Athletes make their presence felt overseas

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Meanwhile, the Royals took down the HO Nash junior boys team to go up 1-0 in the series.

For the seniors, the CR Walker Knights’ girls brought home game one after defeating the CV Bethel Stingrays in two sets.

Additionally, the CI Gibson Rattlers claimed game one after winning against the Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins in three hard-fought sets.

In the first game of the day, the junior girls put on a show against each other in their first championship game.

The Lions and Sharks gave it all that they had

WHILE strongwoman

Rhema Otabor, versatile Anthaya Charlton, hurdler Gabrielle Gibson and sprinter Wanya McCoy were taking care of business over the weekend in the United States, sprinters Anthonique Strachan and Wendell Miller were making their presence felt at the Velocity Fest 13 in Kingston, Jamaica.

At the Michael Johnson Invitational at the Hart Track and Field Stadium at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, Otabor - a junior at Nebraska - had a personal best heave of 194-feet, sixinches or 59.28m to win the women’s javelin throw, well ahead of second place finisher Maddie Harris, a junior at Nebraska, who did 183-03 (55.86m).

Also at the meet, Charlton, a member of the Bahamian connection at the University of Kentucky, led by head coach Rolando ‘Lonnie’ Greene and his assistant “Golden Girl” Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, secured the win in the women’s long jump. For good measure, Charlton also ran on Kentucky women’s 4 x 100m relay team that won in 43.38.

Fellow Kentucky teammate Megan Moss came through with a fourth place finish in the women’s 400m in a season’s best of 52.55.

Moss also contested the women’s 200m where she had to settle for 23rd place in 24.09.

Moss also teamed up on the women’s 4 x 400m relay for Kentucky as they ran 3:28.21 for the sixth fastest time this year and is now

Sailing From Page 15

from July 6-14. “Prior to announcement of the national sport, we had the torch run with Exuma getting it started,” Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg confirmed.

“It will go through the various islands participating in the Bahamas Games before it gets back to New Providence. That went very well.”

In a relay form, the Royal Bahamas Police Force accompanied by some of the young athletes on the island, started the run with the torch that passed onto the island administrator Donald Rolle before he handed it over to Bowleg.

Minister of Parliament for Exuma and Deputy Prime Minister I. Chester Cooper received the torch from Bowleg and passed it on to Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis.

“We then made the countdown of 75 days left before the start of the games,” Bowleg said. “It’s important for us to do this torch run because a whole generation doesn’t understand the concept of the Bahamas Games. This is to inform persons of the importance of us putting on this event and get them excited to be a part of the games.”

Started in 1989, the Bahamas Games is expected to bring together more than 2,500 athletes and officials from teams throughout the country who will participate from islands/grouping of islands including Abaco, Andros, Bimini and the Berry Islands, Columbus Isles, Eleuthera, Exuma and Ragged Island, Grand Bahama, Long Island, MICA and New Providence

Oliver From Page 15

training and competing, Sonovia said he was quite the opposite to his older brother. “He was very quiet. Most times you didn’t even know he was there. He was like a fly on the wall,” she noted. “He was a man of very little words, but he expressed himself through his music.”

According to Sonovia, Shakuar was getting ready to get married on Tyrone Jr’s birthday on May 11. The two left behind two daughters. Tyrone’s daughter is Danielle Oliver, who was seven, while Shakuar’s daughter is two-year-old Shaniyah Oliver.

“The only good thing about it is we have a huge outpouring of love already,” she stated.

“There’s a song that says let your life speak for you. My brother’s lives are speaking for them right now. We are from Kemp Road, born and raised. We know what it is to share one plate of food and to see how far they in at least 14 core sporting disciplines.

The games, which continued in 1991, 1995, 1998 and in 2001, will be staged in New Providence next year including softball, basketball, track and field, lawn tennis, swimming, soccer, volleyball, bodybuilding and powerlifting, cycling, baseball, regatta sailing, rowing and golf.

Additionally, there will be competition in beach soccer and beach volleyball.

As for the announcement of the national sport, Bowleg said they had a ceremony to receive the torch and, at the same time, the announcement was made by Prime Minister Davis before the fireworks erupted. Bowleg also brought some remarks on the youth and developmental aspect of the sport, while Clay Sweeting spoke on the history of sailing.

“I’m elated to know that sailing is the only sport indigenous to the Bahamas,” Bowleg said. “Not only did we get our first Olympic medal in sailing from Sir Durward Knowles and Cecil Cooke in 1964, but it’s a sport that identify who we are as a people.

