The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHILE the throwers didn’t get a chance to compete on the infield, three high jumpers took advantage of their opportunity to jump in the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium as they surpassed the Carifta qualifying standards at the T-Bird Flyers Track Classic.

The two-day meet, held on Friday and Saturday, saw the throwers competing on Saturday morning at the University of the Bahamas playing field because the infield of the new stadium was off limits to all competitors.

X-Treme Athletic teammates Benjamin Clarke soared 2 metres or 6-feet, 6 ¾-inches and Christopher Johnson did 1.90m (6-2 ¾) for first and second in the under-18 boys division to surpass and equal the qualifying mark of 1.90m (6-2 ¾).

And in the under-20 boys event, Kyle Alcime, another X-Treme Athletic athlete home from school at Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, Florida, cleared 2.05m (6-8 ¾) to match the qualifying height. He also attempted 2.08m (6-9 ¾), but fell short.

This year’s Carifta Games is set for April 15-17 in Curacao and all three competitors indicated that it’s their goal of representing the Bahamas in the biggest junior meet in the Caribbean.

“I came a bit late and so I had to catch up,” Alcime said. “Last year, I qualified, but I was left off the team by one centimeter so this year I hope I can redeem myself and make the team,” Alcime said.

“We all train together and we know everybody can jump, so it was good to come home and get this chance to compete with them. I hope that we can all go to Curacao in 2017.”

Clarke, a 15-year-old 10th grader at St Augustine’s College, said he felt he could have jumped higher, but after feeling a little twix in his leg, he decided to shut it down.

“It was a good competition. I just felt like I needed to hold my phrases a little longer,” said Clarke of his performance. “My approach was much smoother, but I just have to go back to the drawing board and brush up on a few things and by the Carifta trials, I should do my very best.”

Johnson, an 11th grader at Queen’s College, said he didn’t want to get left out of the excitement within their club,. Headed by coach Keno Demeritte.

“It feels good because I did it last year, so it’s good to come back and do it again,” Johnson said. “I just really have to work on my approach and my arch. Once I get them down pack, I should be ready to go.”

Although they competed away from the spotlight at the stadium, Jordan Lewis of the Blue Chip Throwers Club tossed the under-18 boys discus 47.62m (156-2) to also qualify.

Meet director Foster Dorsett said it was unfortunate that the meet was smeared by not having the throwers compete in the stadium. But he noted that the meet was still a very successful one.

“I felt good about the meet itself in terms of the turnout of the athletes, the support of the coaches and the parents. I was very impressed with what I saw,” said Dorsett, as he also commended the Bahamas Association of Certified Officials (BACO) for the role they played in working the two venues.

“It’s unacceptable that we have a national stadium and we can’t use the infield. I think it was a disadvantage to the field competitors because they didn’t get to compete in front of their family and friends. The field at the University was not as conducive as this one.”

Dorsett said when he applied for the use of the stadium, the National Sports Authority advised him that under no circumstances would the infield be available to use as they had just laid down a new surface that they paid thousands of dollars and they didn’t want it to be damaged.

The old Thomas A. Robinson Stadium, by the way, is currently closed as the NSA is undergoing major renovations to the infield as well, so the throwers are being asked to compete elsewhere, including the University of the Bahamas.

On the track, Denvaughn Whymms of Club Monica and SAC won the under-128 boys 100 metres in 10.79 seconds to qualify for Carifta on Friday night. Whymms also claimed the 200m title in 21.97 and the long jump with 6.61m.

On Saturday, Devine Parker of Bahamas High Performance and St Anne’s High School qualified in winning the under-18 girls 200m in 24.47.

The meet featured a number of outstanding performances from the age group athletes. The University of the Bahamas, preparing to travel to Purdue University next month to compete in their first indoor meet, also participated.

UB, n2 coached by Rupert Gardiner and assisted by Ednal Rolle, was led by Gagrielle Shannon, who won the open women’s 400m in 1:01.46 and Ken Munnings took the open men’s high jump with 2.0m (6-6 ¾).

Some other performances of note came from Sasha Wells of Club Monica, winner of the women’s 1 00m in 12.38 and the 100m hurdles in 14.74; V’Alonee Robinson of TWD Athletics winning the open women’s long jump with 5.63m (18-5 ¾).

Darvinique Dean of Kids Athletics doubled up in the under-10 girls 100m in 15.06 and 200m in 30.94; Megan Moss of Club Monica picked up her pair of victories in the under-16 girls 100m in 12.51 and 200m in 24.68; Sierra Sears of Fast Forward won the under-16 girls 800m in 2:33.56 and 1,500m in 5:35.94; Carnitra Mackey, also of Fast Forward, took the under-16 girls shot put with 10.82m (35-6) and javelin with 28.84m (94-7) and Tiffany Hanna of Triple Threat won the open women javelin with 19.78m (64-10) and discus with 38.53m (126-5).

On the boys’ side, Darius Pratt of the Roadrunners won the under-12 100m in 13.94 and the 200m in 28.60; Raymond Oriakhi of Club Monica was a triple threat clinching the under-16 200m in 23.70, the 400m in 52.16 and the 400m hurdles in 59.91 and Bronson Rolle of High Performance pulled of a double feat in the open 400m in 49.08 and the long jump with 6.47m (21-2 ¾).