The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the IAAF World Relays Bahamas 2014 has set out to ensure that a uniquely Bahamian presence will be amidst the anticipation surrounding the inaugural event, featuring the top junior athletes in the country.

Student athletes will have an opportunity to compete at a trio of events to test the readiness of the new Thomas A Robinson National Stadium and take advantage of the spotlight before their senior counterparts from around the globe take to the track.

The first of these events will be the Bahamas 2014 High School Relays, scheduled for May 9-10, when the best boys and girls teams in the country will contest the 4x100m, 4x200m, 4x400m and sprint medleys.

Frank “Pancho” Rahming, senior director of athletics in the LOC, said while all private and public schools have been invited to participate, schools have been slow to register and grasp the opportunity to etch their name in local track and field history at the meet.

“We have been having a problem getting the schools to really buy into it.  We have about 13 schools registered thus far and we are really appealing with schools in Nassau and in the Family Islands to be a part of this because it is really a great event to become involved with. The teams will get to see what the track is all about and be a part of the excitement surrounding the World Relays. We don’t want a situation where schools will have to enter ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams, because it would not be fair to the other schools with a chance to compete and would not be the best showing of all of our great student athletes,” he said.

“The IAAF has allowed us to put on three junior events related to the IAAF Relays. This will be the first major event on the track and I think all high schools should be excited about that. We are putting down a new mondo surface, they will be the first persons to test it and just imagine the prestige for the winners in the senior schools, they will have the stadium record for at least a few weeks.”

The winners from the Bahamas 2014 High School Relays will return to compete on day one of the IAAF World Relays (May 24) at 3:30pm, just prior to the start of the international meet at 5:30pm.

“The top eight teams from that event will be invited to compete during the relays. So that is two opportunities to compete. So this is why it is so important that we have as many schools compete at the initial relay event. 

The third event will give fans a brief reincarnation of the Bahamas Games as athletes will team up to represent their respective islands in the “One Lane, One Island” Meet 3:30pm May 25.

Participating teams will include New Providence, Grand Bahama and Bimini, Abaco, Andros and the Berry Islands, Columbus Isles (Long Island, Cat Island, San Salvador) and MICAL (Mayaguana, Inagua, Acklins, Crooked Island). 

“We have invited teams from all the major islands. With the limited number of teams, it will be straight finals so it will be a high level of excitement right away. New Providence, which has all these high schools and all these athletes, can only have one team in each race so you know the competition to make the teams will be intense. We know the selection process will be difficult, we tried it for the Bahamas Games and it was a problem, but it will be something the islands will have to do,” Rahming said.

“The LOC is trying to purchase uniforms for this event. On that day we don’t want athletes on the same team wearing their respective school shirts. If we can get a sponsor per island to outfit these teams we still invite you to for that for us.”

Minster of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson said the meets will serve multiple purposes, a showcase for the athletes and an opportunity for Bahamians to familiarise themselves with the upgrades to the facilities.

“It will highlight our most valuable asset, the young people in the country, as they will get to participate on the track as the same time as the giants of track and field from around the world,” he said. “These events will benefit the public In order to understand the magnitude of what is going to happen well ahead of time. We don’t want people to walk in when the place is all dolled up with all the bells and whistles on and not know how to maneuver around. It will be great for Bahamians to have an advanced notice on how to access the property, even for things we may have taken for granted.”