“We are an archipelago surrounded by waters, so it’s our goal to see how best to get sailing back into the Olympics and winning medals again. It was really accepted by all those in attendance, including the sailors, who were there to compete in the regatta.”

Danny Strachan, who will demit office as commodore of the National Family Island Regatta on June 1 after serving for the past 31 years, said the announcement of sailing as the national sport of the Bahamas could not come at a more opportune time.

“I’m quite ecstatic about came, not being a product of their environment and to go the way they did, I can’t fathom what happened, but I know that is not the way my brothers should have gone.”

Boxing Federation of the Bahamas president Vincent Strachan said it was painful for him because he only got to meet Tyrone Jr earlier this year in person, although they communicated over the past few years by phone.

“He was made a member of the Bahamas Boxing Federation elite men’s team. He was part of the IBA World Boxing Championships team for Tashkent, Uzbekistan from April 29 to May 14.

Tyrone Oliver, according to Strachan, was making plans to go to the federation’s training camp in Freeport, Grand Bahama and was being considered for selection on the national team for the Central American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador, El Salvador in June, the Pan American Games qualifier it because of the fact that I’ve been campaigning for this for more than 30 years for sailing to become the national sport of our country, which is another pillar in the development of our country as an independent nation,” Strachan said.

“I’m so proud and thankful that the government made the decision to name it the official sport at this year’s 67th National Family Island Regatta. There couldn’t be a better setting to do that. We had almost 80 boats competing in this regatta so it was the appropriate venue and appropriate timing for the announcement on Friday.”

According to Strachan, George Town, Exuma has been the cradle of sloop sailing since 1954, but he in August in Cali, Columbia and the Pan American Games in November, also in Cali. “He was positive about qualifying for the 2024 Olympics in France,” Strachan said. “He was the main event representative for Team Bahamas, March 4, 2023, at Sir Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium for the second Sonny Boy Rahming and Leonard Boston Blackie Memorial Boxing Championship,” Strachan said.

“As the chief judge and a scoring judge, he won his match on my score card. I am proud of his representation of the 242 against the Bermudian boxer, who was much heavier.”

Strachan expressed his deepest condolences to the Oliver family, his boxing family and friends.

“I pray God will have mercy on him and his family member soul who died in the same incident,” he stated.

Ronn Rodgers had the opportunity to work with Oliver Jr since he started competing in the sport at age 13 when he started said he lobbied for the sport to become the national sport of the country because sailors have been sailing internationally in all types of sailing, led by the Olympic gold in 1964 in Tokyo, Japan with crew member Cecil Cooke. Knowles also teamed up with and Sloane Farrington to win the Olympic bronze in1956 in Melbourne, Australia.

As for the final results of the regatta, the New Legend, skippered by David Knowles, captured the A class with five points, followed by the Running Tide, skippered by Stefan Knowles with seven, The New Courageous, skippered by Stefano Kemp, got third with nine.

In the B Class, Jeff Gale skippered the Lonesome boxing up until he turned professional.

“When I got the news, I wanted to confirm it,” said Rodgers, who was in Canada at the time.

“I got a call from Michelle Minus and she told me that it had happened. I started to make some calls to make sure it was true or not. Once I confirmed it, all I could do was shut down.” Rodgers said he had just spoken to Oliver Jr about a week ago as he was working out details to get him to appear on the undercard of the Return of Drama in Paradise professional boxing show on June 3 at Baha Mar featuring Ladarius Miller against Nomeva Kolisani in the main event.

“I was making sure he was training and also staying active and to confirm that he was still a go for the show on June 3,” Rodgers revealed. “I have fighters calling me from London, England, America and I have kickboxing and boxing coaches reaching out to me. “The fighters who he grew up with say they can’t stop crying. So it’s a big blow to the club. He was fiery. When it came to the sport, there was nothing he loved more than boxing. In fact, that was the way I could reach him mentally, physically and spiritually. I used boxing as leeway to get to him and make sure he stayed on the right path.

Dove to victory with six points over the Ole Boy, skippered by Cochise Burrows, who collected 10.

Tari Anne, skippered by Dallas Knowles, got third place with 11 points.

The B class saw It Ain’t Right, skippered by Gale, emerge as the winners with nine points.

Xena, skippered by David Knowles and Sassie Sue, skippered by Stefan Knowles, both ended up with 11 points for a twoway tie for second.

Captain Peg, skippered by Josh Green, won the E class with seven points. Para, skippered by Douglas Saunders, was second with eight and Miss Agnes, skippered by Alvington McKenzie, got third with 12.

