SPORTS
FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2025
HIGH SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD NATIONALS
Young athletes break records on day one
By TENAJH SWEETING
Athletes delivered standout performances on day one of the 2025 Bahamas National High School Track and Field Championships at the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium.
After day one of competition the St Augustine’s College (SAC) Big Red Machine already has the advantage in four out of eight divisions.
SAC is leading the under-15 female division with 49 points, the under20 female division with 51 points, the under-15 male division with 42 points and
the under-17 male division with 42 points as well. The Queen’s College Comets and Tabernacle Baptist Academy have taken charge in the under13 female division with a leading total of 33 points. The Comets are also ahead in the under-17 female division with 70.50 points and the under20 male division with 50 points.
A few athletes attained the CARIFTA-qualifying standards and broke national high school records on the opening day of competition.
Bishop Michael Eldon’s Keyezra Thomas blitzed her competitors in the under-17 girls 100m finals to qualify for her fourth CARIFTA event. She clocked a time of 11.88 seconds in the event which was well under the qualifying standard of 12.08 seconds. “I feel amazing. I thank God for allowing me to come over here and stay injury-free and take the win in this 100m,” she said. Thomas added that it feels good to know she has qualified in four events up to this point. “It feels amazing. I won’t be competing in all of them but it just feels good to have all of them under my belt.”
Thomas was joined by Queen’s College student Brion Ward who also ran a CARIFTA-qualifying time of 12.03 seconds for second place. His schoolmate Zara Fraser came third at 12.32 seconds.
Versatile athlete Jazae Johnson also dipped under the under-17 girls’ 100m CARIFTA-qualifying
mark in the under-15 girls’ 100m finals. She requalified and emerged victorious with a time of 11.99 seconds. Additionally, Johnson dipped under the national high school record of 12.34 seconds set by Brion Ward last year.
St Augustine’s Brianna Bootle was also in top form. She ran 12.24
seconds for second place and her teammate Taree Forbes got the third spot in 12.44 seconds.
Johnson also picked up a first-place victory in the under-15 girls’ high jump event. She soared to 1.52m in the win.
Alexandria Komolafe, representing Queen’s College, requalified in the under-17 girls’ high jump.
She prevailed with a winning jump of 1.68m which went over the CARIFTAqualifying mark of 1.63m. Thomas, of BMES, settled for second at the same height and CV Bethel’s Kirra Williams got third place at 1.50m. SAC’s Bayli Major got the job done in the
WORLD INDOORS: OLYMPIAN WENDELL MILLER DOES NOT ADVANCE
OLYMPIAN
Wendell
Miller ran a personal best, but it was just shy of him advancing to his first global individual semifinal event today at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China. As the first of the five Bahamians to compete on day one of the championships, the 22-year-old Miller placed third in the third of four heats in a lifetime best of 47.38 seconds. Miller ended up in 16th place overall. He trailed Hungary’s Attlia Molnair, who won the heat in 46.35, followed by Japan’s Figa Sato in his personal best of 46.60.
The first two in each heat and the next two fastest times advanced to the semifinal.
American Christopher Bailey posted the fastest qualifying time of 45.70 to lead the field going into the semifinals.
This was Miller’s first individual event after he teamed up with Alonzo Russell, Javonya Valcourt and Quincy Penn as they competed in the mixed 4 x 400m relay at the Olympic Games last year in Paris, Francis.
The team, however, failed to advance.
The rest of Team Bahamas in Nanjing will compete over the final two days of
By TENAJH SWEETING
THE injury-riddled
Dallas Mavericks called up Bahamian big man Kai Jones to the starting role and he certainly delivered in the first start of his National Basketball Association (NBA) career against the Indiana Pacers. Jones logged 24 minutes and posted 18 points, 11 rebounds and one assist. He was quite efficient in the starting role, making 8-of-9 field goals and 2-of-2 free throws at the line. Despite Jones’ numbers, the Mavericks’ woes post-Luka Doncic trade continued against the Pacers. The latter won the matchup 135-131 at home to improve their record to 39-29 for the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Mavericks, who are down to an eight-man rotation, continued to tumble down the Western Conference standings with just a 33-27 win/ loss record for the eleventh spot. The athletic Bahamian big man expressed how he
felt about his performance in his first NBA start. “I think for me I liked the way that I rebounded throughout the game. I want to continue to see high motor from myself and hold myself to that standard. But just continue to be more efficient, make my shots, keep working on my game, stay in the gym, stay in the lab, stay consistent but I love the way that we played overall. For myself, I feel like I could have been a bit better but pretty good overall,” he said. Jones was not the only Mavericks starter to put up double digits. Forward PJ Washington pitched in a team-high 26 points to pair with five rebounds.
Jaden Hardy also got it going off the bench for 24 points, two rebounds and two assists in 24 minutes.
Pacers’ forward Pascal Siakam led all scorers with 29 points, five assists and a block. He drained 11-of-16 field goals and 3-of-4 three pointers in 34 minutes. The Mavericks trailed the entire first half as the Pacers got ahead by double
digits from the opening quarter.
Pacers’ power forward Obi Toppin got fouled at the 1:45 mark and made both free throws to shift the lead to 10 (28-18) in the first. The Pacers were on top 33-21 moving into the second period of play.
Jones subbed in to start the second and threw down a dunk off a Spencer Dinwinddie assist at the 10:17 mark. He was fouled on the dunk and converted on the three-point play for the Mavs to trail by 11 (37-26). The Mavs managed to cut the score differential down to single digits at the
intermission. The Pacers had a 68-57 advantage at halftime.
Dallas mounted a rally in the third period and Jones was the catalyst. The 24-year-old centre scored seven straight points early in the third, including three dunks and a three-point play. His free throw at the 7th minute put the Mavs within five (76-71). Hardy nailed a floater with less than a minute to go in the third to give Dallas their first lead of the game.
