The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

There was more than enough excitement packed in the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ final trials for the return of the CARIFTA Games - over the weekend at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

Several athletes either attained the automatic A or B standard for the games that will be staged over the Easter holiday weekend in Kingston, Jamaica, or they came very close to accomplishing those feats.

One of the highlights of the two-day meet came on Friday night when all eight finalists of the under-17 boys 100 metres put their competitive differences aside and hurdled together to pray before they raced.

Also on Friday night, one of the most spirited events came from 14-year-old Erin Barr, who was cheered on from start to finish as she chased the under-17 girls 1,500 metre automatic time of four minutes and 56.66 seconds.

The ninth grader at Tabernacle Baptist eclipsed the time with her winning performance of 4:56.33, much to the delight of her entourage from Grand Bahama. 3PA Stallions’ Jasmine Mackey was second in 5:23.86 and Core Athletics’ Jayda Rahming got third in 5:24.04.

“I feel very good. I was praying to God, hoping that he would give me the push,” she said. “My coach (John Ingraham) was on the sidelines telling me to push and at the 200m, I just went for it.”

Her father, Ernie Barr, the son of legendary boxer Ernie ‘the Androsian Tiger’ Barr, led the celebrations as they greeted home at the finish line.

“She did excellent. She’s been trying all season to qualify and she did it,” he said. “I’m an extremely proud father. We pushed her every moment and tried to keep her focused and God delivered. Jamaica, here we come.”

Barr came back on Saturday and attempted to qualify in the 800m as well, but Spirit of Excellence’s Krista Ford had more kick left to surge ahead in 2:20.07. Barr had to settle for second in 2:20.85.

They both fell short of the B standard of 2:17.18. The automatic time was 2:16.53.

Hurray Murray’s Raywind Winder and his cheering squad had the opposite scenario as he clipped the B standard (2:00.74) in the under-17 boys’ 800m in 2:00.70 on Saturday after he ran 1,500m in 4:22.84 the night before, but was short of the B standard of 4:19.63.

With less fanfare, Andros Heats’ Nathaniel McHardy threw the under- 17 boys shot put 15.75m to surpass the qualifying mark of 14.61m to become one of the few throwers other than from Blue Chips Athletics to earn a spot on the team.

“At first, I didn’t have the greatest start.. I stretched and then I threw low, but in my last two throws, I had that fire in me,” said the 16-year-old 11th grader at Huntley P Christie High School.

“That made me feel invincible when I qualified. I felt the pressure, but I’ve been trying to qualify for the entire season, but I came in here with a good attitude. I prayed hard and I put God first.”

His coach Patricia Rolle was more elated about the performance than McHardy.

“I always knew he could do it,” she said. “I worked with him every day and I had him training with the under-20 ball and so I knew he could do it.”

Rolle was also looking for Tylah Pratt to achieve the standard in the under- 17 girls’ high jump, but she fell short with her leap of 1.52m. Koi Adderley of Fast Forward did with her leap of 1.62m to match the automatic standard.

It was one of two events that Adderley attained the standard, producing her double feat in the long jump when she soared 5.46m to surpass the B standard of 5.39m. The automatic standard was 5.56m.

As it turned out, it was a family affair as Zo’E Adderley got inspired by big sister Koi Adderley and cousin Dior-Ray Scott and she didn’t want to get left home, so she hopped, skipped and jumped her way to victory in the under-17 girls triple jump with 11.73m to surpass the automatic standard of 1.60m.

Also Friday, Xtreme Athletics’ Terrell McCoy did it again in the under- 17 girls shot put with her winning toss of 13.00m, surpassing the automatic standard of 12.63m. Furious Athletics’ Annae Mackey did the B standard of 12.57m.

The other non-Blue Chip Athletics’ qualifier was Vanessa Sawyerr with her toss of 39.27m in the under-20 girls javelin to go over the B standard of 37.24m. The automatic distance was 38.39m.

Blue Chip Athletics, however, dominated the under-17 girls javelin as usual with three automatic qualifying performances over 34.39m from Kamara Strachan (42.08m), Dior- Rae Scott (41.86m) and Taysha Stubbs (37.41m).

National record holder and world number one junior thrower Keyshawn Strachan had another strong showing with his automatic qualifying (60.94m) heave of 69.27m in the under-20 boys javelin. His teammates Nathaniel Zervos (60.93m) and Kaden Cartwright (59.34m) followed his lead as they came through with the B standard of 59.11m.

Swift Athletics’ Johnathon Rodgers clinched the under-17 boys triple jump automatic standard of 13.88m with his winning leap of 13.93m.

Showing his versatility, Fast Forward’s Zachary Evans soared past the automatic 7.23m in the under-20 long jump with his leap of 7.37m and he was impressive in his win in 10.44 to dip under the 100m automatic time of 10.50.

Swift Athletics’ Carlos Brown Jr (10.55) and Grand Bahamian Zion Campbell (10.65) went under the B standard of 10.71.