“He wasn’t happy unless he was doing boxing, whether it was training or fighting. If you saw him before a fight, he was the most exciting fighter ever. He was bouncing around. He wasn’t timid at all. He wanted to get into the boxing ring immediately. So his love for boxing is like none other.”

As a welterweight, Tyrone Oliver produced a 40-5 amateur win-loss record before he turned pro on May 26, 2018. He made a successful debut with a technical knockout over Justin Sawyer in an allBahamian match-up at the A Social Affair and Convention Center in Grand Bahama.

The most outstanding skipper award went to Gale with two first and three third place finish to win both the B and C Class series championship title. Man-O-War, skippered by Leslie ‘Buzzy’’ Rolle, took the Minister of Agriculture, Marine and Family Island E class Cup race. Whitty K, skippered by Cochise Burrows, won the Commodore Emeritus C class; New Susa Chase, skippered by Stefan Knowles, took the Governor General’s B class and Ruff Justice, skippered by Mark Knowles, captured the Prime Minister’s Cup for the A class. The next major regatta on the sailing calendar is the Long Island Regatta which will take place in May.

However, he suffered two consecutives losses on the road. On October 31, 2020, he suffered an unanimous decision to American Christian Otero in Colombia, before he got knocked out on July 31, 2021 by American Isaah Flaherty in Decatur, Georgia.

About three months ago, Valentino Knowles said Oliver Jr reached out to him to go over the details of a pro contract he had signed in Africa. After he helped to guide him along, Oliver Jr turned the deal down and returned home.

“Ever since he came back home, he came into the national gym, along with Israel Johnson and Carl Hield where they trained together,” Knowles said.

”He was very respectful, humble and he had a lot of all-around skills. He was expected to be our next best international prospect.”

The Tribune Sports Department extends its deepest sympathy to the Oliver family on their double loss.

Triathlon

overall I have to start adjusting my diet, workouts and pressure that I put on myself to get better,” Duncombe said.

Although he knows he has some adjustments to make, the young athlete added that overall it was fun to compete with comrades, especially in the cycling portion of the triathlon

For the 16-19 girls, Erin Pritchard along with Kami Roach both qualified for the Junior Commonwealth Games. Pritchard came out on top with a first place victory after finishing 37:43. Roach joined her in second place in the event with 37:57. Anjaleah Knowles joined the pair after securing third place with 45:49.

Pritchard said all three events were really good for her. She said the swim was good because the water was calm, it was not windy so she was able to keep a good pace cycling, and on the run she gave it her all to finish strong.

Roach was also very pleased with the way she competed and was especially proud of the cycling part of the triathlon.

Malcolm Menzies, brought home the victory in the 13-15 boys youth triathlon. He emerged with a first place finish after clocking 32:32 in the race. Menzies was joined by second place finisher Ayden Bain who not only notched 36:33 but also qualified for the Junior Commonwealth Games. Jayden Smith finished behind the two with 42:44.

Bain said he felt good competing in all events of the triathlon and really felt as if his practicing paid off. However, he felt that he could have paced himself

Gsssa

FROM PAGE 15 against each other in the three sets. In set one, the Sharks won 25-19 after 18 minutes of volleyball action. However, the Lions retaliated in set two and evened things up after beating the Sharks 25-16.

After a big showing in set two, the Lions kept up their momentum which fueled them to a 15-10 win to claim game one.

Patty Johnson, volleyball head coach of the Lions, talked about how it felt to get the game one win in the best of three series.

The coach said the game started off a bit shaky for her team due to a breakdown in communication between the girls.

However, she believes that the team got it together and they will ride the momentum into game two. She credited the play of the Sharks after a competitive game but will look to make adjustments for a better showing from the Lions. The junior boys also brought a competitive showing to the Anatol better in the run. The young athlete added that he is excited about qualifying for the games and CARIFTA.

For the girls, Issa Bournas brought home the victory after finishing with 42:15. Taylor Knowles finished behind with 49:35 and Chelsea Smith clocked 53:21 respectively. Lauchlin

Menzies claimed first place

Rodgers Gymnasium this past weekend. In a bout that went to three sets, the Royals took the fight to the Lions early on winning set one 25-16 after 17 minutes of gameplay. The Lions made a comeback in set two and evened the score after winning 25-17.

Despite trying to keep their hopes alive after tying the sets, the Royals took over in set three winning 15-9 to take home the game one series win.

Mark Hanna, head coach of the Royals, talked about how it felt to emerge victorious in game one.

“We are the underdogs as far as they are concerned, we are not supposed to be here but this team is a fighting team and the mentality is to never give up so it feels good to get the win,” Hanna said.

