The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

CC Sweeting Senior High School, which celebrated the top two students in this year's graduating classes in all government schools, will have some extra excitement as they watch fellow athletes Denvaughn Whymns and Cecil Williams compete in the Commonwealth Youth Games.

During a specialprize-giving ceremony yesterday at the school, the duo were singled out by Drumeco Archer, deputy managing director of legal affairs/ marketing for the games, featuring nine different disciplines, July 19-23.

Both athletes welcome the opportunity to represent the country in the biggest sporting event ever held here with 65 of the affiliated 71 countries in the Commonwealth coming to town to compete.

"I feel excited because it's actually my first Commonwealth Youth Games," Whymns said.

"So I want to bring the bacon home and do the best that I can."

With the games being held at home, Whymns said there's alot more added pressure.

"I just have to be relaxed and let my momentum take me through my events," said Whymns, who will represent the Bahamas in the men's long jump and the 110m hurdles.

Whymns, a 16-year-old 11th grader at CC Sweeting, is coming off an appearance at the Carifta Games in Curacao where he qualified in four events, including the long jump, 110m hurdles, 100 and 200m in the under-28 boys' division.

He won the gold medal in the long jump but suffered a slight injury and was unable to complete in the other three events as well as the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400m relays where the Bahamas picked up a pair of silver medals.

Whymns said he's excited about representing the country again and was delighted that his fellow peers at CC Sweeting got a chance to salute him at this time.

For Williams, this is his first chance to represent the country and he's excited that it's coming in such a prestigious competition.

"This is my first time to represent the Bahamas, so I'm excited," he said.

"I like competing for fun, but I'm looking forward to putting on a show for the people."

And although this is the first time for him to compete at this level, Williams assures the public that he will be ready.

"I know I'm going to have all of my family and friends there to watch me compete," he said. "I am looking forward to competing in front of them."

As he was called out to the front of the audience, Williams said he was taken aback.

"I'm not used to that," the 18-year-old 12th grader said. "But by mentioning my name and with me standing out here with Denvaughn, it gives me a lot of incentive to do my best at the games."

CC Sweeting's prize-giving ceremony was dubbed "Soaring Beyond The Horizons, Striving For Excellence" and Whymns and Williams both indicated that they intend to perform at a high level next month.