The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

MOSCOW, Russia: The Bahamas’ 24-member team will be made up of a mixture of youth and experience at the 14th IAAF World Championships in Russia.

Athletes, who are either competing for the first time or returning for another appearance, have indicated that they are all excited to represent the Bahamas at the Luzhniki Grand Sports Stadium over the next nine days.

Team Bahamas will start with national record holder Bianca 'BB' Stuart competing in the women's long jump qualifying on Saturday. She will be the sixth of 16 competitors in Group B. There are 15 entered in Group A. The automatic qualifying distance is 6.75 metres or they will take the best 12 performers into the final.

Stuart will be followed by sprinter Shavez Hart in the qualifying round of the men's 100 metres. On Sunday, both Cache Armbrister and Sheniqua 'Q' Ferguson will be in the women's 100 qualifying rounds.

High jumper Ryan Ingraham will be joining Donald Thomas in the men’s high jump on day four on Tuesday, August 13 with the final on day six, Thursday, August 15.

With national record holder Derrick Atkins opting not to compete here because of an injury, Shavez Hart will be the man to carry the Bahamian flag in the 100 metres that begin tomorrow.

“It’s going to be a good experience for me because I will get to show off my talent at a higher level,” said Hart, who just completed a successful sting in junior college.

Hart, who is making the adjustment to the time and the food here, said he’s eager to step out on the track on Saturday.

Quarter-miler LaToy Williams is back for his second appearance since 2009 in Berlin, and said: “I think this one will be harder for me because I will be competing in the open (400 metres) for the first time. I’ve been training all year, but I’m feeling the toll on my body. I just have to hold on until I’m done.”

Williams will have double duties as he is in the pool for the men’s 4x400m Relay as well.

It’s the first time for the 25-year-old Grand Bahama native Quarter-miler Miriam Byfield, who is making a comeback after taking a year off in 2010 to have a baby, and will be concentrating mainly on the women’s 4 x 400 Relay.

As the only member of the initial 4 x 4 relay team that competed before at the championships in 2009 in Berlin, Quarter-miler Shekeitha Henfield said she’s looking forward to competing on any leg that the coaching staff will allow her to run.

Hurler Jeffery Gibson, a 6-feet, 4-inches Grand Bahamian native who established a new

national record in the men’s 400 metres hurdles this year while competing in his senior year for Oral Roberts University, said the goal for him is simply - to get into the final.

The heat of the Men’s 400m Hurdles is on Monday, August 12 with the semifinal on Tuesday, August 13. The final is set for Thursday, August 15.

Following his individual race, Gibson will join the pool of Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown, Ramon Miller, LaToy Williams, Wesley Neymour and O’Jay Ferguson in the Men’s 4 x 400m that will run the heats on Thursday, August 15. The final will be run on Friday, August 16.

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