SPORTS SECTION E
TUESDAY, JULY 25, 2017
BAAA finalising team for London Worlds By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
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ith just about 11 days before the start of the 16th IAAF World Championships in London, England, the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations is still waiting to finalise its team. There are only eight athletes who have attained the qualifying standards for their respective individual events, but team manager Maybeline Miller said they are looking at taking at least 30 athletes, the others for relay duties, if they are not invited by the IAAF to compete in an individual event. Already qualified to compete in an individual event are: • Shaunae Miller-Uibo – women’s 200 and 400 metres • Anthonique Strachan – women’s 200m • Ty’Nia Gaither – women’s 200m • Janae Ambrose – women’s 200m • Devynne Charlton – women’s 100m hurdles • Teray Smith – men’s 200m • Steven Gardiner – men’s 400m • Donald Thomas – high jump
Miller, the BAAA assistant secretary general, said the BAAA has submitted the names of five other athletes to the IAAF prior to Sunday’s deadline for consideration into an individual event. So far, she said they have only gotten a response for national record holder Bianca Stuart, who was added to the list for the women’s long jump. Miller, however, declined to give the names of the other four whose names were submitted. But she said they expect to get a decision from the IAAF by Wednesday when they will officially name the team, including those who will travel for relay duties. “We are looking at about a 30-member team when we make the official announcement,” Miller said. “We are just waiting for the IAAF to confirm the names that we have submitted.” Miller will head the management team that includes co-team manager Carl Oliver, assistant
manager Sharon Gardiner, head coach Dianne Woodside-Johnson, relay coordinator Rupert Gardiner, assistant coaches Ronald Cartwright, Everette Fraser and Jason Edwards. The team doctor is Keir Miller and he will be assisted by Eugenia Patton and Bernique Hanna. Without releasing all of the names on the team, Miller said the list they have on paper is a solid one. “The team looks pretty good. I think we’re going to do exceptionally well when we get there,” she projected. “We have three persons individually on the team who I am actually looking to get on the podium. We have Shaunae MillerUibo, who is pursuing the women’s 200 and 400m double, Steven Gardiner in the men’s 400m and Devynne Charlton in the women’s 100m hurdles. I’m looking for them to lead the team, but everybody will do very well.” Once they have finalised the list, Miller said she anticipates that the relay teams will all live up to their expectations as potential finalists and medal hopefuls. “We just want to get everything into London so that the relay teams can work on their baton exchanges,” she said. “I think we are
going to do extremely well.” Miller said the BAAA was hoping to put together a relay camp this week, but that didn’t materialise. She said they would have to wait until they assemble the team in London for the coaches to work with them. The team is scheduled to leave on Monday, July 31 and return home on August 14. The championships are scheduled for Friday, August 4 to Sunday, August 13. In 2015 at the 15th championships in Beijing, China, MillerUibo clinched the silver in the women’s 400m in 49.67 behind American Allyson Felix (worldleading 49.26) and Jeffery Gibson picked up a bronze in the men’s 400m hurdles in a national record time of 48.17. Their performances enabled the Bahamas to finish tied with Croatia on the medal chart with two each. The performances came after the Bahamas failed to win a medal at the 14th championships in 2013 in Moscow, Russia. Two years earlier in 2011 in Daegu, South Korea, at the 13th edition, Trevor Barry secured the lone medal – a bronze – in the
