SPORTS SECTION E
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2018
‘Bahamas Showcase’ gets stamp of approval By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net MINISTERS of Sports and Tourism, Lanisha Rolle and D’ionisio D’Aguilar respectively, put their stamp of approval on the return of the ‘Islands of the Bahamas Showcase’ for the third time in November by participating in a press conference for the visiting teams in Baltimore, Maryland, last Thursday. “To have two ministers from the Government of the Bahamas to introduce the tournament is priceless,” Global president and founder Brooks Downing said. “To discuss an early season event six weeks in advance from a very key market that’s important to the Bahamas is a win-win for everybody. “This is a great facility and we’re grateful to Towson for hosting this press conference.”
Jeff Rodgers, the local organiser, said Rolle and D’Aguilar were appreciative of the support they got from Towson University at the press conference in the SECU Arena for international dignitaries, athletic administrators and sponsors of the third annual tournament, scheduled for November 16-19 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium. “The purpose for us going there was to let the teams coming in know that the Bahamas Government is behind the event and we are going to do whatever it takes to make the event a successful one,” said Rodgers about the presence of Rolle and D’Aguilar. Also in attendance was Theo J Neilly from the Embassy Consular of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas in Washington, D.C. “We are really excited and we’re looking forward to having Towson participate in our event,” Rolle said. “There’s confidence in our
SHOWN (l-r) are Minister of Tourism Dionisio D’Aguilar, Minister of Sports Lanisha Rolle and Jeff Rodgers, of the Ministry of Tourism, in Baltimore last week.
country to be able to provide the experience that the players and coaches are looking for. “We were looking for an experience that not only the players benefit from but the locals as well with being able to interact with the student-athletes. I am looking for the tournament to be a tremendous experience and a memorable time.” The Towson University Tigers are one of eight programmes along with Montana, Incarnate Word, North Dakota State, Miami (Ohio), Florida Atlantic, Georgia Southern and Pepperdine that will compete in the showcase. “It’s fun to showcase our facility even though we’re not playing the game here,” Towson athletic director Tim Leonard said. “Whenever you have ministers from another country visit your campus and see what we have to offer is always
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Let the games begin By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net et the International Judo Federation’s World Junior Championships begin. Teams have been putting in their final practices yesterday in anticipation of the start of the four-day competition at 10am today in the Imperial Ballroom of the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island. The 492 registered judokas from 79 countries around the world are eagerly anticipating what should be an exciting competition. The Bahamas Judo Association, headed by D’Arcy Rahming Sr, has selected a 14-member team that will carry the Bahamas’ banner. The team is comprised of the following: Men - Jevon Bethel, -60kg; Desmond Bootle, -66kg; Davante Sweeting, -66kg; Andrew Munnings, -73kg; Dre Hall, -73kg; Desmondo Bootle, -81kg; Lyle Sherman, -81kg; Daleon Sweeting, -90kg and Larry Marshall, -100kg. Women - Jasmine Russell, -44kg; Mya Beneby, -57kg; Breanna Major, -70kg; Raven Pennerman, -70kg and Sasha Ingraham, +78 kg. James Millar is coaching a 15-member team here from Canada and it’s his expectations that they will return home with their share of the hardware. “We are looking at winning one to two medals and a few other athletes who could surprise us and get some medals,” Millar said. “This is a major junior competition, so this is a great opportunity for them to do very well before they turn seniors. “We have a couple of first-year juniors who have the potential but, for me, I’m not really focused on them. I just want them to go out there and give it their best shot. If they medal, they medal. If they
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THOMPSON 13TH OVERALL IN 400MH AT YOUTH OLYMPICS By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net WHILE the third Youth Olympic Games will come to a close on Thursday, the Bahamas ended competition yesterday with Matthew Thompson competing in the men’s 400 metre hurdles. On the final day of the athletic competition, Thompson placed sixth in the first of two heats in 55.38 seconds. Combined with his time of 55.43 in the first stage on Saturday, Thompson compiled an accumulative time of 1:50.81 for 13th place overall. Haruto Deguchi, of Japan, won the gold medal after he posted the fastest times in both stages of 51.40 and 51.28 for a total of 1:42.68. Daniel Huller of Hungary got the silver with times of 51.98 and 51.68 respectively for his total of 1:43.84. The bronze went to Mohammed Almuawi of the Republic of South Africa with 52.76 and 53.05 for his total of 1:45.81. The Bahamas was represented by a seven-member team, including five track and field athletes and two swimmers. Shaun Miller Jr had the highest ranking with seventh place in the men’s high jump. Adrian Curry ended up 11th in the men’s 100m and Raymond Oriakhi was 13th in the men’s 400m.
