SPORTS SECTION E
WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2017
Bria making a name for herself in triple jump By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
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ove over Leevan ‘Superman’ Sands. Young sister Bria Sands is creating a niche of her own in the triple jump. At the Blackwell Stadium in Gulf Shores, Alabama, the Life University sophomore won the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Outdoor Championship in the women’s triple jump with a leap of 12.31 metres or 40-feet, 4 3/4–inches, just off her personal best of 12.32m. “It was a relief because I came into the competition really nervous and I didn’t know what the outcome would be at the end of my season with this being my last meet,” Sands told The Tribune.
SANDS WINS NAIA NATIONAL OUTDOOR TITLE “I wanted to go hard, but I also wanted to remain injury free and come out mentally strong. The competition was good. I had a rough start. I wasn’t leading distance wise, but I jumped very well to pull it off.” While Leevan Sands was getting ready to compete in a meet in Atlanta, Bria Sands got some extra incentive on the sidelines as her parents – Elaine and Leevan Sands Sr – surprised her by showing up to watch her in her double duties as she also contested the long jump where she got fourth with a leap of 5.64m (18-6). “I was so overjoyed because I didn’t know that they were going to make it,” Sands lamented.
BRIA SANDS
“When I was getting ready to jump, my dad came over and pulled my hair. When I saw him and my mom, I just knew that I had to go hard.” And she certainly didn’t disappoint her parents as they made the trek to Alabama. “We were extremely proud to witness Bria’s mature performance in which she did under tremendous pressure during her final minutes in the competition,” said her proud mother, Elaine. “We give God the honour and the praise for her accomplishment.” Sands was also the champion of the 37th Annual Women’s Indoor Track and Field National Championships in the triple jump with a leap of 11.93m (39-1 ¾).
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Wildcats eat Sharks 12-7 By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
IT was a pitcher’s delight for Mechelle Moss and a batter’s dream for Larikah Russell as they combined to help the Sunshine Auto Wildcats pull off a 12-7 victory over the Platinum Pool Sharks in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex last night. With the win, the Wildcats improved their New Providence Softball Association women’s win-loss record to 2-1, rebounding from losing their first game to secure two straight, while the Lady Sharks suffered their first loss in two games. Moss, the workhorse in the absence of former mainstay Mary ‘Cruise’ Edgecombe, tossed a seven hitter with six strike outs and two walks, giving up two earned runs and batting clean up in their lineup, went 1-for-5 with a run batted in (RBI) and scored on another. “It was good to get the win like this,” said Moss, the talented teenager who pitched all three games so far this season. “We went out there and were able to take care of business.” Russell, batting just ahead of Moss, went 1-for-2 with three RBI and a run scored. Her only hit came in a five-run top of the fifth inning and it was a big plate appearance. With one out and third sacker Shakenah Sweeting sitting on third with a run-producing double and second sacker Rebecca Moss on a RBI single, Russell ripped a pitch from Lady Sharks’ Sari Albury to left-centre field for a three-run inthe-park homer. “With two runners on, I was just looking for a good pitch to hit,” said Russell, who was walked intentionally twice. “I didn’t think I would hit it that hard, but I’m glad that I did.” Russell, the versatile tennis player/coach, said she was glad that they were able to bounce back and win after getting off to a sluggish start. She commended the Lady Sharks, a youthful team managed by Stephen ‘Bishop’ Beneby, whom she felt put up a very good fight.
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PITCHER’S DELIGHT: Mechelle Moss on the mound last night as the Sunshine Auto Wildcats pulled off a 12-7 victory over the Platinum Pool Sharks in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
NBA Finals
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MILLER APPOINTED TO PASO TECHNICAL COMMISSION By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net WELLINGTON Miller, president of the Bahamas Olympic Committee, has been given some extra responsibilities as a member of the Technical Commission of the Pan American Sports Organisation (PASO). PASO is the international organisation which represents all National Olympic Committees of the Americas. It is part of the worldwide Olympic family of sporting organisations charged with maintaining alliances with the international and Pan American confederations to raise the level of sports in the broad American continent. As the first Bahamian to be appointed to such a board, Miller’s role took effect on Monday and he will sit on a five-member panel for the next four years as they plan all of the programmes for the Pan Am Games and any new games that PASO intends to initiate for their 41-member countries. “For me and the Bahamas, it’s a great thing because we can show people that we are just as good on the sports field as we are in the boardroom,” Miller said. “Being on PASO Technical Commission, I get to sit in the heart of the organisation that actually runs the games. “I’ve been asked to serve on the Commission by the president and I think it’s a great honour for me, the country and sports because I can give guidance on how the games should be ran. It’s a very prestigious position and I look forward to working with the other members.” With the Bahamas getting ready to host the Commonwealth Youth Games next month, Miller said PASO, which is responsible primarily for the Pan American Games, is looking at the possibility of hosting a Youth Pan Am Games and it is hoped that the Bahamas will be able to make a bid when it goes to tender. “The outside world is now looking to the Bahamas, not only for athletes, but they are looking to the Bahamas for administrators too,” Miller said. “I’m happy that they have chosen me. “I will do my best to serve to the best
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BOC ‘plans for Commonwealth Youth Games on target’ By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net THE 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games is fast approaching and Bahamas Olympic Committee president Wellington Miller
said they are looking forward to putting on the show of all shows. “Our plans for the Commonwealth Youth Games is on target,” he said. “We are looking forward to fully executing our plans. We believe we will put on the best show that has ever been staged in the Bahamas. “We want to advise the people to have their expectations very high because we are coming out with a great games. I don’t want anybody to come out with any low expectations. The games will be ran professionally by Bahamians and we will execute it to the best of our ability.” The Bahamas stepped in to take on the hosting of the sixth edition of the games just last year after St Lucia withdrew in 2015, citing financial difficulties. The games, which is expected to feature some 69 countries, is scheduled for July 1923 with the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre as the hub of the activities, inclusive of aquatics, athletics, beach soccer, beach
volleyball, boxing, cycling, judo, rugby sevens and tennis. “This games is being produced and directed by Bahamians,” Miller said. “We are going to show the people that just as we are good on the field of play, we are also going to be good in the boardroom in executing these games.” Although there has been a change in government on May 10, Miller said the Free National MILLER Movement is committed to supporting the Local Organising Committee, headed by Rommel Knowles.
“We know that the new government has seen the importance of us hosting these games and they will continue to support us just as the previous government, Progressive Liberal Party, who consented for us to host the games,” Miller said. “This is going to be a proud moment for the Bahamas, it’s going to be an historic moment too. So we know that while the countries are getting ready to make their way here, we are doing everything to make sure that their stay is a very comfortable one.” With one or two new facilities being erected for the games, Miller said the National Sports Authority, headed by its chairman Lynden Maycock, has done everything to ensure that they are up to the international standards. “I believe the NSA is setting a standard of what it means to have the facilities maintained to the highest level,” Miller said.
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