The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITHOUT the inclusion of some 30-plus members of the athletic team, the Bahamas Olympic Committee released the names of 18 athletes from five other disciplines that have been ratified for the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, July 23 to August 3.

The BOC anticipates that the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations would submit their final list of athletes for the BOC’s approval by Thursday, (Independence Day). The BOC has been an given an extension by the organising committee in Glasgow to submit the athletic team before the week is out.

When finally completed, the team should be the largest team ever selected to compete in the four-yearly games and BOC president Wellington Miller predicted that the Bahamas will be in a position to definitely improve on the five medals - one gold, one silver and three bronze - earned at the last games in 2010 in New Delhi, India.

Chef de mission of the team is Roy Colebrook. He will be assisted by Kathryn Dillette. Dr Rickey Davis, heads the medical team that comprises of Dr Jennifer Davis, Cottrice Robinson from Grand Bahama and Dr Philip Classen. Ralf McKinney will also travel as an assistant to the chef de mission.

The judo team will be made up of the brother and sister tandem of Cynthia and D’Arcy Rahming Jr. They will be managed and coached by their father, D’Arcy Rahming Sr.

Wrestling will be competing for the first time with Rashji Mackey as the lone competitor. He will be managed and coached by Clarence Rolle.

Laura Morley is the latest addition to the swimming team that will comprise of Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, Dustin Tynes, Elvis Burrows, Joanna Evans nd Ariel Weech. That team will be coached by Andy Loveitt and Lionel Maureau.

Four competitors will also be competing in boxing. They are Carl Hield, Keishno Major, Godfrey Strachan and Rashied Williams. Andre Seymour will be the head coach, assisted by his cousin, Floyd ‘Pretty Boy’ Seymour.

And in cycling, there will also be five competitors competing. They are Chad Albury, a Bahamian training in Australia, cousins Anthony ‘Biggie’ Colebrook and Roy Colebrook Jr, Jay Major and D’Angelo Sturrup. The team officials are Wayne Price, Byron ‘Turbo’ Musgrove and Keith Lloyd.

“We have put together what we believe is a very good team,” said Miller, who along with secretary general Rommel Knowles will also be attending the games as guests of the organising committee.

“From this team, we hope to have some very good performances. This team consists of athletics, boxing, cycling, judo, wrestling and swimming. We are going to be looking for some very good performances from these teams.”

The team is expected to depart for Glasgow on Saturday, July 19. The official opening ceremonies are scheduled to be held on Wednesday, July 23.

Miller said the BAAA has indicated that they are still trying to finalise their team following the completion of the BTC National Open Track and Field Championships June 27-29 at the original Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium.

Once the team is submitted, Miller said the BOC will ratify it and release it to the media. “The athletic team will be our strong point,” Miller said. “But I believe all the other teams are strong as well. Athletics, boxing and cycling always attend these games, so they know what they are going up against.”

Knowles added that although they have surpassed their deadline of June 15 for their submission to the LOC for the Commonwealth Games, they have been given an extension, which allows for the BAAA to complete their list and that is why they are not making any announcement on the athletic team.

“There are no qualifying standards for the Commonwealth Games, which makes it that much more difficult,” Knowles said. “The team is very large, over our quota, so it means that it will cost us a significant amount of money, which we have come to an agreement with the BAAA. By Thursday, we want to release the team.

“With there being no qualifying performances, we didn’t want to disenfranchise the athletes, who would have participated in the nationals, having being told that the BAAA Nationals will be a qualifier for the Commonwealth Games. We have an issue with our late entries. But we hope to have it resolved for the best of the athletes. We want to make sure that no athletes are disenfranchised.”

Athletics had a quote of 12, but Knowles said the BAAA has doubled that figure.

It’s estimated that it will cost the BOC some $200,000 to take care of the expenses and Knowles said they are seeking the assistance of corporate Bahamas to help sponsor those athletes who would have surpassed the quota that each discipline would have attained.