KNOWLES FEELS COVENTRY’S ELECTION AS IOC PRESIDENT HOLDS UNIQUE SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE BAHAMAS
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMAS Olympic Committee President Romell Knowles called it a new era for the International Olympic Committee after Zimbabwean Kirsty Coventry was elected as the 10th president of the most powerful sporting body in the world. The 41-year-old former swimmer will be the first woman and the first African to serve as IOC president, replacing outdoing president Thomas Bach, who was first elected in 2013 and re-elected in 2021. During the 144th IOC Session being held in Costa Navarino, Greece, Coventry won the post yesterday after she received 49 votes in the first round, exactly the number required for a majority from the 97 votes cast. “Kirsty Coventry’s elevation to the International
BAAC ELECTIONS
THE Bahamas Athletic Association of Coaches is scheduled to hold their annual general meeting and election of officers 8am Saturday in the Situation Room at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. The following have been nominated for the various positions: President - Daron Lightbourne and Bernard Newbold. 1st VP - Ednal Rolle 2nd
DALLAS Mavericks forward Kai Jones (23) shoots over Pacers centre Myles Turner (33) during the first half on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
FAST TRACK: Young athletes compete yesterday on day one of the 2025 Bahamas National High School Track and Field Championships at the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium.
Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr
Crossing time zones and breaking records: Managing long travel in sports
By Dr Kent L Bazard
AS the Team Physician for The Bahamas National Track & Field Team, I’ve seen firsthand the impact of long-haul travel on athletic performance. Right now, we’re in Nanjing, China, for the 2025 World Indoor Championships, having just completed a three-day journey across four time zones. While global competition is an incredible opportunity, travel itself can be a major opponent— one that requires strategy to overcome.
The Challenges of LongHaul Travel for Athletes
Extended travel disrupts the body’s circadian rhythm, the internal clock that regulates sleep, energy levels, digestion, and even muscle recovery. Shifting multiple time zones in a short period can result in jet lag, which can cause:
Fatigue and poor sleep quality
Cognitive fog and delayed reaction times
Dehydration and nutritional imbalances Increased risk of injury due to muscular stiffness For athletes competing at the highest level, these factors can mean the difference between a podium finish and falling short of peak performance.
Mitigating Travel Fatigue:
Pre-Trip Preparation
Preparation starts before the plane takes off. Proper planning can reduce the impact of long travel on the body.
Gradual Sleep Adjustments: Athletes should begin adjusting their sleep schedules several days before departure, moving bedtime closer to the time zone of the destination.
Hydration and Nutrition: Long flights are dehydrating, which affects muscle function and recovery.
Drinking electrolyte-rich fluids and maintaining balanced meals before travel can help.
Compression and Mobility Work: Sitting for
extended periods increases the risk of stiffness and blood pooling in the legs. Compression gear and pre-flight mobility exercises help keep circulation optimal.
Managing Travel Stress: During the Journey
The goal during travel is minimizing disruptions to recovery and maintaining routine as much as possible.
Hydration is Key: Athletes should continue to drink water consistently, avoiding excessive caffeine or alcohol, which can worsen dehydration and jet lag.
Move Regularly: Simple stretches, walking around the cabin, and periodic calf raises reduce the risk of tightness and blood clots.
Optimize Sleep: Using noise-canceling headphones, eye masks, and neck pillows can improve rest during flights. For redeye flights, adjusting to the destination’s night schedule as soon as possible is ideal.
Recovery After Arrival: Adjusting for Peak Performance Once on the ground, the real work of adaptation begins.
Light Exposure for Resetting Circadian Rhythm: Exposure to natural daylight at the correct times helps sync the body’s clock with the new time zone. Morning sunlight is especially effective in suppressing melatonin and increasing alertness.
Active Recovery Sessions: Light mobility work, stretching, and low-intensity exercise help restore blood flow and shake off stiffness.
Prioritizing Quality
Sleep: The first two nights after arrival are crucial. Athletes should focus on consistent sleep times,
limiting screen exposure before bed, and using relaxation techniques to get deep, restorative rest.
Nutrient Replenishment: A diet rich in proteins, complex carbohydrates, and antioxidants supports recovery and prevents inflammation from prolonged sitting.
The Mental Game of Travel Adaptation Beyond physical recovery, mental resilience plays a key role.
Travelling long distances, adjusting to unfamiliar environments, and dealing with pre-competition nerves can be mentally exhausting. Athletes benefit from: Visualization Techniques: Imagining race-day execution and success can boost confidence and focus despite travel disruptions.
Mindfulness and Stress Management: Meditation, deep breathing, and positive self-talk help athletes stay mentally sharp in new surroundings.
Winning Beyond the Flight
Long travel is inevitable in elite sports, but it doesn’t have to be a disadvantage. With proper preparation, in-flight strategies, and post-arrival recovery protocols, athletes can adapt quickly and perform at their best, no matter the location. For Team Bahamas, the journey to Nanjing was long, but we’re here, we’re ready, and we’re focused. The real challenge begins on the track—and we’ve done everything possible to ensure our athletes are prepared to compete at their peak.
medicine physician at Empire Sports Medicine, specializes in ensuring athletes reach their peak performance safely. With extensive experience and a passion for sports health, Dr. Bazard provides insights and guidance for athletes of all ages - men and women.
Kai Jones erupts for a double double - 18 points and 11 rebounds - in his first NBA start
FROM PAGE E1
They took control 91-90 going into the fourth.
Dallas’ third quarter surge went up in flames down the stretch.
The Pacers overcame an 11-point hole in the final six minutes of the fourth quarter to close out the Mavericks.
Indiana got the lead again with 14.7 seconds on the clock when Siakam stole the ball and Andrew Nembhard canned an open three to seal the win for the Pacers.
Jones remained optimistic about the team’s play despite the loss. “We played a beautiful game. I love the way we fought back but at the end of games taking care of the ball is crucial, making your shots, so it is a learning experience for sure, gotta take the good out of it and stay positive moving forward. “But I am proud of the team play, we did a great job fighting back,” he said.
The Mavericks played without the services of recently acquired big Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and Bahamian three-point specialist Klay Thompson.
Jones expressed that he does not mind the eight-man rotation as of right now.