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Bringing home bronze By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas returned from the XIX Pan American Under-20 Track and Field Championships in Trujillo, Peru, with just one medal over the weekend. Martin Holland, competing in the men’s long jump, soared 7.66 metres or 25-feet, 1 3/4-inches on his sixth and final attempt for a bronze medal on day two of the three-day competition on Saturday. He had a series of jumps that included 7.05m (23-1 3/4), 7.65m (25-1 1/4), foul, 7.65m (25-1 3/4) and 7.56m (24-9 3/4). Ja’Mari Ward of the US won the gold with 7.77m (25-6) on his second attempt. Gabriel M dos San of Brazil got the silver with 7.73m (25-4 1/2) on his final attempt. Martin, who hails from Grand Bahama, also participated in the 200m where he was sixth in his heat in the preliminaries in 22.34 for 18th place overall as he failed to advance. Two Bahamians came close to getting on the podium as well in the men’s high jump, but Kyle Alcine (2.21m or 7-3) and Jyles Etienne (2.16m or 7-1) had to settle for fourth and fifth place respectively. Roberto Vilches of Mexico won the gold medal with 2.21m (7-3), Jermaine Francis of St Kitts & Nevis won the silver with 2.19m (7-2 ¼) and Justice Summerset of the USA got the bronze with 2.19m (7-2 1/4) as well. And Tamar Greene finished fifth in the men’s triple jump with his best of 15.35m (50-4 1/2) on his sixth and final attempt. His series of jumps included 15.26m (50-0 3/4), 15.26m (50-0 3/4), 15.09m
Martin Holland shines in long jump at Pan Am Under-20 Track & Field Championships
LONG jumper Martin Holland soared 7.66 metres or 25-feet, 1 3/4-inches on his sixth and final attempt to win bronze at the XIX Pan American Under-20 Track and Field Championships in Trujillo, Peru, over the weekend. (49-6 1/4), 14.98m (49-1 3/4) and 15.01m (49-3). In other events, Brianne Bethel advanced out of the preliminaries of the women’s 100 metres with a third place in her heat in 11.94 seconds for the seventh fastest time. However, she finished eighth in the final in 12.08. Bethel came back for the preliminaries of the 200m, but she didn’t finish her heat. Laquell Harris had a best toss of 11.55m (37-10 3/4) for eighth place in the women’s shot put final. Her best toss came on her fifth attempt. Her series of throws were 9.70m (31-10), 9.97m (32-8 1/2), 11.41m (37-5 1/4), foul, 11.55m (37-10 3/4) and another foul. American Alyssa Wilson secured the gold with 17.70m (58-1)
on her third attempt, while Maria Orozco of Mexico got the silver with 16.57m (54-4 1/2) and Samantha Noening of the US got the bronze with 15.66m (51-4 1/2). Harris also doubled up in the discus with a 12th place finish with 43.14m (141-6) on her third attempt. She did 39.34m (129-1) on her first and fouled her second attempt. Laulauga Collin of the US won the gold with 59.29m (194-6) on her sixth and final attempt. Alma Pollorena of Mexico won the silver with 53.68m (176-1) on her fourth attempt. Gabrielle Rains of Canada was the bronze medallist with 53.6m (174-1) on her sixth attempt. Daejha Moss was ninth in the women’s long jump with a leap of
5.54m (18-2 1/4) on her third attempt. She also had leaps of 5.21m (17-1 1/4) on her first attempt and 5.43m (17-9 3/4) on her second attempt. Tara Davis of the US won the gold with 6.51m (21-4 1/4). Tissanna Hickling of Jamaica took the silver with 6.36m (20-10 1/2) and Tyra Gittens of Trinidad & Tobago was the bronze medallist with 6.22m (20-5). Moss also contested the high jump where she was 12th in her specialty with 1.65m (5-5). Maria Murillo of Colombia won the gold with 1.85m (6-0 3/4). Jelena Bowe of the US was the silver medallist with 1.82m (5-11 1/2) and Mikell Oatis of Canada got the bronze with 1.82m (5-11 1/2).
