The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Local Organising Committee announced that a total of 26 athletes will represent the Bahamas at the inaugural IAAF World Relays at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium May 24-25.

On both the men’s and women’s side, the Bahamas will compete in a trio of events, the 4x100m, 4x200m and 4x400m.

The team will be led by the reigning Olympic champion and much heralded ‘Golden Knights,’ who return the same squad from their 4x400m triumph at the London Olympics.

Chris Brown, Demetrius Pinder, Michael Mathieu and Ramon Miller will all be in the 4x400m pool, along with Latoy Williams and Alonzo Russell.

The Bahamas is currently ranked No.3 on the IAAF Top Lists in the event.

The team of Mathieu (45.7s split), Pinder (44.7s), Brown (45.09s) and Miller (45.32s) pulled off a stunning victory at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 3:00.78s.

On the women’s side, a youthful squad will be led by a pair of 20-year-olds, World Indoor 400m bronze medallist Shaunae Miller and 200m Olympic semifinalist Anthonique Strachan.

Miller, who has been an active part of the promotional campaign for the meet in the past few days, said she is excited for the rare opportunity to perform before the active home crowd.

“The LOC has done a really good job. Everything is pretty much intact right now and we are ready to go,” she said. “We are really excited for the athletes to come home and compete and I’m really excited to compete in front of the Bahamian people.”

Mike Sands, vice chairman of the LOC and BAAA president, said the Bahamas should be confident and proud of the athletes chosen to represent the country.

“We have relay pools in each of the respective areas, however at the end of the day the final coordination in the events will be made up from discussions between the coach, the athletes and their individual coaches to ensure that we have the maximum performance from the athletes,” he said. “All hands are on deck and we are very excited in seeing them compete.”

The teams will come together for a training camp, beginning this weekend, as they seek to develop chemistry ahead of the meet.

“This will ensure synergy develops,” Sands said. “Training camp is focused on getting the teams focused on synergy, particularly in the 4x100m and 4x200m. We are very confident in this team. I think we will have some surprises. I think the Bahamas is primed for a very exciting period. We have been fortunate to see our young people perform on the world stage but we have a chance to see them perform on the home stage and I can only encourage Bahamians to come and support them while they compete here.”

“The criteria was sent out over a month ago. Every effort was made to contact every athlete. The criteria as indicated was the top six in each event and you would have to have competed this season,” he said. “We have to understand and appreciate that a number of athletes in the US school system, and while we would like to have them here they have commitments and the universities did not release them.