SPORTS SECTION E
THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2017
Our ‘athletes are gelling very well’ By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
TEAM BAHAMAS’ FINAL TRAINING SESSION TODAY
TEAM manager Philippa Arnett-Willie likes the cohesiveness she’s seen so far at Team Bahamas’ training camp for the third edition of the IAAF/BTC World Relays Bahamas 2017. The team was together all week and will conduct their final practice today at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium as they prepare to compete on Saturday and Sunday night. “We’ve had two meetings so far and I must say, the athletes are gelling very well, which is the best thing for relay events,” said Arnett-Willie, a former
ing to camp healthy, Arnett-Willie said it bodes well for Team Bahamas. “Everybody is fit and ready to run in front of the Bahamian crowd.” She noted that all of the athletes have been advised about the emphasis being placed on getting both the men and women into the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400m finals in order to automatically qualify for IAAF World Championships in London, England, in August. “Relay qualification is our main priority,” she stated. “The mixed 4 x 4 relay is an event that the IAAF is putting on as a
sprinter who competed on her share of relays. “They all came in and talked to the coaches. In the meetings, we have been very impressed with what they are saying and so we feel very excited about what is going to happen this weekend.” With everybody report-
fun event for the athletes and the spectators. “But we have made a decision that we will only run the mixed relay if our athletes compete in the 4 x 400. So far, everyone seems excited about what we are trying to achieve. We haven’t gotten any resistance to it.” The only member named to the team who will not be competing is Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown. He had indicated that he will make a determination over the weekend as to whether he is fit enough to compete. Over the past few months, Brown has been
courted to Grenada where he served as the athletes’ liaison officer. He was responsible for getting more than 100 foreign athletes to compete in the inaugural Grenada Invitational. “He will be missed, so will Ramon (Miller), who will not be competing either,” she said. “They have a wealth of experience, but in their absence, we’re putting the baton in a number of young, but talented quarter-milers. As they get ready to compete against more than 50 countries in the various
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Carl Lewis in town By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
C
arl Lewis had an illustrious career that spanned at least two decades as the most decorated sprinter/long jumper of all-time. But of all that he’s accomplished, he wished he had the opportunity to compete in the IAAF World Relays. Lewis, a long-time close friend of former University of Houston team-mate Frank Rutherford for more than 30 years and co-worker of current Cougars’ assistant coach Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, is in town to view the third edition of the World Relays at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium this weekend. “I don’t think that there’s any day that I get up wishing something else,” said Lewis of the competitions that he got to compete in. But the biggest thing is that it isn’t like that. That isn’t how the world is. I only had the World Championships every four years, so it would have been great to have it every two years, it would have been great to have had World Relays. I would have loved to have those two events, but we didn’t have it.” If there’s one discipline in track and field that the fans love to see, it’s the relays, according to Lewis, who ran on some of the top-ranked American relay teams during his tenure. “You see these fast times from these 18 to 19-year-olds and so it’s a great event for them.” Yesterday, the winner of nine Olympic gold medals, one silver medal and 10 World Championships medals, including eight gold, was entertained by proprietor Vincent ‘Curly’ McDonald at Curly’s at Arawak Cay Fish Fry. At the same time, he was also introduced to Demetrius Pinder, Steven Gardiner, Michael Mathieu and Anthonique Strachan, who are all preparing to represent the Bahamas at the relays.
