The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH the Age Group Championships set for this weekend at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium, Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ president Mike Sands is expressing concern for the lack of athletes registered to compete in the two-day meet.

The meet is scheduled for Friday and Saturday and will serve as the trials for the Central American and Caribbean Age Group Championships scheduled for July 18-19 in Trinidad & Tobago where the Bahamas will be out to defend its 2013 title won in Willemstad, Curacao.

It marked the third time that the Bahamas captured the event held every other year, winning back-to-back in 2001 in Grand Bahama and 2003 in Puerto Rico.

“We’re only allowed to carry eight people because it is a multiple event,” Sands said. “But the trials will serve as the first qualifier because by the time the team is ready to travel, we know that kids fall off and go on vacation. So we will look at identifying a group of kids in each age group category and then we will have the coaches work specifically with them before we make the final cut.

“Like all of our national teams, we will have to revisit the team selection to see how many kids actually compete in the multiple events and then we will identify the training squad before we come up with the final team selection.”

The Age Group Championships, scheduled to start around 1pm Friday and Saturday, will be geared for athletes aged 13-14 in the A Group and 11-12 in the B Group.

The A boys compete in the 80 metres, 1,200m, 80m hurdles, high jump, long jump, softball throw and baseball throw to complete the heptathlon. The girls heptathlon is made up of the 80m, 1,000m, 60m hurdles, high jump, long jump and both the softball and baseball throws.

The B group contests the pentathlon, which includes the 60m, 800m, high jump, long jump and baseball throw for boys, while the girls compete in the 60m, 800m, high jump, long jump and baseball throw.

However, Sands said that with only a few days left before the trials take place, the number of participants are slightly down.

“This is most disappointing when we consider the number of ‘little ones’ that are members of clubs that participate in daily practice sessions and regular meets throughout the season,” Sands said. “Notwithstanding that the national championships are individual/independent entries, history has shown that many athletes and parents rely on the coaches and clubs to register the athlete(s), as is done for all other meets. “I therefore implore each of you as coaches and administrators to ensure that your athlete(s) are registered before the deadline of (today), Tuesday, June 2 so as to ensure that no athlete is disenfranchised by not being registered.”

As the meet serves as a trial for the CAC Age Group Championships, Sands is encouraging the athletes to compete in the meet this weekend.

“Additionally, I also take this opportunity to ask each of you to give the same consideration of ensuring that your junior athletes are also registered ahead of the deadline for the Junior Championships, which has been extended to Tuesday, June 8,” Sands said.

Athletes can register at the BAAA office at the TAR stadium or online at www.baaabahamas.com.