“I am not gonna lie, it is fun because you know you are gonna play a lot so I love it. That first game I was like ‘keep me in’ I love to play. It is sad to see that players are getting hurt and I pray that they come back quickly.
“Playing with the eight guys has been amazing, love getting up and down with them and you could tell that everybody understands the situation so they are giving the best that they got,” he said.
For Jones, it was his second time putting up double-digits in points for the Mavericks. And his first doubledouble showing for the team since being signed to a two-way contract earlier this month. With the Mavericks reeling from the injury bug, it is expected that Jones will register more minutes as the NBA regular season comes to an end. Dallas returns to action at 8:30pm tonight at home against the Detroit Pistons.
Spring Fling at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex May 16-17. The event is open to competitors from throughout The Bahamas. The action is slated to begin at 5pm on Friday, May 16 and at 10am on Saturday, May 16. It promises to provide fast competition, perfect prep for championship season and an unmatched island atmosphere in Grand Bahama.
The entry fee is $5 for children and $10 for adults. For more information on the meet, persons can email fasttrackmanagement00@ gmail.com TRACK AND FIELD: NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH all of the schools having completed their track and
field championships, the focus of attention will now switch to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s National High School Track and Field Championships. Under the theme: “Breaking Limits, Achieving Greatness,” the three-day event is being held until Saturday at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium with athletes with special disabilities competing in their own categories along with the various age group competition.
The Ministry of Sports in conjunction with the Ministry of Education and the Bahamas Assocation of Athletic Associations will be staging the event, which is expected to attract competitors from throughout the archipelago.
While the competition is slated to get underway at 9am on Thursday, the official opening ceremonies is set for 6pm. Competition will resume at 9am on Friday and wrap up on
Saturday, starting at the same time.
Admission is $65 for a three-day VIP pass, while a single VIP pass will be $25. General admission will be $5, the finish line access will be $12 and the home stretch access is $10 per day. SuperClubs Breezes is the official sponsor.
POCKING LEAGUE
TRYOUT
THE newly formed National Pocking League will hold tryouts for persons interested in participating. It’s open to both males and females between the ages of 18 and 40.
The tryouts are slated to take place from 10am to 1pm on Sunday, March 30, at the Roscoe Davies Developmental Center at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex. Interested persons can email cqbahamas@gmail. com for more information.
The league is calling for persons to try their hand at the most Bahamian past time of all times.
BAZARD
DR KENT
INDIANA Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) shoots over Dallas Mavericks forward Kai Jones (23) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/ Michael Conroy)
Javelin thrower Wyatt Cartwright headed in right direction
By TENAJH SWEETING
Sports Reporter
JUNIOR javelin sensation Wyatt Cartwright has emerged as a toptier thrower for the Blue Chip Athletics Club at the under-17 level this season.
Cartwright, 15, made the CARIFTA Games cut last season but wrapped up the junior regional meet in the seventh position.
He is back at it again this season, this time with a new club and has attained the CARIFTA-qualifying marks on multiple occasions and posted new personal bests while successfully elevating his throws at each meet.
The St Augustine’s College (SAC) student admitted that it feels good to qualify for the 2025 CARIFTA Games but acknowledged that he has to fine tune some things headed into the CARIFTA Trials slated for April 4-6.
“I have qualified a number of times for
CARIFTA and it feels pretty good but I still need to improve on my marks. Last year, I stood in seventh position with the help of my former coach Saunders. Now there are many things that coach Maycock has taught me to do but I still need to improve on my technique with some things like not releasing over my head, staying to the side while I am doing my crossovers and staying tall when I throw,” he said.
The 15-year-old javelin maestro got his CARIFTA qualification out the way early at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) Odd Distance Meet in December.
He surpassed the qualifying standard of 44.95m with his second place throw of 49.65m in the under-17 boys’ javelin throw event. He has steadily improved his throws since then and consistently trades first and second-place finishes with his clubmate Ahkeel Williams.
Cartwright turned in his best throw of the season at the 2025 Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) Track and Field Championships in the under-17 boys’ javelin event. He threw a massive season’s best of 59.17m to earn the win for the Big Red Machine. The junior thrower credited his previous experience at the 2024 CARIFTA Games along with his Blue Chip coaches and teammates for the
success he is having this season. “Going to CARIFTA last year has taught me a lot. Coming back to join coach Maycock and Blue Chips, competing alongside Ahkeel [Williams] and clapping for each other along the way has driven me to increase my throws,” he said.
As previously noted, Cartwright capped off the CARIFTA Games last year in seventh place with a best heave of 46.22m. He has already smashed that throwing distance this
year and wants to continue his progression at the meets leading up to the 2025 CARIFTA Trials.
“Tomorrow I will be competing at nationals in the under-20 boys’ javelin. One of my goals is to qualify for the Penn Relays then I am hoping to go to CARIFTA Trials and improve my throws through the most high,” he said.
The 2025 CARIFTA Games are scheduled for April 19-21 in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago.
4-1, and Claridge primary, 3-2, were second and third respectively.
AFTER four exciting days of competition, the four best teams in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions will clash today to determine the champions of the New Providence Public Primary Schools Sports Association’s 2025 Volleyball Tournament. At the completion of the two days of competition for the girls on Monday and Tuesday at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium, the top three teams in the two divisions stayed alive for the final day.
In pool A for the girls, defending champions Sandilands finished with a perfect 5-0 win-loss record and they advanced to the semifinals. Cleveland Eneas at 4-1 and Gambier at 3-2 got second and third.
And in pool B, Garvin Tynes got a bye to the semifinal as well with a 5-0 record. EP Roberts,
The teams will crossover in the quarterfinals with Cleveland Eneas taking on Claridge Primary and Gambier Primary will face EP Roberts for the rights to get into the semifinals.
The boys’ competition was played on Wednesday and Thursday with Sybil Strachan and Stephen Dillet coming out of pool A and B respectively with 6-0 records to advance to the semifinals.
In pool A, EP Roberts got second at 5-1 with JP Thompon third at 4-2.
