The Tribune

NINE student athletes, who have distinguished themselves in track and field events, will join The College of The Bahamas’ athletics programme this fall.

On Sunday, the athletes signed letters of commitment in the first ever Signing Day held by the Athletics Department. Among the new student athletes are recent public and private school graduates as well as transfer students from Dickinson State University.

Kimberley Rolle, director of athletics, flanked by Dr Eslyn Jones, vice president of student affairs, COB coaches and Mike Sands, president of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations, expressed confidence in the progress and capacity of COB’s varsity teams and the new student athletes who will be joining the programme.

“We are very excited with the core of talent that we have before us. We believe that this group, in addition to who we have returning next year, will bring quite a bit of recognition to our athletics programme, particularly as we travel more and more to compete against colleges in the United States,” said Rolle.

Beginning in August, Selina Brown (discus, shot put), Naim Bourne (100/200m), Dominic Collie (100/200/400m), Justin Gray (100/200/long jump), Julio Jemison (400m), Clarence Major (100/200m), Perry Roberts (100/200m), Avery Thompson (110H) and Eyeissa Darville (400/800m) will pursue various academic programmes as student athletes at COB.

Each recruit has earned a level of excellence in their field. Jemison is the BAAA high school national senior boys 400m champion.

“What you see before you today is just the beginning of what will be a very productive programme as we continue to build and extend the athletics programme at The College of The Bahamas,” Rolle said.

Sands congratulated COB for its vision to build the athletics programme and characterised it as an ideal vehicle to retain elite Bahamian athletes.

“Jamaica has a programme where the vast majority, if not all of their elite athletes, stay home and they train. We are known as a small country with great athletes and it is because of the talent that comes from the coaches that they give to the athletes and the athletes maximise their abilities and their potential to cause this country to be known as a great country with great athletes,” he said.

Sands also urged the student athletes to use their athletic ability as leverage to earn a solid college education, become productive citizens and contribute to the growth and development of the Bahamas.

“I can assure you that when the team here is finished with your young men and women, they will become great athletes not just here in the Bahamas but, indeed, the world,” said Jones.

COB coaches Bradley Roberts and Mark Humes will train the new student athletes. They welcomed them to the college’s athletic family and urged them to remain focused on their respective goals.

Cooper, who started the track and field programme at COB, thanked the parents for investing in the college.

Since the programme’s inception, five track and field students have graduated, including noted thrower Julianna Duncanson, who was a member of the 2013 commencement class.

Duncanson has been offered a position as an assistant coach at Missouri Baptist College.

Cooper also spoke about the high quality of COB’s athletics and academics programmes.

“It is not a catwalk. COB is not the easiest place to walk through, but if you do your work, if you study you will get through the programme. You have to work for what you get here. Once you get a degree from COB, you have a top notch degree,” he noted.

Humes commended the group for choosing COB and helping to expand the base of elite athletes who train at home.

“Each of you was recruited because of your abilities, capabilities and your promise.

“Sometimes, most of these athletes who sometimes feel like they are top tier athletes, see it necessary to run away from the Bahamas to succeed and they go and light a fire in somebody else’s programme. You are going to be the pace- setters,” he said.

As each student-athlete signed the letter of commitment following the press conference in the Wellness Centre at COB’s Oakes Field Campus, they were supported by proud family members.