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UB MINGOES JUDO ATHLETES TO REPRESENT BAHAMAS
JUDO athletes practice yesterday at Atlantis. International Judo Federation’s World Junior Championships begin today. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff don’t, I just want them to give it their best shot.” While this is the first time that most of the Canadians will be appearing in the World Junior Championships, it’s their initial appearance in the Bahamas and Millar said they are enjoying every moment.
“For me, I think most tournaments should be ran like this with the training site and competition venue in the same location as the hotel,” he said. “It eliminates the stress for coaches and athletes. “So to be in such a beautiful place as the Bahamas makes it even better.”
Shady Elnahas, a 20-year-old leading the Canadian team as he competes in the -100 kg class, is making his debut in the global competition. “First of all, this is an amazing place,” he said about Atlantis. “I’ve done competitions
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Sawyer shines at Caribbean Cycling Championships By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net LORIN Sawyer was the lone representative from the Bahamas Cycling Federation to compete in the Caribbean Cycling Championships in the Dominican Republic last week. Sawyer, from Abaco, was accompanied by coach Rowshan Jones as he finished 14th overall in the 30 kilometre time trial race on Saturday, which enabled him to place eighth in the elite men’s division. A total of 16 Caribbean countries participated. “I’m super excited. It’s something that I dreamt about since I was a child. Never knew that I would get the opportunity, so the fact that I got to represent my country is an honour,” Sawyer said. He came back on Sunday and competed in a six-lap road race, but after he completed the fourth
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lap, he was unable to finish the course as he suffered a cramp going up a hill. “To be honest, I have mixed emotions about the way I performed,” Sawyer said. “When I think about how long I have been cycling, as opposed to everybody else who have been doing it a lot longer than me, I feel I did very well. “I can’t use it as an excuse, but it’s sad that the Bahamas doesn’t get the respect that it deserves in the sport of cycling. So I can’t be content with what I have done until the Bahamas becomes one of the top competitors in the sport of cycling.” Although he completed his first international event, Sawyer said he would have preferred if his performance was much better. “I have a long way to go, but at the same time I have a lot of improvement,” he pointed out. “I think within a year or two, I would get there.”
LORIN SAWYER, of Abaco, last week at the Caribbean Cycling Championships in the Dominican Republic.
Sawyer, however, said he won’t trade in the experience for anything in the world. “The journey here was great. Cycling is a different sport and it just changes your life to a more positive way of living and a healthier lifestyle,” he said. “So it’s been great and getting on the national team was just the icing on the cake.” With his first trip under his belt, Sawyer said he will definitely be working a lot harder to make more in the future. He admitted that he won’t rest on his laurels because there is a bigger picture ahead of him and that is competing at a level to win a medal. Jones felt that under the circumstances, Sawyer competed to the best of his ability and, based on what he saw, he feels that there is a bright future ahead of him, once he goes back to Abaco and applies himself to a more vigorous training programme.
DESMONDO Bootle, Dre Hall and Raven Pennerman, three University of the Bahamas Mingoes judo competitors, are expected to represent the Bahamas in the International Judo Federation’s Junior World Championships this week at the Atlantis resort. Bootle, a junior engineering major (Abaco Central High School), is expected to compete in the 81kg category and he says he’s ready to hit the mat. “I’m excited but I know I have to be more aggressive because the fighters out there are going to be way more experienced than me,” he said. “I have to be more aggressive than them and really dominate in the fight so that I don’t give them a chance to get their game and work their game plan. I’m going to have to out grip them and I have to be first to grip and attack so that I can be first to win.” Dre Hall, a freshman biology-chemistry major (Tabernacle Baptist Academy), said he knows he’s one of the shorter competitors but is using it to his advantage in the match. “I have to attack more because I’m usually a counter fighter but at this level I have to take the match to my opponent so that is something I will be working on,” said Hall, who will compete in the 73kg division. “I’m not changing much but we are just sharpening our skills to bring home the gold.” The lone female competitor from UB, Raven
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