In pool B, Cleveland Eneas, Garvin Tynes and CW Sawyer all finished 4-1-2, but Cleveland Eneas and Garvin Tynes got second and third on the point spread. CW Sawyer ended up in fourth place. So, in the quarterfinals, EP Roberts will meet Garvin Tynes and JP Thompon will take on Cleveland Eneas in their crossover
matches to determine who will take on Sybil Strachan and Stephen Dillet in the semifinals.
Clara Storr, the sports director for the primary schools in the Ministry of Education, said they are very pleased with the way things turned out over the first four days. “We were
quite pleased with the performances of the girls and boys over the first four days of the competition,” Storr said.
“We’ve seen a vast improvement in their performances with a lot of the players getting the ball over the net using more than just one hit.”
By BRENT STUBBS
Sports Editor
BAHAMAS Professional Golfers Federation president Glenn ‘Nassau’ Pratt made a recommendation to the Bahamas Golf Federation to honour the late legendary Freddie Higgs by naming their Driving Range after him.
Pratt, who grew up as one of the Young Lions golf players whose games were developed under Higgs at the Ocean Club on Paradise Island, said Higgs was a par-excellence executive and former president of the BGF. The naming of the Driving Range and nine-hole golf course was in the making for quite some time, but Pratt said it never materialised since its inception.
“When Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Neville Wisdom dominated the land back in 2006, the then president Agatha Delancy was thinking bout naming it after Freddie Higgs and Donald ‘Nine’ Rolle, a professional golfer,” Pratt said.
“But I believe Freddie Higgs’ contribution to golf in The Bahamas has been the most significant made to golf by any one person in The Bahamas. We won the Hoerman Cup twice and finished second a number of times because of his leadership and his dedication to golf here in The Bahamas and the development of the Young Lions.”
Pratt said with the Driving Range and the nine-hole golf course created by businessman and former BGF president Craig Flowers, it should bear the name of Higgs for more reasons than one.
“Not only did he develop the Young Lions, but he was also the first Bahamian executive director of a golf course in The Bahamas at Paradise Island and he did a wonderful job,” Pratt said.
“He brought more tournaments to this country in history. He had the ability to create a number of events and he even got the Futures Women’s Golf started right here in The Bahamas.”
Higgs said he would like to make the recommendation to the BGF and he hopes they would take the opportunity to honour Higgs in his absence with the naming of the facilities at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.
With the tournament wrapping up today, Storr said the competition should be fierce because all of the teams are eager to win. She noted that it will be interesting to see who comes out on
GOOD FORM: Blue Chip thrower Wyatt Cartwright heaving the javelin at a local track and field meet.
Young athletes break records on day one of High School Track & Field Nationals
under-20 girls’ triple jump event and also requalified for the 2025 CARIFTA Games. She soared to a winning jump of 12.36m, good enough to surpass the qualifying mark of 11.94m.
Zante Ferguson, of QC, dropped to second with her jump of 11.64m and BMES’ Myah Knowles rounded out the top three at 10.98m. The Comets’ Annae Mackey was back at it again in the under-20 girls’ discus throw event.
She pulled off a winning heave of 41.80m to go over the CARIFTA qualifying mark of 40.36m once again. Second place went to RM Bailey’s Kenya McKenzie at 26.02m.
CI Gibson’s Kristian Butler dropped to third at 23.04m.
Avonte Lotmore, representing Tabernacle Baptist Academy, came up big in the under-15 boys’ 400m finals. He stopped the clock at 52.07 seconds for a new meet record. He was a few steps faster than Valentino Bodie who ran 52.09 seconds in 2012.
Justin Sheperd, of QC, got the second position in 52.86 seconds and the Blue Waves’ Tristan Lockhart nabbed the third podium spot in 54.84 seconds.
There were a few more qualifiers in the 400m events.
It was a tight race in the under-20 boys’ 400m finals.
Zion Shepherd, representing Jack Hayward, narrowly edged out QC’s Zion Davis with a CARIFTA qualifying time of 46.88 seconds.
Shepherd was grateful for the victory.
“He was going in the first part of the race but my coach told me to just run my race, put it together and I should be able to come out on top which I did. I would like to thank God for allowing me to finish this race healthy,” he said.
He is expecting Bahamians to shine in the 4x400m relays at the 2025 CARIFTA Games.
“I feel like this is the best The Bahamas has ever looked in the quarter so I feel like we are gonna go to CARIFTA and tear those boys up,” he said.
Davis ran 47.10 seconds for the second spot. Both quarter-milers were under
the CARIFTA qualifying standard and former meet record of 47.65 seconds.
Davis expressed that he was nervous about running out of lane eight but was thankful for the win.
“Coming into the race, I came in with the slowest time in the finals and got lane eight. I was a bit discouraged about that lane but I am thankful that God allowed me to come out here and PR and push Zion to run 46 seconds as well,” he said.
He is now looking forward to the 2025 CARIFTA Trials.
“I am excited for the CARIFTA Trials and the 400m. I know for sure that I will get a better lane in the finals so it could be a better push. I really couldn’t feel him coming home to know what to do but I am just grateful that I was able to come out here and compete to the best of my abilities,” he said
CC Sweeting’s Emmanuel Adams crossed the line in 48.19 seconds for third.
Jireh Woodside, representing SAC, held his own in the under-17 boys’ 400m finals, clocking 49.26 seconds for first place. He shaved some time off the CARIFTA qualifying mark of 49.27seconds.
Woodside said it felt good to get the victory in the 400m finals.
“It feels good. I would like to thank God for giving me the opportunity to run fast along with my coaches and my family for supporting me,” he said.
He has plans to work on his start in the sprint events headed into the CARIFTA Trials. His schoolmate Shevano Nixon trailed for second place in 49.63 seconds.
Zion Bradford, of Sunland Baptist Academy, was third in the event at 49.72 seconds. There were two CARIFTA qualifiers from Tabernacle Baptist Academy in the under-20 boys’ high jump event. Dwight Jones secured the win with a jump of 2.00m which was right on target for the CARIFTA standard.
