The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IT was day one of the Ministry of Sports’ National High School Track and Field Championships on Thursday, March 12 at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium when all sporting activities were halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Director of Sports Tim Munnings’ announcement to the coaches of the 80 participating teams came as a result of the decision that was made by the Cabinet of the Bahamas the night before.

As a result, there were no more sporting activities in high schools or national associations or federations. All international sporting events, including the CARIFTA Games and the Olympic Games, were also affected as they were subsequently either postponed or cancelled.

The past nine months have had a drastic effect on local sports and as a result on the outcome of The Tribune’s selection for the 2020 Athletes of the Year.

And the Winner is Megan Moss

Through all of the disappointments, there was a silver lining in the announcement of the winner of the Junior Female Athlete of the Year. With not much accomplished by our athletes locally or internationally, rising track star Megan Moss surged to the top of The Tribune’s chart.

Now in her sophomore year at the University of Kentucky, she closed out her season before the pandemic struck at the Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships over the weekend of February 28-29 by placing 10th in the 400 metres in a time of 53.23. She also helped her team to a second place in the women’s 4 x 400m relay in 3:30.42.

Prior to the abrupted season-ending meet, the St Augustine’s College graduate produced a season’s best of 52.58 in the 400m at the Tiger Pew Invitational February 14-15. Their 4 x 400m relay team won the title in 3:29.74.

At the New Mexico Collegiate Classic from February 7-8, Moss placed third in the 400m in 53.90 and was on their winning 4 x 400m relay team that ran 3:30.64.

From January 24-25 at the Rod McCravy Memorial Track and Field Meet, Moss appeared in two individual races, coming in fourth in the 400m in 52.85 and eighth in the 200m in 24.17.

Their 4 x 400m relay team also won in 3:31.29.

At the Ted Nelson Invitational from January 17-28, Moss ran on their victorious 4 x 400m rely team (3:35.35) and the weekend before, January 10-11, she got third in the 400m in 53.67 and sixth in the 200m in 24.09.

On May 26, Moss (400/4x400m) was one of 20 competitors from Kentucky, who earned All- American honours for their performances during the 2019-20 indoor track and field season by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Sydney Clarke is Runner-Up

Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s Fed Cup tennis player Sydney Clarke emerged as the runner-up.

Clarke was scheduled to compete again this year on the Fed Cup team, but the women’s version of the men’s Davis Cup was called off due to the pandemic.

Instead, Clarke made her debut as a freshman tennis player for the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

She helped the Blazers women’s team to a successful showing at the ITA Fall Circuit at the Athletic Club Alabama in Huntsville, Alabama on September 28 by advancing out of the round of 16 with a straight set victory, only to fall short in the semifinal.

Over the weekend of October 31 to November 1, Clarke notched a pair of victories in singles for the Blazers at the UTC Invite in a hidden dual format that also featured Middle Tennessee and host Chatanooga. Clarke also teamed up with Megan Bertrands and Adela Wasserbuerova to earn a pair of double victories as well for UAB.

She returned home for the holiday, just in time to be named the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s Athlete of the Year and to celebrate her 18th birthday. She also highlighted the yuletide season by providing a Christmas treat with a food and toy drive for the Bahamas Children’s Emergency Hostel on Christmas Eve.

Anthaya Charlton ends up third

Taking the consolation third place for this year’s award is versatile Anthaya Charlton, who left St Augustine’s College to compete for the St Anne’s School as she emerged as the queen of the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools with a double dose of victory.

Competing in the under- 20 girls’ division, Charlton topped the field in the 100 metres, stopping the tape in 12.19 seconds and soaring 5.92m or 19-feet, 51/4-inches in the long jump.

The 17-year-old Charlton was on her way to CARIFTA in Hamilton, Bermuda over the Easter holiday weekend, but the coronavirus pandemic pushed the top junior regional meet to next year.

Charlton, however, returned to SAC in September and although she didn’t get to compete, signed her letter of intent to join former team-mates Megan Moss and Jaida Knowles at the University of Kentucky next year under the tutelage of Bahamian head coach Lonnie Greene and his assistant “Golden Girl” Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie.

Earlier this month with the resumption of the season, Charlton got a taste of competing against some local collegiate and former collegiate athletes at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ Odd Distance Track Meet.

She was the runner-up in the long jump with a leap of 5.20m behind Western Kentucky’s Charisma Taylor (5.59m) and was the champion in the 150m in 18.25 as Taylor had to settle for second in 18.61.