He added the team will be focused coming into today’s game two and he wants them to play free, and have fun as he he feels good about their chances.

In one of the most intense matchups on the day, the Knights and the Stingrays left it all on the in the 11-12 boys triathlon after completing a 200m swim, 5k bike, and 1.5k run. Second place finisher was Sobby Fynn Potter who finished with 17:43. Mathis Bournas followed behind for third.

Nai’a Belton led the way for the girls. Belton blitzed the competition in the trio of events with a time of court after their game one battle against each other.

The senior girls exchanged a flurry of bumps, flicks, spikes and serves in efforts to take down the opposing team.

In set one, the Knights reigned supreme after defeating the Stingrays 25-20. Despite game one only being two sets, the Knights had their hands full in set two as both teams kept the ball active for nearly one minute on the court.

Also, leading into the final minutes of the 23-minute set, the Stingrays led 23-21.

However, the team could not hold on and the firstseeded Knights wrapped up the final set 26-24 to seal the game one win.

Aikia Rose, head coach of the Knights, said the team started off a bit slow in the first set but they regained focus in the second set of the day.

She added that her message to the team was to pass the ball and call for it. She expects that going into game two, if they follow this message and play a little harder than they did on Friday, they can take home a title victory.

18:23. She was joined by Taylen Nichols who finished second and Veranique Strachan with third position in the event. For the 9-10 boys youth triathlon, Stafford Sweeting secured a first place finish with 12:09. Additionally, Caiden Bain booked a first place finish with 14:20 in the 8 and under boys triathlon.

Vanessa Sawyer, the setter for the Knights, was involved in some huge power plays for the winning team. She said her mindset in game one’s win was to come out and get a few big hits for her team because it is her final year in high school, and she wanted to make a big impact in the championship game.

In the final matchup on the day, the Doris Johnson Marlins dropped game one to the CI Gibson Rattlers. The Rattlers bested the Marlins in set one 25-18.

However, the Marlins mounted an attack and returned the favour in the second set, shutting out the team 25-19. With the sets tied 1-1 going into the final one, the Rattlers got back into the matchup and won 15-7 to runaway with the game one win.

The junior and senior division teams will resume the GSSSA volleyball championships at 4pm this evening at the Kendal G L Isaacs Gymnasium.

The event’s overall winners for the sprint triathlon, which included a 750 metre swim, 20 kilometre bike, and 5 kilometre run were Christopher Carter and Suzy Eneas. Carter talked about how it felt to be victorious.

“This is a lot of fun, this is really well-organised, and I had a great time,” he said.

Athletes

FROM PAGE 15 ranked as the fifth best in Kentucky history.

Charlton ran on Kentucky women’s 4 x 100m relay that ended up on top of the field of teams in 43.38.

Antoine Andrews, representing Texas Tech, came through the men’s 110m hurdles final in 13.85 for fifth place.

In Fayetteville, Arkansas, Gibson clocked 13.07 to pull off the victory in the women’s 100m hurdles.

Her nearest rival was Kiara Smith, a junior at Missouri Southern in 13.22. Gibson also had double duties, running in the 200m where she placed fourth in 23.35.

Rosey Effiong, a sophomore at Arkansas, was the winner in 23.02.

McCoy, a sophomore at Clemson University, won the men’s 200m in 20.46 at the USC Outdoor Open.

Jadyn Tabois, a junior at Iowa, came in second in 20.55.

Among more of the day’s top performers were Cameron Roach, and Simon Townend. Roach placed first in the 40-49 individual sprint triathlon and Towend was the only 50 and over male competitor. The Bahamas Triathlon Association’s next qualifying event will take place on Goodman’s Bay May 6.

At the National Stadium in Jamaica, Strachan picked up a third place finish in the women’s 100 and Miller ended up fourth in the men’s 200m.

In the final of the 100m, Strachan held on for third in 11.11 seconds as she trailed Jamaicans Shericka Jackson, who ran a meet record 10.82, and Natasha Morrison, who got second in 11.09.

Strachan won her heat of the women’s 100m in 11.30.

“It was good. I’m constantly trying out new things and trying to correct what’s wrong so when it matters, I can just do it,” Strachan said.

“I had no expectations,” she added.

Strachan was scheduled to run the 200m, but didn’t compete.

The event was won by Jamaica’s Josean Williams in a season’s best of 23.56.

Miller, also competing for the MVP Club, got fourth in his heat of the men’s 400m, but had to settle for 11th overall in 21.82.

Rasheed Dwyer of Jamaica was the winner in 20.68.