Claudius Burrows notched the same mark for second.
CC Sweeting’s Donovan Samuels was third overall at 1.85m.
Over in the relays, there were new meet records set in the under-17 and under20 mixed 4x400m relays.
The Comets’ quartet of Zion Miller, Kei-Mahri Hanna, Leviticus Levarity and Taylor Robinson collectively recorded a time of 3:37.09 for first place.
The relay team was faster than the previous meet record or 3:42.63 set by the CV Bethel Stingrays last year.
In the under-17 mixed 4x400m relay, the Temple Christian Suns’ team of Delvan Barton, Denika Gittens, Braeden Cleare and Ramonique McLennon clocked 3:51.52 to take down the school’s previous meet record of 3:52.24.
QC’s relay team including Nathan Walker, Sarsha Wright, Andrew Seymour and Jade Knowles also shaved time off the previous record with their final time of 3:51.92. Day two of the 2025 Bahamas National High School Track and Field Championships begins at 9am.
competition at the championships.
Sprinter Camille Rutherford, making her debut at a major senior international competition, will be competing in the heats of the women’s 60m during the morning session on Saturday. If she advances, the 22-year-old Rutherford will run in both the semifinals and the final during the evening session.
The highlight of the meet will conclude on Sunday when the final three athletes to compete.
Anthaya Charlton, the top performer so far this year in the long jump, will contest the final of her first major international senior meet during the morning session.
The final for the 21-yearold Charlton will be staged just before her sister, world record holder Devynne Charlton, will begin defence of her title in the preliminaries of the women’s 60m hurdles.
The 29-year-old Charlton will be competing with fellow Olympian Denisha Cartwright, 25, as they provide a 1-2 punch for the 60m hurdles.
If both Charlton and Cartwright advance, they will be back in the semifinals and the final in the final session of the championships.
Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations president Drumeco Archer, who is attending the championships as the head of the Bahamian delegation, said the athletes are all geared up and ready to compete.
“The team is settling in well and we are expecting great competition from all of the athletes that are here representing Team Bahamas,” Archer said. “It’s not a very large team, but I think it’s a team that will have a lot of impact.” Archer, in his commitments just prior to the start of the championships, said Miller appears to be in the “best shape” of his life, so they’re looking for him to get the ball rolling for Team Bahamas.
But as the defending champion, Archer said (Devynne) Charlton is expected to lead the team and will have good company in Cartwright. They both came off an appearance at the Olympics where Charlton got back to the final for sixth place in the 100m hurdles and Cartwright fell short in the repechage round.
Also noted that as the world leader in the long jump, a lot is expected from (Anthaya) Charlton and Rutherford, and she has indicated that she has prepared well for the championships, so he’s excited about what will transpire for Team Bahamas.
Travelling along with Archer on the team are head coach Bernard Rolle and manager Foster Dorsett.
Dr Kent Bazard will serve as the team doctor.
ON TRACK: Young athletes compete yesterday on day one of the 2025 Bahamas National High School Track and Field Championships at the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium. Photos: Chappell Whyms Jr
YOUNG athletes compete on day one of the 2025 Bahamas National High School Track and Field Championships.
‘Coach Yo’ and Lady Rebels take on Ball State Cardinals in the first round of the NCAA Tournament today
By The Associated Press
Ball State Cardinals (27-7, 19-2 MAC) vs. Ole Miss Rebels (20-10, 11-7 SEC) Waco, Texas; Friday, 6 p.m. EDT
SPORTSBOOK LINE: Rebels -12.5; over/under is 132.5
BOTTOM LINE: No.
25 Ole Miss and Ball State play in the NCAA Tournament opening round. The Rebels’ record in SEC play is 11-7, and their record is 9-3 against nonconference opponents. Ole Miss has a 1-3 record in games decided by less than 4 points. The Cardinals’ record in MAC action is 19-2. Ball State is 1-0 in games decided by less than 4 points. Ole Miss makes
44.2% of its shots from the field this season, which is 6.5 percentage points higher than Ball State has allowed to its opponents (37.7%). Ball State has shot at a 45.2% rate from the field this season, 3.9 percentage points above the 41.3% shooting opponents of Ole Miss have averaged.
TOP PERFORMERS: Madison Scott is averaging
11.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists for the Rebels. Kirsten Deans is averaging 11.1 points over the last 10 games. Alex Richard is shooting 54.7% and averaging 15.9 points for the Cardinals. Madelyn Bischoff is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Rebels: 6-4, averaging 71.8
points, 34.4 rebounds, 15.4 assists, 10.4 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 42.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 67.5 points per game.
Cardinals: 8-2, averaging 68.0 points, 34.4 rebounds, 15.8 assists, 6.3 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 58.3 points.
VJ EDGECOMBE AND BAYLOR BEARS FACE MISSISSIPPI STATE IN THE OPENING ROUND TODAY
By The Associated Press
Baylor Bears (19-14, 11-11 Big 12) vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs (21-12, 9-11 SEC)
Raleigh, North Carolina; Friday, 12:15 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Bulldogs -1.5; over/under is 144.5
BOTTOM LINE: Mississippi State and Baylor square off in the NCAA Tournament opening round.
The Bulldogs have gone 9-11 against SEC opponents, with a 12-1 record in non-conference play.
NBA champion Boston Celtics to be sold for a record $6.1 billion to group led by Bill Chisholm
By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer
THE Boston Celtics are being sold for what would be a record-setting initial valuation of $6.1 billion to a group led by Symphony Technology Group managing partner William Chisholm, the sides said Thursday. The sale — if approved by the NBA’s board of governors after a thorough vetting process — would be the richest in U.S. major pro sports history. That process likely would not be completed until the summer, at the earliest.
The $6.1 billion valuation — which would seem to be a minimum, since that is just the initial number — would break the mark set when a group led by Josh Harris bought
the NFL’s Washington Commanders for $6.05 billion in 2023. Sportico and ESPN were among those first reporting the agreement for the sale of the reigning NBA champions. Boston Basketball Partners LLC announced last summer that it intended to sell the majority of the Celtics either late last year or early this year, then would sell the balance of its shares in 2028. Wyc Grousbeck, whose family leads the ownership group, is expected to remain the Celtics’ governor through the 2027-28 season.
