#NACAC was also in the process of staging a track and field meet for athletes in the region here at the stadium, but those plans had to be shelved because of the coronavirus.

#Sands indicated that they are still working out the details and whether or not it would be feasible for NACAC to still stage the event in the coronavirus environment.

#Sands said they also hosted their first ever NACAC Gender Leadership Workshop over the weekend with more than 80 attendees from throughout the NACAC family, including Olympic and world champion sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who sat through the entire six-hour programme.

#“There’s a lot of stuff going on behind the scenes. It’s just that COVID-19 has slowed us down,” Sands said.

#“We’re trying to focus on as much as we can without physically meeting. That’s the upside of this pandemic. We still can meet over Zoom.”

#Sands congratulated the tech team at the National Stadium for assisting NACAC in pulling off the meeting that was hosted by vice president Catherine Jordan from Barbados, Bermuda’s president Donna Raynor and Secretary General Cydonie Mothersill from the Cayman Islands.

#The tech team was led by Dwayne Davis Jr.

#Two Bahamians, Simone Robinson, the daughter of the late Tommy Robinson and Ms Salvador, served as the the local interpreters during the sessions, which also featured a number of workshops.

SHOWN (l-r) Renee Davis, Dwayne Davis, Mike Sands, Nikita Thompson, Stephanie Rahming-Taylor and Simone Robinson-Walker. Photo courtesy of Laura Charlton

Friday, December 18, 2020

#In the spirit of giving back during the Yuletide season, Mike Sands took the time out to express his gratitude to the many persons who helped him to secure the presidency of the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC).

#A light-hearted reception was held yesterday in the NACAC office at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium as Sands said thanks to all of his team members.

#“It’s just a way to show our appreciation for their support from our inception to this point,” said Sands, who was elected as the NACAC president in July, 2019.

#“We look forward to their continued support as we strive to make NACAC the model area association with the support of those persons who assisted us.”

#The “us” who Sands referred to were Renee ‘Sunshine’ Davis, who was seconded from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture to serve as the office manager and Nikita Thompson, the accounts manager.

#Joining the full time staff in providing various services to NACAC are Dwayne ‘Bayshore’ Davis, who heads the IT department, along with Donovan Gray and Trevor Moss from the National Sports Authority, Simone Robinson-Walker, the daughter of the late Tommy Robinson, who heads the interpretation department and Stephanie Rahming- Taylor, who works in the technical area. With the continued support of a number of people from the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA), the Bahamas Association of Certified Officials (BACO) and friends, Sands said he’s looking forward to 2021 in the new norm expected as a result of COVID-19.

#“As you very well know, a lot of events were postponed and cancelled, so we’re watching the pandemic very closely,” Sands said.

#“There is a level of cautious optimism as a result of the vaccine that seems to be making the waves. But our biggest challenge at the moment is our first event, which is the CARIFTA Games scheduled to take place in Bermuda in the first weekend in April.”

#At their last executive meeting, Sands said they canvassed their members with the view of getting their feedback with the way forward due to a spike in the coronavirus in Bermuda.

#“Cancellation is not an option that we are considering,” he said. “We’re trying to find ways to host the games in the best environment.

#“What we have done is we have canvassed all of our member federations, Carifta members in particular, that in the eventuality it cannot host Carifta on the weekend schedule, what options would they like to consider.”

#One of those options is to move the date with several new dates recommended. The Carifta members have until the second week in January to make their choice for consideration by NACAC.

#“We will pool the results with the Carifta family and the NACAC family and make the best decision for the Carifta Games, if in fact, we have to change the date,” Sands said. “I think the only other time that Carifta was not held in 1988 or 89 over the Easter holiday weekend because the country was unable to host it, so we moved it to another country around July that year.”

#It’s not a guarantee that the Carifta Games will be pushed back again, this year it was postponed because of the spread of the coronavirus.

#But Sands said based on the general consensus from its membership, they will make the final determination on when and where Carifta will be held next year.

#So far, since taking office, Sands said it’s been a very challenging process because in NACAC, they have to deal with snowfall, hurricanes and earthquakes, but no one was prepared for Covid-19. “COVID-19 has put everything out of whack and so we have to re-strategise and reorganise a lot of things,” Sands said. “So that made it that much more challenging, but also that much more exciting.

#“So it causes you to think outside of the box. The plus side of Covid-19 is that we have been able to establish a line of communication with our member federations that would not have normally happened to the extent that it has happened as a result of Covid-19.”

#By next year, Sands said they are confident that they will have a very good year in 2021, especially with the vaccine as a promising remedy for Covid-19.”