The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Head coach Rupert Gardiner said he’s convinced that the Bahamas’ 11-member team will perform very well at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in the Polish city of Sopot this weekend.

The team, made up of two women and nine men, is scheduled to leave today for the three days of intense competition between the 143 countries registered. The 11 athletes will be among the list of 600 that will be in the event, one of the largest in the 29-year history since the inaugural event - known back then as the World Indoor Games - began with just 319 athletes from 69 countries.

“It’s a great team. It’s a good team,” said Gardiner, who will be assisted by veteran coach Keith Parker, while Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations president Mike Sands will be the team manager. “We have Chris Brown who has been to about four world indoors and he’s medalled at every one. We have the relay team that will be minus Demetrius Pinder, Wesley Neymour and Jeffery Gibson. But when you look at the quarter-milers that we have here, they are good. All of them have competed at world class level and have done very well. Andretti Bain is a former NCAA outdoor champion and he has ran indoors. So has LaToy Williams, Ramon Miller and Michael Mathieu. So we have a very good 4 x 4 team.”

Gardiner, who noted that the Bahamas is hoping to build on its success with the men’s 4 x 400 relay team of Brown, Pinder, Mathieu and Miller at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England, where they upset the United States for the gold, to help set the tone for the inaugural IAAF World Relays that is set for the new Thomas A Robinson National Stadium May 24-25.

At the same time, Gardiner said the Bahamas should not count out the other competitors.

“Sheniqua is in the 60m for women and she’s good. Shaunae Miller is awesome. She’s in the 400 metres,” he said. “And we have Warren Fraser and Adrian Griffith in the men’s 60m as well as Donald Thomas and Ryan Ingraham in the men’s high jump. This is a very good team.”

As for the expectations for the team, Gardiner said it’s high.

“I’m looking for us to produce some world champions,” he said. “I know Chris Brown and Shaunae Miller will be leading the team. But I expect for all of them to do very well. I think if Shaunae Miller was to win the gold, I wouldn’t be surprised because of the way she’s running.”

Athletes in the individual events will be vying for cash prizes of $40,000 for first place, $20,000 for second, $10,000 for third, $8,000 for fourth, $6,000 for fifth and $4,000 for sixth place. The relay teams will be sharing the same amount for each of the top six positions.

A bonus incentive of $50,000 will be presented to the recipients of any world record.

Here’s a look at the events and schedule for the Bahamian team:

Day one morning session -

Friday, March 7

4:05pm - Women’s 400m heats - Shaunae Miller

4:45am - Men’s 400m - Chris Brown

Day one afternoon session -

Friday, May 7

12:35pm - Men’s 60m heats - Warren Fraser and Adrian Griffith

3:25pm - Men’s 400m semifinal - Chris Brown

Day two morning session -

Saturday, March 8

4:40am - Women’s 60m heats - Sheniqua Ferguson

5:50am - Men’s 4 x 400m relay heats - Chris Brown, Ramon Miller, Latoy Williams, Andretti Bain and Michael Mathieu.

6:05am - Men’s high jump qualifying round - Donald Thomas and Ryan Ingraham

Day two afternoon session -

Saturday, March 8

12:30pm - Men’s 60m semifinal - Warren Fraser and Adrian Griffith

1:40pm - Women’s 400m final - Shaunae Miller

2:30pm - Men’s 400m final - Chris Brown

3pm - Men’s 60m final - Warren Fraser and Adrian Griffith

Day three final session -

Sunday, March 9

9:15am - Women’s 60m semifinal - Sheniqua Ferguson

10:30am - Men’s high jump final - Donald Thomas and Ryan Ingraham

12:05pm - Women’s 60m final - Sheniqua Ferguson

12:40pm - Men’s 4 x 400m relay final - Chris Brown, Ramon Miller, Latoy Williams, Andretti Bain and Michael Mathieu