The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER being slowed down a bit by the inclement weather on day one, the Blue Chip Athletics’ fifth annual Throwers Camp swung into high gear on day two at the Queen’s College field yesterday.

“It’s looking better than yesterday when we had to go inside because of the rain,” said camp director Corrington Maycock. “We know that the rain doesn’t stop anything so we were glad that we had a few more kids who came out today to participate.”

Based on what he has seen, Maycock said they had a number of returning campers who were out to improve on their performances.

“We have two kids, one from Andros and one from Exuma, so we’re hoping to see what they can do and we hope to expand some more in the islands. But we hope that the camp will improve day by day.”

Coach April Smith from Fresno State in California is back as the camp facilitator and she is joined once again by her husband, Robert, a former throws coach at Appalachian State, now coaching at a high school in Fresno State.

Maycock said along with veteran coach Ronald Cartwright, who actually coached him when he was a former thrower, the response has been overwhelming.

“The kids are catching on and we are moving quickly and keeping it as current as much as possible,” he said.

Calea Jackson, back for her second year, said the camp has definitely been beneficial to her.

“I’ve gotten a lot of improvement actually,” she said.

“They helped me to do a lot of things, especially when I’m struggling and too stiff. When I throw, I tend to stop a lot through it, so they have been helping me a lot with that so that I can go through the motion.”

As a result of what she experienced after her first appearance in the camp last year, Jackson - a 13-year-old eighth grader at Queen’s College - said she was eager to participate in the camp this year.

“It’s fun. I enjoy it a lot,” she said.

For the first time this year, Michael Bullard has decided to take part in the camp.

“I’ve finally made it after three years,” he said.

“I know it’s very important for me this year, especially as I’m going into my last year in high school and will be preparing for college. I want to make sure that my technique is elite and with these coaches coming over and what coach Maycock does, I want to make sure that I am ready.”

Bullard, a 17-year-old 12th grader at Nassau Christian Academy, said the camp has been going great so far, but he’s really looking forward to Friday when the concentration will be on his speciality in the javelin.

“Even though we are learning about the shot (put) and discus, I’m having fun,” stated Bullard, who was on the CARIFTA Games team two years ago.

“I’m getting to learn the different techniques, so that should help me in my event. But in the BAISS, I intend to do all three events. You never know what happens. The sky is the limit.”

Coach Smith said so far this has certainly been one of the best camps she’s staged here.

“The attention the kids have and hitting their positions is probably been the most important thing. This group means business,” she said.

“I’ve already seen personal bests from what I saw last year.”

Despite the rain on Monday, the campers went through the shot put drills and yesterday they were able to perfect what they did in the drills and then were placed in a pre-competition before the day ended in the gymnasium.

Today, they will go through the drills of throwing the discus and will have some competition in that discipline on Thursday. Friday will be devoted to throwing the javelin and the hammer.

“It’s exciting. It’s fun. I’m very excited because this is probably the best set up we’ve had and we have the shelter, so the kids are a little more energised under the shade,” Smith said.

She said she was very pleased with the turnout of the campers so far.

Her husband Robert said he just enjoys being in the Bahamas on “vacation” and enjoying the weather.

“I enjoy coming down here and hanging out with these kids with their personalities and watching them improve since we first came here. “I think their progress has accelerated faster than what we would have thought it would. We just wished that we could come down here twice a year and we do what we do every six months. But I think Corrie has done a great job with these kids, preparing them to compete. It’s basically the same stuff that we teach. It’s just a different way of saying the same thing.”

He said he just wishes that he and his family can find a timeshare or something so that they can make this their home away from home because they brought their two sons with them for the first time and they are enjoying it just as much as they are.

“This is truly paradise for us,” he added.