The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IT’S not how you start, nor how you get there. Most importantly, it’s how you finish.

• The Finish Line, a weekly column, seeks to comment on the state of affairs in the local sports scene, highlighting the highs and the lows, the thrills and the spills and the successes and failures.

THE WEEK

THAT WAS

THE Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation should be given high marks for the staging of the National Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation’s Championships.

The Melia Nassau Beach Resort ballroom was jam-packed as the spectators watched some of the finest men and women strut their stuff on the stage to secure the various national crowns in the bodybuilding, physique, fitness and bikini competitions.

The event also serves as a qualifier for the federation, which is now in the process of selecting its team to represent the Bahamas at the Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island September 24-27.

What I liked about the proceedings surrounding the Nationals was the fact that the federation took the time out to honour veteran bodybuilders Della Thomas and Aaron Greene. Another icon, Raymond Tucker, was called to the stage to assist in the awards presentation.

Both Thomas and Greene are legends in the sport. Not only have they participated and won numerous titles on both the local and international scene, but they have also assisted in the training of many of the bodybuilders who have gone on to excel in the sport over the years.

And while Thomas has been credited with being the first female bodybuilder to win a gold medal at the CAC, she also teamed up with Tucker to win a few titles in the mixed competition. They were a formidable duo during their era. Greene, on the other hand, has been a household name in the men’s competition.

What’s so interesting to note about the nationals and to a greater extent, the CAC Championships, the women competitors no longer compete in bodybuilding but rather they are confined to physique, fitness, figure and bikini. What a contrast to yester-year when the competitors all lined up to go through their routine before the posedown showdown in just the bodybuilding aspect.

The men still compete in bodybuilding, but I don’t know if there is that much difference in the physique and fitness as it is for the women. Maybe it’s just me, but I would think that you would look to see more leaner competitors than those who are beefed up competing outside of the bodybuilding segment.

On top of that, I would like to see more energy put in the routines that is displayed by the fitness competitors. I think the bodybuilders are still bringing more to the stage in their routines than the other competitors. Again, this is just my own personal observation.

Aside from that, other than getting off to a late start, which was attributed to the long line of persons waiting to pay to get in and some last minute paper work that had to be completed, the federation should be commended for putting on a fantastic show. Despite the fact that it was long, which probably could not have been avoided with the amount of contestants entered, newly elected president Joel Stubbs and his executive board must be singled out for their efforts.

Looking forward to the CAC Championships, where the competition will be at a much higher level where the competitors will all be competing for their professional cards. If the nationals was any indication, you can expect to see some fierce competition from the best bodybuilders around the region.

KUDOS TO MIKE

SANDS

At the North American and Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Championships in San Juan, Puerto Rico, over the weekend, not only did the Bahamas win five medals, but Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations president Mike Sands has been elevated to a higher office, elected as the first vice president.

Sands easily won 19-9 over Noel Lynch of Barbados to join the executive board that will be led by Victor Lopez, who will begin his first term as the president after taking over from the late Neville ‘Teddy’ McCook back in 2012. Congratulations also extended to Garth Gayle, the general secretary and Alain Jean-Pierre, the treasurer.

I believe that Sands will bring a high level of enthusiasm to the NACAC board and the region under the leadership of Lopez, a proven leader in his own rights. His landslide victory shows the level of respect that his peers have for him in the region.

However, with the BAAA expected to go to the polls in November to elect its new executive board for the next three years, it will be interesting to see if Sands seeks another term as president. There are some who have been agitating for him to be replaced and there are others who wish to see him return.

Sands has indicated that he intends to wait until the completion of the IAAF World Championships before he makes a decision on whether or not he will run again. Maybe, he’s looking at what transpires in Beijing, China with Team Bahamas as he also has some mending with some of the athletes, even though they don’t get to cast a vote.

In the meantime, we must commend our medallists, Trevor Barry and Ryan Ingraham, silver and bronze in the men’s high jump respectively, Leevan ‘Superman’ Sands, bronze medallist in the men’s triple jump, LaToy Williams, Alonzo Russell, Wesley Neymour and Ramon Miller, silver in the men’s 4 x 400m relay and Lanece Clarke, Christine Amertil, Katrina Seymour and Adanaca Brown, bronze in the women’s 4 x 400m relay.

THE WEEK

AHEAD

The BAAA has finalised a list of 25 athletes who will carry the Bahamas flag at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China. The team is scheduled to leave on Monday for the championships set for August 24-31.

The Bahamas has three of the four relay teams qualified with the men’s 4 x 100m falling short of a spot. The focus therefore will be on the men’s 4 x 400m and both the women’s 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m.

No definite decision has been made by the BAAA on whether or not Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown will be allowed to compete in the 400m. Although he still has the second fastest time this year behind new national record holder Steven Gardiner, the BAAA has not made a decision on whether or not he will compete or if they will stick with the top three finishers at the Nationals - Gardiner, Michael Mathieu and LaToy Williams.

By now, a decision should have been made as it’s only a week to go before the global competition gets underway.

Just a week ago, Shaunae Miller made the decision that she will be joining American Allyson Felix in what is anticipated to be a great match-up in the women’s 400m. Now she can go to Beijing with her mind clear and her focus on the goal ahead of her.

• Next week, I will provide a prediction on Team Bahamas going into the championships.