The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

The best student athletes throughout the country converged on the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium to decide the top school and individual performers in athletics.

Approximately 1,232 athletes, representing 45 schools, will take part in the Scotiabank BAAAs National Track and Field Championships which enters day two 9:30am today.

Of the total, 313 athletes represent 18 schools from the Family Islands, including Abaco Central (Abaco), Arthur’s Town (Cat Island), Bishop Michael Eldon (GB), Central Andros (Andros), Grand Bahama Catholic High (GB), Sir Jack Hayward (GB), LN Coakley (Exuma), Mangrove Cay (Andros), Moore’s Island (Abaco), North Andros (Andros), Preston Albury (Eleuthera), RN Gomez High (Andros), South Andros High, St Paul’s (GB), St George’s (GB), Sunland Baptist (GB), Tabernacle Baptist (GB), and Eight Mile Rock (GB).

Middle distance events, throws and jumps took centre stage on day one, highlighted by jumping sensation Tamar Greene of the Queen’s College Comets.

In the under-18 boys’ triple jump, Greene continued his record-setting ways by setting a new national high school record in the age group. Greene leapt 15.00m to break the previous mark of 14.96m set by Gerard Brown of St Augustine’s College. He accomplished the feat just weeks after he surpassed the 17-year-old BAISS meet record of Olympic bronze medallist Leevan Sands, with a leap of 14.57m.

TA Thompson’s Mookie Rolle continued his dominance from last week’s GSSSA meet and lowered that time by nearly 10 seconds when he took first place in the under-16 boys’ 1,500m in 4:32.33s.

Everette Thurston of Anatol Rodgers took the under-18 boys’ 1,500m in 4:38.03s.

Amber Ford of St John’s took the under-18 girls’ event in 5:18.44s while Kimona Wilson of Queen’s College took the under-16 girls’ event in 5:28.88s.

The Comets’ Daejha Moss took the under-16 girls’ long jump with a leap of 5.44m.

CR Walker swept the medal podium in the under-20 boys’ shot put with Bradley Cooper in first place with a throw of 13.72m, Lenzel Rahming second at 13.23m and Cohen Bastian third at 13.10m.

Michael Williams of Tabernacle Baptist took the under-16 boys’ shot put with a throw of 13.90m. Wilton Johnson currently leads the under-20 boys’ octathlon with 1,403 points.

Curt Hollingsworth, chairman of the National High School Championships, said his committee is charged with raising the standard of the meet to coincide with the BAAAs rebranding effort and expects an exciting three-day meet with top performances.

Hollingsworth, immediate past president of the BAAAs, said the public should expect a competitive meet as student athletes get set to represent the Bahamas on the regional stage. “All schools in the country have been invited and we expected a record number of schools to compete this year. The years when we don’t host CARIFTA tends to be some of the most fulfilling years for us and the most competitive years. It allows our athletes to compete at the nationals, pre-qualify and those who have pre-qualified have the opportunity to then return for CARIFTA trials. So you can expect a really competitive meet coming up. We invite the entire public to come out and see our young people in action as they get the opportunity to demonstrate to the world that we do indeed have the talent we need to excel in athletics,” he said.

On day one, several BAISS, GBHSSA, GSSSA champions have surpassed their performances set at their respective league meets.