Campbell, representing the Golden Eagles, came back on Saturday and ran 21.28, followed by fellow Grand Bahamian Shimar Smith in 21.68 as they both achieved the B standard of 21.78, but shy of the automatic time of 21.15.

“I feel that I did good especially after having to run three rounds,” Campbell said. “I just want to thank God for allowing me to finish injury free and I know I will do a better job at the CARIFTA Games.

“I had a disappointing 100m. But I feel I can PR in the 200m. The wind was a little strong today. But I have a great start and once I get out, there’s no coming back.”

Red-Line Athletics’ Shimar Bain was hoping to add to his flavour in the sprints, but after falling short in both the under-20 100 and 200m, he won in his speciality in the 400m hurdles in 53.73 to surpass the B standard of 54.23.

The automatic time was 52.63. “It feels good. It was always my dream to qualify for CARIFTA. I was hoping to do it over the past two years, but it didn’t happen because of COVID-19, but now I will be in action in Kingston, Jamaica,” Bain said.

“Everything was in one day, so I was pleased with my performance. I just have to work harder to get better because I know those Jamaicans are coming after me, so I have to work.”

Shatalya Dorsett left no stones unturned as she claimed the under-17 girls titles in the 100m in 11.95 for an automatic (11.96) time on Friday and on Saturday with a B standard (25.32) in the 200m in 25.05. The automatic time was 24.58.

“I felt really good about it because I got some competition,” said Dorsett, a 15-year-old 11th grader at Sunland Baptist Academy. “I feel great. I expect to go to Jamaica and PR in both of my events and bring the two gold medals back home.”

Fast Forward’s Paige Archer was also a double B qualifier in the under-20 girls sprints. She took the 100m in 11.75 to surpass the B time of 11.92, but was short of the automatic time of 11.69. She came back in the 200m and won in 24.03 to go under the B standard of 24.67, but off the automatic time of 23.95. “It was a lot of head wind, but I had to fight through it and pushed my way to the line,” said Archer of the half-lap race as she prepared for Jamaica and a bid to medal.

“My performance was good. It was hard doing three rounds of the 200m in one day, but God gave me the strength to push through. That’s why I like the 200m more. It’s something about coming off the curve.”

Red-Line Athletics’ Tamani Skinner was one-tenth of a second off the B qualifying standard of the under-17 boys 200m when he clocked 22.51 to hold off Swift Athletics’ Ishmael Rolle (22.67).

“I felt I had a bit of a delayed start coming off the curve. I felt I was in last place, but I saw an opportunity coming off the curve to push harder and go for it,” said Skinner, a 16-year-old 11th grader at SAC.

“In the 100, I thought I had it without about 80 metres to go, but I dropped my form and that was the worst thing I could do. So I lost it in the last 20 metres.”

Rolle went on to win the century in 10.04 with Andrew Brown second in 11.09 and Skinner third in 11.19 as they all dipped under the B standard of 11.24 in the 100m the night before. The automatic standard is 11.02. “It was good,” said Rolle, a 13-year-old St John’s 9th grader. “I don’t know what happened in the 200m. I just have to continue to practice and be ready for CARIFTA.”

Red-Line Athletics’ Shimar Bain was also a double delight hoping to add to his flavour in the sprints, but after falling short in the under-20 boys sprints, he came through in his speciality in the 400m hurdles in 53.73 to surpass the B standard of 54.23.

The automatic time is 52.65.

“It feels good. It was always my dream to qualify for CARIFTA. I was hoping to do it over the past two years, but it didn’t happen because of COVID-19, but now I will be in action in Kingston, Jamaica,” Bain said.

Using his height to his advantage, Red-Line Athletics’ Quinton Rolle also cleared the 10 flights of hurdles in the under-17 boys 400m in 57.79 to surpass the B standard (58.27). The automatic time is 56.48.

“I was very satisfied. To come back from not doing what I was supposed to do in the 400m and getting it right on the 400m hurdles, it’s good,” said Rolle, a ninth grader of SAC.

“It was a good race. I want to go to Jamaica and bring a medal home and do my PR.”

Sabriya Farquharson earned her berth with her automatic (5.66m) qualifying leap of 5.71m in the under-17 girls long jump.

She missed it in the triple jump with 11.78m, just shy of the B standard (11.87m) and the automatic (12.24m).

Attaining B standards were Red-Line Athletics’ Brandon Hutchinson in the under-20 boys triple jump (14.44m) with 14.60m; Golden Eagles’ Robert Stuart in the under-17 boys long jump (6.53m) with 6.61m and Leap of Faith’s Jalani Morrison with 1.86m to match the under-17 boys’ high jump B standard.

“I executed perfectly, everything my coach (James Rolle) told me to do, so I feel good about my performance,” said the 16-year-old SAC 11th grader.

“I expected to qualify. I was aiming for the A standard, but getting the B is still good.

“I just have to perfect my technique and go to CARIFTA and medal.’

Kenny Moxey Jr, following in the footsteps of his father Krenny Moxey Sr, was also an automatic qualifier in the under-20 boys’ pole vault with 3.27m that matched the standard.