Grousbeck’s group bought the Celtics for $360 million in 2002.
“My partners and I have immense respect for Wyc, the entire Grousbeck family and their indelible contributions to the Celtics
organization over the last 23 years,” Chisholm said in a release announcing the agreement, the details of which were confirmed by the agencies representing both sides involved in the sale. “We look forward to learning from Wyc and partnering with Brad Stevens, Joe Mazzulla and the talented team and staff to build upon their success as we work to bring more championships home to Boston.”
The $6.1 billion figure would also top — by a big margin — recent NBA franchise sales. In 2023, the Phoenix Suns were purchased by mortgage firm owner Mat Ishbia for $4 billion, the Milwaukee Bucks were sold to Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam for $3.5 billion, and Mark
Cuban agreed to the sale of the majority of his Dallas Mavericks’ ownership shares to Miriam Adelson and son-in-law Patrick Dumont, who operates the Las Vegas Sands casino company, for $3.5 billion.
“Bill is a terrific person and a true Celtics fan, born and raised here in the Boston area,” Grousbeck said. “His love for the team and the city of Boston, along with his chemistry with the rest of the Celtics leadership, make him a natural choice to be the next governor and controlling owner of the team.”
Grousbeck added that Chisholm “asked me to run the team as CEO and governor for the first three years, and stay on as his partner.”
“I am glad to do so,” Grousbeck said.
Mississippi State ranks sixth in the SEC with 15.3 assists per game led by Cameron Matthews averaging 3.6. The Bears are 11-11 against Big 12 opponents. Baylor ranks seventh in the Big 12 shooting 35.1% from 3-point range.
Mississippi State’s average of 8.4 made 3-pointers per game this season is only 0.5 more made shots on average than the 7.9 per game Baylor allows. Baylor has shot at a 44.8% clip from the field this season, 0.9 percentage points above the 43.9% shooting opponents of Mississippi State have averaged.
TOP PERFORMERS: Josh Hubbard is scoring 18.6 points per game and averaging 2.2 rebounds for the Bulldogs. Claudell Harris Jr. is averaging 1.7
made 3-pointers over the last 10 games. Norchad Omier is scoring 15.9 points per game with 10.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists for the Bears. VJ Edgecombe is averaging 15 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.9 steals over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Bulldogs: 4-6, averaging 79.8 points, 35.4 rebounds, 14.4 assists, 8.6 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 43.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.6 points per game. Bears: 4-6, averaging 68.4 points, 30.5 rebounds, 12.4 assists, 6.6 steals and 2.2 blocks per game while shooting 42.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 68.2 points.
BAYLOR’s VJ Edgecombe is fouled on his way to the basket by Texas Tech’s JT Toppin (15) as Christian Anderson (4) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinal round of the Big 12 Conference tournament, on Thursday, March 13, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
‘Coach Yo’ and Lady Rebels take on Ball State Cardinals in the first round of the NCAA Tournament today.
March Madness offers same perks for South Carolina and Columbia. That includes new money for women
By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.
(AP) — The Columbia women’s basketball team plays in an intimate 2,700-seat gym nestled in Manhattan that is nowhere to be found on the national sports landscape. Now the Lions and all the other starry-eyed dreamers in the NCAA Tournament are being serenaded just like former national champions UConn, South Carolina or Tennessee.
And this year, they’re all getting paid to be there.
The star treatment this year goes beyond charter flights, hotel accommodations and coveted swag. For the first time, women’s teams are getting an individual share of the profits, a perk men’s teams have enjoyed for years.
“It should be this way.
We should be able to fly charter,” said UNC Greensboro coach Trina Patterson, whose Spartans will take a charter flight to play a game for the first time. “We are all playing in the
same March Madness, the treatment for the men and women should be equal. We get a unit!”
That’s correct, each women’s team in the tournament will get a “unit” — money that is paid to conferences when one of its teams appears in the NCAA Tournament. The formula and definition of a unit can be complicated, but the bottom line is conferences will receive $113,000 for each game one of its women’s team plays in the tournament.
Columbia reached the tournament last year, but neither the Lions nor the Ivy League received money for the appearance.
“You got to start somewhere and I think we’ve been so far behind,” said Columbia coach Megan Griffith. “I think of Sedona Prince and it’s really cool to see that she’s still able to play at a high level on a big stage. This is more like the whipped cream. I think the cherry on top is going to keep coming, but this it’s really good so far.” Prince’s video from 2020 that shed light on the inequalities between the men’s and women’s tournament helped spearhead change in the tournament. Patterson is now with UNCG but she knows what its like to be one of the marquee teams. She played at Virginia in the 1980s when Geno Auriemma was an assistant at the school. Patterson then went on to be
an assistant coach at Stanford for a few years under Tara VanDerveer. Her 16th-seeded team will enjoy the comforts of the cross-country charter flight from Greensboro to Los Angeles, where they will try to knock off JuJu Watkins and No. 1-seeded Southern California. It’s UNCG’s first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 1998. This is all new for William & Mary, which is making its
first appearance but has the chance to earn two financial units. They are in the play-in game against High Point on Thursday with the winner facing No. 1 seed Texas.
“It should have always been that way. Women’s basketball has been fighting for equality for a very long time,” said William & Mary coach Erin Dickerson Davis, who was the associate head coach at Wake Forest, an assistant
at Georgetown and has also coached at Towson, Illinois State, La Salle and Furman.
“I’ve been in this business for many, many years,” Davis said. “I played college basketball, it’s a long time coming.”
It is the Tribe’s first trip to March Madness in either men’s or women’s basketball.
“Everyone is so excited about the experience, going from the bus directly to the plane, everyone was so
happy,” Davis said. “Yes, we’re here on a business trip and we want to win. But just to be able to have these experiences for them that no one has done at William & Mary is special.”
