The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THERE was a lot of excitement yesterday at the Lynden Pindling International Airport as one by one, teams arrived for the IAAF/BTC World Relays Bahamas 2015 at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium this weekend.

The Jamaican team drew a lot of attention as persons waited patiently hoping to get a glimpse at the world’s fastest man and woman - Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. But both athletes arrived on a private jet and were not a part of the team when they showed up. Missing from the Jamaican team were nine athletes who withdrew at the last minute.

But team manager Marie Tavares said the Jamaicans are all looking to do what they do best. “What else can you expect?” Tavares asked jokingly. “We are here to perform just like we perform in any meet we go to. It’s going to be exciting.”

Touching on the pull out by Elaine Thompson, Janieve Russell, Kemarley Brown, Julian Forte, Andrew Fisher, Sherica Jackson, Christania Williams, Andre Thomas and Jeromia Riley, Tavares said they will be missed, but the show must still go on.

“They just came back from the Penn Relays and so I guess they wanted to take a break,” Tavares said. “They are all from the same club, so I guess the coach wanted them to fully recuperate.”

Teams from a number of countries also arrived yesterday. The Dominican Republic came in with the men’s 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 and coach Osa Rubio said the goal is to make the A finals.

“I think it’s very good for the area and it’s good that the Bahamas is hosting it,” Rubio said. “It was good last year and so we know it will be even more exciting this year.”

Coach Anthony McCleary has a team of 26 athletes from Canada and the native of Jamaica said he’s looking for them to put on a show.

“We are here to do the job that we are supposed to do. We want to be in the top eight because the top eight qualify for the Olympics, so that is our goal here,” said McCleary, whose athletes will compete in both the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 as well as the women’s 4 x 800. “The islands are also so nice, so we are looking forward to being here.”

So was every team and athlete who walked through the airport to the bus terminal to be transported to the Games Village.