The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH less than a week to go before they head off to the 2022 Carifta Games, the Bahamas Associations of Athletic Association’s 54-member team is making last minute preparations before they head off to Kingston, Jamaica.

On Sunday, those members of the team who are in New Providence, attended the 10.30am worship service at Deliverance Tabernacle, pastored by Mark Knowles before they complete their final workout sessions this week at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium.

Head coach Luther Rolle said he’s quite pleased with the progress the management team is making to get the athletes at their ultimate best to compete in the region’s biggest junior track and field competition from April 16-18.

“Our preparations have been going great,” Rolle said. “As of Monday, everybody will be in one place and we will begin with our relay practices and fine tune any areas that are needed to concentrate on individually with the athletes.”

Looking at the make-up of the team, Rolle said with only seven girls to compete in the under-20 division, The Bahamas will be very weak in that area, but he anticipates that the under-17 girls and boys should be able to hpol;d their own.

“Our under-20 boys are stacked and so we are antici[sting some very great performances from them all around,” Rolle said.

This is Rolle’s first rodeo as the head head of the team, but having served as a coach on other teams in the past, he counts it a privilege to be in control of the team as the competition returns after missing the past two years because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“It will be a great experience for me coaching this team,” he said.

As for the expectations in Jamaica, Rolle said he expects nothing but the best from each and every athlete.

“We’re going to go out there and give it 100 percent,” he stated. “Hopefully in doing that, I want the athletes to be able to do their best. We can’t expect anything less from them.

“In doing their best, we will try to win the team title. I know it’s a tall order, but we definitely feel that we should finish in the top three.”

With the Carifta postponed over the last two years because of COVID- 19, Rolle saisd the focus will be to get the athletes ready emotionally.

“We know that COVID- 19 has taken a toll on a lot of people and so we want to make sure that they are mentally prepared for the challenge ahead of them,” he said. “I think they will be ready and they will do a good job in representing The Bahamas.”

The team is expected to leave town on Thursday and return home on Tuesday, April 19.

The team consist of the following:

Under-17 girls - Shatayla Dorsett, Kianna Henchell, Nya Wright, Erin Barr, Koi Adderley, Jamiah Nabbie, Zoe Adderley, Terell McCoy, Annae Mackey, Cailyn Johnson, Daniel Nixon, Kamera Strachan, Dior-Rae Scott and Lanashia Lubin.

Under-17 boys - Andrew Brown, Turmani Skinner, Ishmael Rolle, Philip Gray, Zion Miller, Berkley Munnings, Raywind Winder, Quinton Rolle, Jalani Morrison, Jonathon Rodgers, Jason Woodside, D’Angelo Collie, Robert Stuart and Nathaniel McHardy.

Under-20 girls - Paige Archer, Javonya Valcourt, Shaunece Miller, Sabriya Farquharson, Calea Jackson, Bernisha Knowles and Vanessa Sawyer.

Under-20 boys - Antoine Andrews, Zachary Evans, Carlos Brown, Zion Campbell, Shamar Smith, Lynden Johnson, Keano Ferguson, Curtis Mitchell, Stephen Farquharson, Jethro Baptiste, Mateo Smith, Brandon Hutchinson, Keyshawn Strachan, Nathaniel Zervos, Kenny Moxey Jr, Taejun Spence. Shamir Bain, Michael Styles and Brandon Vanderpool.

Sophia Higgs will serve as the team manager, assisted by Bahamas Association of Certified Officials president Courtney Wallace. Rolle will be assisted by coaches Dereck Wells, Andrew Tynes, Nekeno Demeritte, Patricia Rolle, Jamison Pratt and Laquell Harris.

The chaperones are Dianne Farquharson, Krista Black, Mikhilo Strachan and Garfield Morrison. Dr Kent Bazard will be the team doctor, while Kelly Kramp will be the physio and Jonathan Higgs the massage therapist.