30TH JEFF RODGERS SUMMER BASKETBALL CAMP GETS UNDERWAY By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net AS they approach another milestone, the 30th edition of the Jeff Rodgers Summer Basketball camp got underway yesterday and organisers expect it to be another landmark event. This year’s camp will operate from the courts on the outside of the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium due to scheduling conflicts, but Rodgers said it is shaping up to be just as exciting as it has been in the past with a number of international stars expected to participate throughout the weeks of activities. “We are excited and
thank God for allowing us to reach this milestone. I’m already excited about it, the kids from the first day have been excited. Despite the change in dates we have been able to move on,” he said. “Normally the camp starts the last week in June but because of a busy schedule with the facilities we had to adjust. But now that we have started, we’ve started with a bang, Everything is in place, we have a loyal group of instructors and parents so, so far so good.” The camp is designed for boys and girls aged 5-18 and will be conducted from 9am to 1pm, Monday through Friday and concludes on August 10. “We have a list of special
JEFF RODGERS events scheduled for the kids. Away from basketball we will take them on a field trip, we have other treats for them and then of course the last week with fun night and the weekend. We just want to keep the focus on the kids, once we can teach them the skills about life and follow it up about basketball we can have a good
camp,” Rodgers said. Since 1987 Rodgers has staged the camp which provides an opportunity for the young children to engage in some wholesome sporting activities during the summer months. At the same time, they get to develop their skills. A number of the instructors got their start in the camp as participants. But Rodgers said they went on to develop their skills and they have returned to lend their expertise to the younger players who are following in their footsteps. This year some of the camp instructors will include Leo Morris, current Niagara college standout Van Hutchinson Jr, Quentin Demeritte, and
women’s national team member, fresh off her appearance at the Centrobasket tournament in USVI, Phylicia Kelly. “The message for the camp is building healthy bodies with a positive mind because the one thing I know is that basketball will only carry you so far in life but you have to understand that you have to balance it,” Rodgers said. “Yes you are going to learn the fundamentals but you have to be respectful, do your school work, Christian values, some simple basic things that we know will take them through life. These things carry over on the court and off the court so these values are very important to us.”
NAUGHTY
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WOMEN’S NATIONAL SOFTBALL TEAM BLANKS ISRAEL 10-0 By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas women’s national team went on a scoring rampage as they blanked Israel in their opening game of the XII Junior World’s Softball World Championships in Clearwater, Florida. The team, managed by Stephen ‘Bishop’ Beneby, pulled off a 10-0 win over Israel to post a 1-0 win-loss record. It was the second straight loss for Israel who got stopped 22-0 in three innings by the top ranked Japanese team earlier in the day. Shane Albury, one of the coaches, said the team performed exceptionally well. “We feel good about the team. The team played very well,” said Albury, who coached from third base while D’Kyle Rolle coached from first base. “We had one or two errors but I must say, for the most part, the team gave a tremendous effort. With this being the first game, to get our first win in this type of tournament, we have to be extremely pleased with their performances.” Albury, however, said the final outcome was not surprising. “As coaches, we looked at the team earlier this morning and we saw one or two things that they are capable of doing,” he said. “We were not surprised that we put up that many runs on that team.” The Bahamas scored four runs in the bottom of the second, three more in the third and another in the fourth to stop the game via the 10-run rule. Valencia Gibson was the winning pitcher as she posted a 0.00 earned run average with four hits and three strike outs in the 14 batters she faced in the four innings. Stuchevki Alisa gave up 14 hits, 10 earned, while walking four and striking out two in suffering the loss with a 19.09 ERA. Centrefielder Denisha Woodside, as the lead-off batter, was a perfect 3-for3 with three runs scored, shortstop Kendalia Turner was 2-for-2 with three runs, first sacker Sari Albury was also 2-for-2 with four runs batted in (RBI) and one scored, catcher Dachye Stubbs was 1-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored, left fielder Danbasjah Hield was 1-for-3 with a RBI and second sacker Shawnte Curtis was also 3-for-3 with a RBI and a run scored. Other players in the starting lineup were third sacker Altavia Hall, right fielder Aliyah Ferguson and designated player Rhema Otabor. Monet Cartwright, Sophia Cartwright, Antonia Cooper, Ramona Hanna, Eilyah Johnson and Mia Turner are other members on the team. At 9am today, the Bahamas will be back in action against Brazil before they play a 4pm double header against Peru. Their fourth game will be played at 11am Wednesday against Australia. And on Thursday, they will close out their round robin play after taking on Japan at 6:30pm. “We’re looking forward to some good games and hopefully some more wins,” Albury said. “We have a really tough bracket, but from what I’ve seen, we will have some wonderful games against Japan, Brazil, Peru and the Netherlands. “We’re looking forward to the challenge and we’re looking forward to some good softball.”