The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

AN eventual track and field season on the international stage continues for the Bahamas’ top junior athletes as they prepare for the 15th IAAF World Junior Championships.

The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations named a 23-member team to the biannual meet with just over a week of preparation remaining before the meet gets underway July 22-27 in Eugene, Oregon.

Much of the World Junior team is comprised of members of the Jr CAC team that won 20 medals this month in Morelia, Mexico.

On the women’s side, the team will be led by several 100m Jr CAC gold medallists, including Keianna Albury, Brianne Bethel and 100mH specialist Devynne Charlton.

On the men’s side LaQuan Nairn will look to continue his international winning streak in the long jump after his performance in Mexico. He will be joined by newly minted 200m national champion and Moore’s Island product Stephen Gardiner and U-18 sprint 100m silver medallist Keanu Pennerman.

Mike Sands, president of the BAAA, expressed his confidence in the team.

“It’s a very solid team. If you look at the individual performances of the athletes that qualified they stack up nicely against those not only in the region but in the world as well. With the right synergy, focus and mindset we expect this team to make us proud,” he said. “The kids, coaches and athletes were all focused on qualifying for this event, and once they have found out that they have qualified it is like a new adrenaline they get which allows them to come ready for the meet.”

He noted the benefits of competing at a major IAAF meet relatively close to home and at a venue of historic track and field significance.

“Anyone who knows anything about track and field knows that Eugene, Oregon is the place to be. The community and environment is one of the most beautiful that you will ever come across, but one thing to remember is that it has one of the highest polling counts so it is important that those travelling to Eugene be mindful of that. The athletes’ village will be set up at the University of Oregon. The school, I think, is home to more than 20,000 students and is already built as an athlete-friendly environment,” he said. “It is pleasure not to have to go way to Europe and have to take four, five flights and arrive 24 or 48 hours later. This trip will be an easier trip also because of the three-hour time zone difference as opposed to a 12-hour difference, so finances permitting, we will be heading to Eugene in the next eight to 10 days.”

Since the meet began in 1986, history has shown that many of the IAAF World Junior Championships winners go on to be gold medallists as seniors at the IAAF World Championships and Olympic Games, and are often record- breakers as well.

Capacity crowds are expected for many of the days which will add to the electric atmosphere and, as always, the championships will provide an opportunity to see future stars in the sport go head-to-head.

In event history, the Bahamas is ranked No.30 on the medal table after they won a total of nine medals in the event - four gold and five bronze.

At the most recent edition of the meet hosted in Barcelona, Spain in 2012, the Bahamas won a total of four medals led by Anthonique Strachan’s historic sprint double in the 100m and 200m.

Ryan Ingraham and Latario Collie-Minns took bronze medals in the high jump and long jump respectively.

GIRLS

Keianna Albury

Brianna Bethel

Janae Ambrose

Sheniqua Dosett

Talia Thompson

Danielle Gibson

Carmiesha Cox

Devin Charlton

Mesha Newbold

BOYS

Xavier Coakley

Keanu Pennerman

Cliff Reesis

Ian Kerr

Stephen Gardiner

Janeko Cartwright

Laquan Nairn

Sampson Colebrook

Henry Deluze

Kinard Rolle

Kurt Lewis

Deadro Clarke

Ashley Riley

Javaan Martin