The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net The team of Devynne Charlton, Anderia Ferguson, Janae Ambrose and Cormisha Cox made history as they won the first race held in the new Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium. The quartet re-enacted the women's 4 x 100 metre relay team that won the gold medal at the 2000 Olympic Games 'Down Under' in Sydney, Australia. More than 15,000 attended as part of the official ceremonies for the $30,000 stadium that was a gift from the People's Republic of China. Those that were denied entry because of the capacity crowd inside watched the patriotic display of the Bahamian sporting and musical extravaganza from the two large television monitors. While there were speeches from Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Charles Maynard and the Ambassador to the Republic of China, a number of entertainers, including the combined Royal Bahamas Police and Defence Force marching bands, the National Gospel Youth Choir, Christian Massive, Colyn McDonald, Anita, Kirkland 'KB' Bodie and Funky D. There were video presentations on the construction of the stadium over the past three years, a biography of legendary Thomas A Robinson in whose honour the stadium has been named and the achievements of the Bahamian athletes during the Olympic Games and the IAAF World Championships. The women's team lined up in lane five with the rest of the countries that competed at the Sydney Olympics in order from lane one to eight. They were Germany, the Republic of China, Jamaica, France, the United States of America, Nigeria and Russia. When it was done, the team of Devynne Charlton, Anderia Ferguson, Janae Ambrose and Cormisha Cox brought the thrill back that the combo of Sevatheda Fynes, Chandra Sturrup, Pauline Davis-Thompson and Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie produced on that historic night. "We knew that this was a special night so we had to be at our best," Charlton said. "There were a lot of people out here so we really couldn't let down the name and the image of the Golden Girls. I was just proud to be a part of it." Ferguson said once she got the baton from Charlton in the lead, "I just had to go and execute. My goal was to go out and best represent Chandra. It was good to do it in front of all of these people." For Ambrose, she just wanted to "keep the lead that my team-mates gave me so that I can help us win. It feels good. I wish we can get to do this again in a real race with this same type of crowd." And Cox said she was proud to be a Bahamian carrying the baton across the finish line. "I knew we were ahead, so I just went out there and finished it off. It was good for us to re-enact such a great event and to do it in front of so many people who didn't get a chance to watch it in person when it was done." Rupert Gardiner, the relay coach of the team in 2000, said he was glad that they were able to orchestrate the replay of the relay for the packed stadium just as they did in Australia. The only problem was not all of the original team-mates were present to view it. "To do it in front of this crowd gave me goose bumps again," Gardiner said. Davis-Thompson used one word to sum up her feeling of the performance - "amazing." "I thought they did a very good job. They are our future so it was good that the public got to see them perform. This place was jammed pack. I just think that when our athletes hit this track to perform, it's just going to be amazing." Colyn McDonald, who sang the song 'Put Your Flag Up,' best put it in perspective. "Listening to the radio, I think we get caught up in the wrong things. We're Bahamians first and that is what this represents, Bahamian pride," he said. "We're the most talented people on the planet and I say that because I've had a chance to travel and perform among the best and we're right up there, whether it's in sports our artists or anything else." The majority of the national sporting bodies, including those for athletics, soccer, volleyball, basketball, swimming, tennis and Special Olympics participated in a march pass of athletes and officials. The night closed out with a junkanoo rush out combining the Saxon Superstars and the Valley Boys in their tribute to Robinson. A splendid display of fireworks brought the spectacular evening to an end.