Former sprint, long jump great to attend IAAF World Relays
OLYMPIC champion Carl Lewis yesterday speaks with Bahamian athletes Demetrius Pinder, Steven Gardiner, Anthonique Strachan and Michael Mathieu at Curly’s, Arawak Cay Fish Fry. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff The athletes, who took the time out to meet Lewis after their training camp, were accompanied by team manager Philippa Arnett-
Willie. “It’s been a while,” said Lewis about one of his many visits to the Bahamas, including in the year 1992 to help Rutherford cel-
ebrate his triumph as the first Bahamian to win an Olympic medal
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NBA ACTION
The Playoffs, Page 22
MLB SCOUTS GET A LOOK AT ASPIRING BAHAMIAN PLAYERS By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net FORTY aspiring baseball players had an opportunity to showcase their skills here at home before a group of Major League Baseball scouts. The Bahamas Baseball Federation hosted its first MLB Club Scouts Showcase Games at the Junior Baseball League of Nassau Fields last weekend. Two teams comprising 20 players each, emerged out of the BBF’s series of trials earlier this month hosted in New Providence and in Grand Bahama and featuring over 100 participants. Visiting franchises represented at the event included the Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins and Pittsburgh Pirates. The MLB Scouting Bureau was also present at the event. The bureau is aimed at providing comprehensive information on prospects to help clubs make more informed selections in the draft. It provides a consensus scouting service for all MLB clubs. Position players are graded on hitting ability, power, running speed, arm strength and fielding. Prospective athletes at the showcase were evaluated on running, fielding and hitting drills followed by a pair of inters quad scrimmages. The Selection Committee included Shane Albury (Committee Lead), Joe Moss, Greg Burrows Jr (Player Selection, Coach), Dominic Elliot (Player Selection, Coach), Mario Ford (Player Selection/Coach), Patrick Knowles (Cincinnati REDS, Player Selection/ Coach), Andy Percentie (Coach), Warren Lavarity - Coach and Geron Sands – Coach. It was the first time a local showcase featured several different scouts and was conducted outside of the Academies, where players were selected based on tryouts. The partnership between the BBF and Major League Baseball has produced several events thus far in its early stages. The MLB conducted a summer instructional programme featuring prospective 10th, 11th and 12th graders. The first programme in the series was a coaching clinic last January in New Providence, featuring MLB Hall of Fame second baseman Roberto Alomar.
Tight end Saunders expected to be major contributor By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net MANY elite NCAA Division I powerhouse programmes have begun their preparation for the upcoming season, and the FSU Seminoles faithful had an opportunity to get a first look at the team in the Garnet and Gold Spring Game. Bahamian tight end Mavin Saunders is expected to be a major contributor this season and, according to Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher, his group at that position performed up to standard all spring leading up to the game. Just two offensive touchdowns were scored in the game as team Gold won 17-7 over team Garnet. “I liked scrimmage from the standpoint it was very physical. Guys tackled
well and played well,” in the Orange Bowl. Fisher said. “We’ve alSaunders finished his ways been able to throw sophomore season with the ball, we’ll throw and 10 receptions for 182 we’ll throw it well. yards, both career highs. I think they [tight The 6’6”, 258-pound ends] performed well, Bimini native was a Izzo caught a couple SAUNDERS standout last spring in balls, Mavin caught a the Garnet and Gold couple. Those guys will be a Game when he finished with factor in the game and they’re six receptions for 91 yards and doing some nice things.” a touchdown. Saunders was effective with Brendan Sonnone, who has the second unit; with his biggest covered the Seminoles for the play of the game a 13-yard re- Orlando Sentinel, Noles247 ception from freshman quarter- and CBSsports.com, said the back Bailey Hockman. progression should continue “We’re far from a finished next season in Saunders’ junior product - we got a lot of things season. to do - but there’s a lot to work “Saunders’ improvement with there,” Fisher said. “The from 2015 to 2016 was clearly attitude is going in the right di- visible to the eye and is reflectrection, so I’m pleased.” ed in his metrics. The former The Seminoles finished 10-3 basketball recruit led all FSU last season, capped by a win players with 18.2 yards-perover the Michigan Wolverines catch and 13.0 yards-per-target
after averaging just 4.7 yardsper-target in 2015. His jump in catch rate (54.6 per cent to 71.4 per cent) and success rate (27.3 per cent to 64.3 per cent) was equally impressive,” he said. Saunders is expected to be listed as second on the depth chart behind Izzo. “After having all those playmakers leave last year, we knew we were going to have to step up,” Izzo said. “We’re going to get those opportunities, so I think me and Mavin teaching Tre’ [McKitty] the process of what we’re doing right now so he can get used to that role. I think it’s definitely a more experienced group. “We’ve been through this a lot. Overall, we’ve been making more plays. Jimbo’s trying to implement more formations, just to get us out wide and do stuff like that.”