The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Kids’ Athletics Academy hosted its first road race on Saturday and, judging from the participation of both the competitors and the spectators, organisers are already looking forward to the second annual event next year.

The event was used to help provide an impetus for the decline in road races. It was the first time that the younger age group competitors got a chance to compete in a road race with the facilities providing the spectators to watch from the sidelines.

Depending on their age groups for boys and girls from under-7 to under-13, the competitors got to compete in a shorter to a longer distance covering a 600 metres to a one-mile race around a designated one lap course.

Winning the under-13 boys’ one-mile race was Omari Collison, a 12-year-old student at St Anne’s High School, who got out front of the pack in the first 400m, taking the first turn ahead of everybody as he maintained his position for the victory.

“It was good. It was really long and hard, but after I started out front, I just tried to stay ahead,” Collison said. “It was good. The competition was good. I enjoyed it.”

Melina Andorra, a 12-year-old student of St Andrew’s, easily topped the field in the under-13 girls’ division as she too took the early lead and never relinquished it. “It was good. It was a good run,” she said. “It was well organised. I liked it.”

Other divisional winners were Nasia Brown (under-7 girls), John Rolle (under-7 boys), Devin Coffy-Bethel (under-9 girls), Justin Brooks (under-9 boys), Iesha Sylvester (under-11 girls) and Peter Sylvester (under-11 boys).

Race organiser Sherry Murray-Francis said the event far exceeded her expectations.

“I think the event went pretty well. We had a great turnout. The parents came out in full support and the coaches from the various clubs supported it very well,” she said. “Everybody gave back a lot of great reviews, the kids had a good time and we saw some outstanding performances.”

The former premier female distance runner said the future looks good for the distance programme in the Bahamas, if more emphasis can be placed on events such as the cross country and road running seasons, which help to develop the athletes during the off season.

“It was really good. It surpassed my expectations. I was overwhelmed. I had butterflies all night. I couldn’t sleep. I was hoping and praying that it was a success and with God’s will, it came off and it was beautiful.”

Murray-Francis said they are looking forward to making the event bigger and better next year.

Donaldson, president of the BHRA, said he was so impressed with what he saw from the Kids’ Athletics Academy’s initiative that he hopes that other clubs will follow suit and utilise the facilities.

“I know this is just the first of many,” he said. “So we want to thank Kids’ Athletics for using the facilities and we look forward to some of the other clubs, if you have a need, to come out and use our facilities.

“It’s good to see all the kids doing positive things. This is what we need to do with a lot of young people in the nation. So this was good to have all of the young kids doing something positive and letting them feel proud of themselves as we try to make our place a better place.”

Donaldson also extended an invitation for the public to come back out on December 1 when the BHRA is scheduled to hold a a drag car racing event to officially christen the track.

Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ president Mike Sands and Bahamas Track and Field Coaches Association president Curtis Pride were both on hand and were quite impressed as well with what he saw as they presented some of the winners with their awards.

Here’s a look at the results of the Kids’ Athletics Academy First Road Race:

Under-7 girls

Nasia Brown, Janae Cooper, Danielle Moore, Lazara Colebrooke, Briana Cartwright, Devia Ferguson, Britany Cartwright, Iesha Hanna and Dominique Neymour

Under-7 boys

John Rolle, Johnathan Sweeting, Tyrone Cunningham, Breckke Kemp, Atarri Moss, Trayvon Moree, Avian Pride, Demian Brice and Andre Rolle

Under-9 girls

Devin Cuffy-Bethel, Millar Pierre, Brianna Kemp, Leajha Williamson, Makayla Kerr, Cherishe Walker, Hally Robinson, Nya Wright, Shadawn Bain and Kendira Munroe

Under-9 boys

Justin Brooks, Cadin King, Daniel Clivio, Kashon Conliffe, Tumaini Skinner, Daniel Ermilus, Michael Cartwright, Jayden Miller, Ryan Ferguson and Shariq Mitchell

Under-11 girls

Iesha Sylvester, Petronique Conliffe, Kherah Storr, Yukari Joseph, Raquel Russell, Shannon Donaldson, Llonzita Chea, Shamica Carey, Jada Ritchie and Paige Stuart (tied) and Kasha Neely

Under-11 boys

Peter Sylvester, Lamarre Jean Louis, Cameron Marshall, Nathan Duncan, Elijah Mitchell, Avery Adderley, Matthew Elliott, Calvin Dean, Curtis Pride and Jamal McKinney

Under-13 girls

Melina Andorra, Indea Cartwright, Allison Taylor, Sierra Sears, Lakille Kintea, Maya Miller, Allyandria Johnson, Alicia Johnson, Deante Wright and Paige Gilbert

Under-13 boys

Omari Collison, Nathan Burrows, Devonte Newbold, Brandon Adderley, Benjamin Clarke, Ruben Cooper, Jamal Hunt, Fredrico King, Jahmal Brown and Terrio Beckles