Several of the players at Columbia can relate. They aren’t in Chapel Hill for spring break. They are here to win. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t taking time to enjoy the moment.
“It was cool going to the charter and we’ve been taking it all in,” junior Perri Page said. “But it’s a business trip and we have a goal in mind.” The Lions’ schedule this week has mirrored most schools’ travel itinerary. There was the building anticipation on the bus ride from their New York campus to Newark Airport for their pride-filled one-hour charter flight to Chapel Hill and the giddiness that comes with picking up that tournament swag on Wednesday.
Yes, there is a game to be played Thursday night. A pretty big one at that. But what a ride to get here — with a paycheck looming to top it off.
“We’ve been enjoying the whole season,” Page said, adding, “It’s great we can make money for the school now.”
Patterson, the former Virginia Cavalier, Stanford Cardinal and now UNCG Spartan summed it up when she said: “It’s great for women’s basketball.”
Organisers: 2025 Nassau Cup ‘one of the best ever’
THIS year’s Nassau Cup has been hailed by organisers as one of the best ever.
The competition took place in February, with 19 teams competing across three divisions – and also saw a 13-year-old record broken.
Southern Ocean Racing Conference chair Carol Ewing said:
“This year’s Nassau Cup was one of the best we have had in all the years we have been coming to The Bahamas.
“The SORC was proud to bring our sailors to this beautiful island.
“With so many legendary races behind us in the 74 years of running this event, this one particularly stood out as the year the
2012 record was brokenbut not only broken it was smashed!
Bella Mente, a 72-foot Maxi finished in nine hours and 34 minutes, a record that is sure to stand for many years to come.”
The division winners were Velocity in the ORC 1 division, a class 40 yacht owned by Martin Roesch, ZigZag in the ORC 2, a J122 yacht owned by Andrew Clark, and Blueprint in the ORC 3, a Beneteau 36.7 yacht owned by Luke Spink. Bella Mente’s new record beat the previous record by more than four hours, a huge record for yacht owner Hap Fauth.
Awards were presented at the Nassau Yacht Club.
Kirsty Coventry elected as the IOC president and is first woman, first African to lead global Olympic body
By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer
COSTA NAVARINO, Greece (AP) — Kirsty Coventry was elected president of the International Olympic Committee yesterday and became the first woman and first African to get perhaps the biggest job in world sports.
“It is a signal that we are truly global,” the Zimbabwe sports minister and two-time Olympic swimming gold medallist said.
Hers was a stunning first-round win in the sevencandidate contest after voting by 97 IOC members.
She gets an eight-year mandate into 2033 aged just 41 — youthful by the historical standards of the IOC.
It was the most open and hard-to-call IOC presidential election in decades with Coventry expected to lead the first round short of an absolute majority. Though several rounds of votes were widely predicted, she got the exact majority of 49 needed.
Coventry’s win also was a victory for outgoing IOC president Thomas Bach, who has long been seen as promoting her as his successor. He did not use his right to vote.
“I will make all of you very, very proud and hopefully extremely confident in the decision you have taken,” Coventry said in her acceptance speech.
“Now we have got some work together.”
Walking to the podium, she was congratulated and kissed on both cheeks by Juan Antonio Samaranch, her expected closest rival who got 28 votes.
Also in the race were four presidents of sports governing bodies: Track and field’s Sebastian Coe, skiing’s Johan Eliasch, cycling’s David Lappartient, and gymnastics’ Morinari Watanabe. Also contending was Prince Feisal al Hussein of Jordan.
Coventry will formally replace her mentor Bach on June 23 — officially Olympic Day — as the 10th IOC president in its 131-year history. Bach reached the maximum 12 years in office.
Key challenges for the 41-year-old Auburn University graduate will be steering the Olympic
movement through political and sporting issues toward the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, including engaging in diplomacy with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Coventry’s IOC will also need to find a host for the 2036 Summer Games which could go to India or the Middle East.
The strongest candidates in a five-month campaign with tightly controlled rules drafted by the Bach-led IOC seemed to be Coventry — who gave birth to her second child — IOC vice president Samaranch and Coe. Coventry’s manifesto offered mostly continuity from Bach with little new detail, while her rivals had specifics to benefit Olympic athletes, which she was as recently as 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.
Coe’s World Athletics broke an Olympic taboo by paying $50,000 to track and field gold medallists in Paris last year.
Samaranch promised to relax strict IOC commercial rules and give athletes control of footage of their Olympic performances.
Samaranch tried to follow his father, also Juan Antonio Samaranch, who was the IOC’s seventh president from 1980 to 2001.
Coe aimed to add to a remarkable career of Olympic triumphs: A two-time Olympic gold medallist in the 1,500 metres, he led a bidding team for the 2012 London Olympics, then worked for the next seven years to head the organising team of those widely praised Games.
He got just eight votes. It has been a stellar week
for Bach, who greeted Coventry and shared warm smiles after her acceptance speech.
Bach was feted on Wednesday in an emotional start to the IOC annual meeting, getting lavish praise and the title of honorary president for life.
He repeated his wish to offer advice to the next president.
His hands-on executivestyle presidency will deliver over a financially secure IOC, on track to earn more than $8 billion in revenue through the 2028 LA Olympics, and with a slate of future hosts through 2034: in Italy, the United States, France, Australia and finally the U.S. again, when the Winter Games return to Salt Lake City.
A signature Bach policy also has been gender parity,
with equal quotas of men and women athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics and giving a better balance of female members of the IOC and the executive board he chairs, which now has seven women among its 15 members, including Coventry. Her win yesterday will only add to Bach’s legacy for promoting women.
Coventry won back-toback titles in 200-metres backstroke at the 2004 Athens Olympics and Beijing four years later. She joined the IOC in 2013, almost one year after a disputed athlete election at the London Olympics.
Her place among the four athletes elected was eventually awarded after Court of Arbitration for Sport rulings against two opponents.
The next president can oversee the IOC making
a statement choice for its host for the 2036 Summer Games.
“There is one and one only,” Samaranch said on Wednesday when asked about challenges ahead.
