The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE the list of names missing from the roster for Team Bahamas as we approach the IAAF World Relays, BAAA executives and team coaches are confident with the state of the team moving forward and urge the country to pledge their full support behind those competing.

“We put together the best possible persons that are available. I would not say we have a weakness, we may not be as strong in some areas due to injuries to some of our key athletes that will have an impact on one or two of the relays, but nevertheless we are going to put together the best combination to compete,” national team head coach Fritz Grant said.

“We are focused, everybody is locked in and everybody has a role to play. Based on what I have seen in the training camps we are running extremely well, it’s just a matter of putting it all together.

“The BAAAs established the criteria and what we have put together are the best athletes capable of competing. In all these events I think we are going to be very, very competitive and we are going to do our endeavour best. We just have to be strong and continue to focus on the task at hand. I must say that the athletes are eager, the training camp has been going extremely well. We are looking forward to going out there and putting on a good show for the Bahamian public.”

Within the members of Team Bahamas still able to compete, Grant said the team continues to deal with several minor injuries, but the team still boasts a number of strengths.

“The mens 4x400m is obviously one of the favourites moving forward. The women’s 4x200m still has a good chance even though we are missing one person, nevertheless we are looking forward to putting a very good team together. Both the women’s and the men’s 4x100m have a very good chance of getting to the final, but of course with all these sprint relays you can have the foot speed but you have to pay attention to detail in the exchange zone. We are going to see Team Bahamas really execute those exchanges. Once we do that and get in the finals, anything can happen then,” he said.

“We are going to look at how we can strategically put our athlete in the best possible position based on their strengths and weaknesses, it’s all about matchups, and it’s all about how you strategise. We will put the best persons in the best positions to maximise our potential.”

Grant’s assessment of the team comes on the heels of the announcement that one of the most recognisable figures in track and field, Shaunae Miller, was forced to withdraw from the meet, just three days prior to competition.

“Anytime you run 22 seconds, and you have that type of speed and strength, you are going to be missed,” he said. “It will impact us somewhat but nevertheless we have to move forward and we have to give these athletes who are here an opportunity. We have to utilise the gifts and talents that we do have available to us.”

It should be noted that Miller is not the only athlete named to the team who will not be competing. Veteran sprinters Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie and Derrick Atkins both withdrew because of injuries.

“Injuries are a habit of our trade and often times they come at an inopportune time. Unfortunately we cannot allow injuries to members of our team to deter us from our stated goals and objectives,” said BAAA president Mike Sands. “At the end of the day we cannot dwell on what could have been. We are faced with a challenge over the next few hours to face the world, and so we will focus our attention to performing to the best of our ability under any circumstances.”

The team is coached by Grant, Rupert Gardiner, Roger Charlton and Cherish Hollingsworth.

“The fact that we are home is an advantage and while the coaching staff may appear skeletal, we are in a position to have all the other local coaches who will be accredited and will have the opportunity to work closely with the athletes and have access to the athletes,” Sands said.

“The team is very competent the synergy has been developed while they have been isolated from the general public. Through it all, Team Bahamas is ready to battle. We are going to war with the army that we have and I’m sure we are going to make the Bahamas proud.”