The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

SINCE the inception of the Caribbean Free Trade Association (Carifta) in Bridgetown, Barbados, in 1972, Jamaica has dominated the regional track and field meet, winning 36 of the 41 titles, including their 27th straight last year in Hamilton, Bermuda.

The Bahamas was the last country to win the title, taking a back-to-back feat in 1983 in Fort-de-France, Martinique, here at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium in 1984. The Bahamas also got two straight in 1980 in Bermuda and here in 1981. The only other country to win the title was Bermuda in 1975 in Hamilton.

Last year, Jamaica compiled a total of 78 medals, inclusive of 34 gold, 25 silver and 19 bronze to distance the Bahamas’ second place finish with 14 gold, 14 silver and 12 bronze for their total of 40, well ahead of Trinidad & Tobago, who captured six gold, nine silver and seven bronze for their total of 22.

As the quest for the BTC Carifta 2013 title looms closer with just about a week left before the three-day competition takes place at the new Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium, host Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ president Mike Sands said the Bahamas will be hard pressed to dethrone Jamaica, but they will be ready.

“At the end of the day, we have to look at our overall performances and use Jamaica as a good measuring ground,” he said. “We have to adopt some of the things that they are doing. I think a lot of their programmes are school-based, but also I’m often teased by my friends that we have great athletes, but no money. They have plenty money, but they don’t have as many athletes.

“Funding plays a significant role. I think our coaches have been doing a tremendous job, particularly because they are doing it on a part-time basis. The question is a little more deeper. We have to look at those areas in which we have not been improving to the extent that we could get better.”

The Bahamas continues to improve in the sprints, as evident by the successes in events from the 100 and 400 metres. But Sands said more emphasis could be placed on the distance events where the Bahamas has struggled to win a medal in recent years.

“Our field programme is adequate, but it can improve. We are finding more diamonds in the rough and in depth wise, we are getting better and better with our teams. But if I had more funding available to us, I think it would go a long way in ensuring that the coaches have the resources and the facilities to better prepare our athletes.”

Although they had originally planned a ‘Talent Search’ to recruit more athletes, Sands said the BAAA wasn’t able to get it off the ground until last month and that was mainly for the field events.

But he noted that with the repairs simultaneously to both the old and new TAR stadiums, the coaches were not able to work with the field competitors as much as they would have liked.

Even though a 70-member team has been selected with Greg Cash as the head coach and Fritz Grant as the advisor, Sands said the Bahamas will have the luxury of all the local coaches being accredited so that they can work with their athletes right up to the time that they are to report to the call room to compete in the games.

And if that isn’t sufficient, Sands said the Bahamas will be hosting the event, which should provide the incentive for the athletes to perform at a higher level before they will have their parents and friends in the stands at the stadium cheering for them.

One key aspect for the Bahamas is the fact that sprinter Anthonique Strachan has won the past two Austin Sealy Awards as the most outstanding athlete. Four other athletes have accomplished the feat, led by sprinter Mary Ann Higgs in 1978, javelin thrower Lavern Eve back-to-back in 1982 and 1983, quarter-miler Pauline Davis-Thompson in 1984 and sprinter Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie in 1995.

No male athlete from the Bahamas has achieved the honour, but Raymond Higgs (under-20 boys high jump - 2.21m in 2009 and under-17 boys high jump in 2.13m in 2007), Latario Collie-Minns (under-20 boys triple jump - 16.35m in 2012), Aaron Wilmore (under-17 boys 100m hurdles - 12.88), Stephen Newbold (under-17 boys 400m hurdles - 52.75 in 2010) are all in the record books.

They are joined on the female side by Tamicka Clarke (under-20 100m - tied n the heats with Jamaican Aileen Bailey in 1998), Anthonique Strachan (under-20 200 - 22.85 in 2012), Daphne Saunders (under-20 long jump - 6.39m in 1989), Shaunae Miller (under-17 400m - 53.36 in 2010), Jackie Edwards (under-17 long jump - 6.14m in 1987).

This will mark the seventh time that the Bahamas has played host to the games - the first in 1976, followed in 1978, 1981, 1984, 1992 and again in 2002. The Bahamas, Barbados and Jamaica are tied with hosting the games the most - seven times. Trinidad is next with six.