“We must concentrate (on) successful and relevant Olympic Games. The rest comes with success in the Games.”
The voters in the exclusive invited club of IOC members include royal family members, former lawmakers and diplomats, business leaders, sports officials and Olympic athletes. Even an Oscar-winning actress, Michelle Yeoh. Members voted without hearing further presentations from the candidates in an election that swung on a discreet network of friendships and alliances largely forged out of sight.
KNOWLES FEELS COVENTRY’S ELECTION AS IOC PRESIDENT HOLDS UNIQUE SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE BAHAMAS
Olympic Committee brings about a new dimension in sports globally,” Knowles said. “Kirsty, as some may remember, was a team-mate at Auburn with Jeremy Knowles. “I’m told that she would have visited The Bahamas on two occasions at least to train here in preparation for her competition.” Knowles feels that Coventry’s election as IOC president holds unique significance for small developing nations like The Bahamas and other countries with populations under one million.
Her background as an Olympian from Zimbabwe - a developing nation with limited sports infrastructure - positions her to advocate for equitable opportunities in global sports.
Here’s how it’s believed that her leadership could impact these countries:
1. Increased Advocacy for Small Nations
*Voice in Decision-Making*: Coventry’s firsthand experience with the challenges faced by smaller nations (e.g., funding shortages, limited training facilities) may lead to stronger advocacy for their needs in IOC policies. This could result in:
*Funding Allocations*: Prioritising grants for grassroots sports development, athlete scholarships, and infrastructure projects in under-resourced regions.
*Technical Support*: Expanding programmes like the IOC’s Olympic Solidarity initiative, which provides coaching, equipment, and expertise to small nations.
*Representation*: Small countries often lack influence in global sports governance. Coventry’s leadership could push for greater inclusion of their voices in IOC committees and decision-making processes.
*2. Enhanced Opportunities for Athletes
*Qualification Pathways*: Smaller nations often struggle to meet Olympic qualification standards due to limited competition access. Coventry might advocate for:
*Wildcard Entries or Universality Places*: Expanding quota spots for athletes from underrepresented regions.
* Regional Competitions*: Supporting continental qualifiers (e.g., in the Caribbean or Pacific Islands) to reduce travel costs and increase participation.
*Training Access*: Partnering with larger nations or the IOC to fund training camps, coaching exchanges, or access to elite facilities for athletes from small countries.
3. Focus on Sustainable
Sports Infrastructure
*Climate Resilience*: Many small island nations like The Bahamas face existential threats from climate change (e.g., hurricanes, rising sea levels). Coventry could prioritize:
*Climate-Adaptive Facilities*: Funding for sports infrastructure that withstands environmental challenges.
*Green Initiatives*: Promoting sustainability in sports events, aligning with the IOC’s climate goals.
*Legacy Projects*: Post-event use of Olympic infrastructure (e.g., repurposing facilities for community use) to avoid “white elephant” projects in resource-strapped nations.
*4. Youth Development and Gender Equality
*Grassroots Investment*: Prioritising programmes to engage youth in sports, particularly in regions where poverty or lack of facilities limits participation.
*Empowering Women*: As the IOC’s first female president, Coventry may
push for gender parity in funding, coaching, and leadership roles - critical in small nations where cultural barriers often restrict female participation in sports.
*5. Regional Collaboration
*Caribbean and African Partnerships*: The Bahamas could benefit from Coventry’s emphasis on African-Caribbean ties. Initiatives like shared training programmes, regional competitions, or mentorship networks could emerge.
*Pan-Small State Alliances*: Encouraging alliances among small nations (e.g., Caribbean, Pacific, and African microstates) to collectively lobby for IOC resources and visibility.
*6. Symbolic Impact
*Inspiration*: Coventry’s rise from a small nation (Zimbabwe) to the IOC’s highest office demonstrates that athletes and leaders from smaller countries can achieve global influence. This could motivate Bahamian athletes and administrators to aim for leadership roles in sports governance.
*Cultural Pride*: Success stories from small nations (e.g., Bahamian sprinters
like Shaunae Miller-Uibo) may gain more recognition under her tenure, fostering national pride and investment in sports.
*Challenges to Address*
*Resource Limitations*: Even with IOC support, small nations may struggle to implement large-scale projects without local government partnerships.
*Geopolitical Bias*: Historically, Olympic resources have favoured wealthier nations. Coventry will need to actively counterbalance this to ensure equity.
*Conclusion*
For The Bahamas and similar nations, Coventry’s presidency represents a *potential turning point* in addressing systemic inequities in global sports. Her leadership could amplify their visibility, secure critical resources, and inspire a new generation of athletes and administrators.
However, lasting impact will depend on sustained advocacy, collaboration with regional bodies like the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees, and tailored policies that acknowledge the unique challenges of small populations.
“This may be symbolic of the IOC’s resistance as
a collective grouping to transgenders competing in female sports and women’s sports,” Knowles said.
As the president-elect, Coventry will oversee the Olympic Winter Games Miliano Cortina 2026 as her first Olympic Games with just 11 months to go to the opening ceremony. Coventry competed at five different Olympic Games. Between her debut at Sydney 2000 and competing for the final time at Rio 2016, she won seven Olympic medals (two gold, four silver, one bronze), taking gold in the 200m backstroke at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008. No other African athlete has won more Olympic medals. She also won three long-course World Championship gold medals and four short-course titles during her career, in addition to a Commonwealth Games gold and 14 African Games golds. Coventry won the position over four presidents of sports governing bodies including track and field’s Sebastian Coe, skiing’s Johan Eliasch, cycling’s David Lappartient, and gymnastics’ Morinari Watanabe. Also contending was Prince Feisal al Hussein of Jordan.
THIS combo of January 30, 2025, file photos, shows the seven candidates in the International Olympic Committee presidential election, from top row from left, Sebastian Coe, Kirsty Coventry, Johan Eliasch, and Prince Feisal al Hussein, bottom row from left, David Lappartient, Juan Antonio Samaranch and Morinari Watanabe. (Fabrice Coffrini/Pool Photo via AP)