The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ National Open Track and Field Championships is all set to be held on Friday and Saturday at the new Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

The event will follow on the heels of the BAAAs Junior Nationals, scheduled for today and Thursday at the original Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium and just before the BAAAs Gala Awards Banquet for 2015 will be held at the Melia Hotel.

The National Open will serve as the final trials for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and will have some interesting match-ups, just as there will be for the Junior Nationals.

Unlike the Jr Nationals, which will be divided into the under-18 and under-20 categories for both the boys and girls, the National Open will feature just the open men’s and women’s division.

• Here’s a look at the top competitors going into the National Open, based on the rankings as released by Trevor Moss.

Women’s Division

100m – Top two contenders – Tynia Gaither and Lanece Clarke. Others included are Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, Jermeka McBride, Nivea Smith, Tayla Carter, Sheniqua Ferguson, Petra McDonald, Kaziah Rolle and Andira Ferguson.

200m – Top two contenders – Shaunae Miller and Anthonique Strachan. Others included are Carmeisha Cox, Tynia Gaither, Sheniqua Ferguson, Jermeka McBridge, Kaziah Rolle, Shericka Treco, Nivea Smith and Jenae Ambrose.

400m – Top two contenders – Shaunae Miller and Shaquania Dorsett. Others included are Lanece Clarke, Katrina Seymour, Christine Amertil, Rashan Brown, Aaliah Richardson, Miriam Byfield, Shaunte Miller and Shakieths Henfield.

800m – Top two contenders – Teshon Adderley and Miriam Byfield. The other contender is Itsa Smith.

100m hurdles – Top two contenders – Pedrya Seymour and Ivanique Kemp. Others included are Charisma Taylor, Krystal Bodie, Mesha Newbold and Petra McDonald.

400m hurdles – Top two contenders – Katrina Seymour and Mesha Newbold. Another contender is Daejha Moss.

High jump – Top two contenders – Kenya Culmer and Mesha Newbold. Another contender is Daejha Moss.

Long jump – Top two contenders – Bianca Stuart and Charisma Taylor. Other contenders are Andira Ferguson, Aaliah Richardson and Tamara Myers.

Triple jump – Top two contenders – Danielle Gibson and Charisma Taylor. Another contender is Tamara Myers.

Shot put – Top contender – Selena Brown.

Discus – Top two contenders – Ashley Oembler and Selena Brown.

Javelin – Top contender – Carlene Johnson.

Men’s Division

100m – Top two contenders – Adrian Griffith and Shavez Hart. Other contenders are Jamial Rolle, Kevin Snead, Blake Bartlett, Tadashi Pinder, Johnathan Farquharson, Cliff Resias, Teray Smith and Stefan Hall.

200m – Top two contenders – Shavez Hart and Blake Bartlett. Other contenders are Adrian Griffith, Jamial Rolle, Teray Smith, Elroy McBridge, Ian Kerr, Kevin Snead, Anthony Adderley and Stefan Hall.

400m – Top two contenders – Demetrius Pinder and Alonzo Russell. Other contenders are Chris Brown. Steven Gardiner, LaToy Williams, Michael Mathieu, Wesley Neymour, Steven Newbold, Khari Herbert and Shavez Hart.

800m – Top two contenders – James Carey and Claudius Russell. Other contenders are Krisof Murphy, Zelmon Knowles, Glen Knowles, Philip Armbrister and Glenroy Newton.

1,500m – Top two contenders – Oneil Williams and Darren Young. The other contender is Glen Knowles.

5,000m – Top contender – Matthew Grammatico.

110m hurdles – Aaron Wilmore and Alexander Storr. The other contender is D’Chaz Moss.

400m hurdles – Top two contenders – Jeffery Gibson and Andre Colebrooke. Other contenders are Ramon Neilly, D’Mitry Charlton, Alexander Storr and Desmond Major.

High jump – Top two contenders – Donald Thomas and Trevor Barry. Other contenders are Jyles Etienne, Blayre Fernander, Jamaal Wilson, Ryan Ingraham and D’Chaz Moss.

Long jump – Top two contenders – Ubio Maicel and Drayton Rolle. Other contenders are Lamar Delaney, Oral Rolle, Troy Bullard, Alfredo Smith, Rashad Moxey, Holland Martin, Adrian Griffith and Raymond Higgs.

Triple jump – Top two contenders – Latario and Lathone Collie. Other contenders are Jameison Pratt, Leevan Sands and Holland Martin.

Shot put – Top two contenders - Malik Stuart and Ubio Maicel. Other contenders are Kyle Higgs, Frederick Laing, Drexel Maycock and Gerrard Burrows.

Discus – Top two contenders – Kyle Higgs and Malik Stuart. Other contenders are Ubio Maicel, Gerrard Burrows, Frederick Laing and Drexel Maycock.

Javelin – Top contender – Leonardo Romer.