The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHILE they wait for the Bahamas Olympic Committee to release the names of the athletes ratified for the 2016 Olympic Games next month in Rio de Janeiro, the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations is busy sending off its junior and youth national teams this week.

“We expect for all of the teams travelling to perform very well,” said BAAA public relations officer Philip Gray.

In fact, the Caribbean Union Teachers’ 40-member team, sponsored by the Bahamas Union of Teachers, will be leaving today for Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

The team’s head coach is Stephen Murray, assisted by Luther Rolle. On Sunday (Independence Day) the team worshipped at Holy Trinity Anglican Church before they departed for the championship.

“We feel that the CUT team stand a good chance of winning,” Gray said.

Also today, a 17-member team will be leaving for El Salvador to participate in the NACAC Under-23 Championships.

Betty Christie will serve as the head coach and Patrick Adderley will travel as the head coach. The team members worshipped at Calvary Bible Church on Sunday.

Included on the team are Tayla Carter, Carmiesha Cox, Pedrya Seymour, Tadisha Pinder, Ian Kerr, Anthony Adderley, Stephen Newbold, Ashley Riley, Jameko Cartwright, Maverick Newbold, Lathone Collie, Andre Colebrooke and Drexel Maycock.

“We have some very confident and capable athletes and our relay teams should be very strong, so we expect a few medals there,” Gray said.

And on Friday, a 13-member team will travel to Poland for the World Juniors on Friday.

Margo Major is the team manager. Ravanno Ferguson is head coach and Ednol Rolle is his assistant. They worshipped on Sunday at Kemp Road Ministries.

Among the list of competitors expected to make the trip are Jenae Ambrose, Shaquania Dorsett, Sasha Wells, Charisma Taylor, Devine Parker, Kendrick Thompson, Henry Delauze, Holland Martin, Tavonte Mott, Shakeem Smith, Branson Rolle, Kenard Rolle and Samson Colebrooke.

“This is a very good team,” Gray said. “We are looking at Devine Parker and Tavonte Mott to be our best medal prospects, but we are also looking at getting some medals in the relays.”

The three teams will set the tone for the big team that will follow when the selection is made for the Olympic team going to Rio in August. Some members of the NACAC team should be named to the Olympic team.