The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ON the heels of the final trials over the weekend at the new Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium, the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations named a 70-member team that will carry the Bahamas’ flag at the BTC Carifta Games over the Easter holiday weekend.

The team will comprise of 16 athletes in both the under-17 girls and boys divisions; 18 in the under-20 girls and 20 in the under-20 boys.

Based on an average of the fifth-place finishes from the past three Carifta Games, BAAA’s president said a seven-member selection committee, headed by statistician Ricardo Rolle, made the initial selection of the team.

It was then whetted and approved by the executives of the BAAA and then passed by the membership before the announcement was made yesterday at the BAAA’s office at the old TAR Stadium.

Rolle said that at least 60 percent of the team surpassed the qualifying standards.

“The team has been thoroughly selected. We believe these are the best persons in this season that will represent our country,” said head coach Greg Cash.

“We would just like to let everybody know that we are at home and we can’t just show up. We have to perform.

“It’s going to be a plus for us knowing that we have persons in the stands that’s going to be supporting us. So we’re asking each and every one of you, boy or girl, father, mother, uncle, aunt, cousin, whatever relation you may have with persons on the team as well as the nation on the whole, to come on board and let’s support team Bahamas.”

With the games being held as part of the Bahamas’ celebration of its 40th anniversary, Cash said they are anticipating a spectacular event, but it can’t be successful without the partnership of the entire Bahamas.

And team manger Doris Wood has gone on record as to predict that the Bahamas is going for the goal and that is the envious task of trying to dethrone Jamaica, who has dominated the top regional junior track and field meet for the past 24 years.

The last time Jamaica was beaten was in 1984 in the Bahamas. The Bahamas, however, last hosted the games in 2002.

“We are at home and we just want to say that we are proud of the coaching staff and we are home this year, so we would love to win Carifta,” she said. “We are going to win Carifta. With the help of all of these coaches, we are going to win Carifta.

“We need your support, especially from the coaches with your athletes.

We will set a time for you to speak to your athletes, but please, give the head coach and the coaches who are assigned to the team, the opportunity to deal with the athletes.”

Sands, in releasing the names of the athletes, said this is indeed the best team that the Bahamas could assemble at this time and they are quite pleased with the selection. There will be a meeting today at 6pm at the old TAR Stadium to appraise the coaches, athletes and parents of the way forward for Team Bahamas.

Additionally, Drumaco Archer, who is in charge of the BAAA’s Carifta organizing committee, said they are planning to stage a motorcade on Saturday, starting at 2 pm from the new TAR Stadium and traverse through the streets of New Providence, returning to the stadium for a pep rally.

There is also plans for the team to attend a Church service on Sunday at a venue to be announced.

Sands said they are hoping to include Team Bahamas swimming team in both events before they head off to Kingston, Jamaica to compete in the Carifta Swimming Championships over the Easter holiday weekend as well.

BAAA’s vice president Iram Lewis congratulated all of the members selected to the team, inclusive of the managers, coaches and athletes.

Later this week, he said the BAAA’s will announce the chaperons.

“We are no longer Star Trackers, Club Monica or the other clubs. This is now Team Bahamas and we want the athletes to get along as one,” he said. “We want the coaches to unite as one because we are at home and we want Jamaica that they will not do it in our house.

“This is our time. We are going to put the best team forward in a united front as we try to improve on the 40 medals we won last year. We just want the Bahamian people to come out and watch us. We want the public to partner with us as we expect some great performances from our team.”

Team Bahamas

Here’s a look at the team selected for Team Bahamas for the BTC Carifta Games:

Under-17 girls - Janae Ambrose, Simone Mason, Doneisha Anderson, Shaquania Dorsette, Amber Ford, Shante Russell, Andira Ferguson, Bria Sands, Celine Thompson, Brashae Wood, Serena Brown, Vashti Simmons, Jasmaine Sutherland, Brianne Bethel, Blayre Catalyn and Dreshanne Rolle.

Relays pool - Brianne Bethel, Blayre Catalyn, Dreshanne Rolle.Janae Ambrose, Simone Mason, Andira Ferguson, Doneisha Anderson, Amber Ford, Vashti Simmons and Shaquania Dorsette.

Under-17 boys - Keanu Pennerman, Schrann Cash, Kinard Rolle, Henry Deluze, Benjamin Najam, Donovan Clarke, Mikhail Bethel, Therico Rolle, Ken Mullings, Livingstone Bramwell, Tamar Greene, Travis Ferguson and Perry Adderley.

Relays pool - Javan Martin, Shalom Cash, Tyler Bowe, Keanu Pennerman, Schrann Cash, Kinard Rolle, Henry Delauze and Benjamin Najam.

Under-20 girls - Devynne Charlton, Carmeisha Cox, Shaunae Miller, Kadesha Hield, Jennaya Hield, Alexis Smith, Pedrya Seymour, Mesha Newbold, Danielle Gibson, Antonique Butler, Andriel Strachan, Ashley Oembler, Alexandria Marshall-Paul and Miquel Roach, Kieanna Albury, Makeya White, Juannae Lewis and Racheal Brown.

Relays pool - Kienna Albury, Makeya White, Juannae Lewis, Racheal Brown, Devynne Charlton, Carmiesha Cox, Shaunae Miller, Kadeisha Hield, Pedrya Seymour and Mesha Newbold.

Under-20 boys - Teray Smith, Cliff Resias, Stephen Newbold, Andre Wells, James Williams, Andre Colebrooke, Kirk Lewis, Xavier Coakley, Joshua Stubbs, D’Mitry Charlton, LaQuan Nairn, Ashton Butler, Drexel Maycock, Gerrard Burrows, Denzel Pratt, Charles Sealy, Desmond Major, Kaiwan Culmer, Ian Kerr and Janeko Cartwright.

Relays pool - Ian Kerr, Janeko Cartwright, Teray Smith, Cliff Resias, Stephen Newbold, James Williams, Kirk Lewis, Xavier Coakley, D’Mitry Charlton and Joshua Stubbs.