The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IT wasn’t the start the Bahamas men’s national volleyball team expected at the XXII Central American and Caribbean Games in Veracruz, Mexico.

On Tuesday at the Arena Cordoba, Team Bahamas got swept 3-0 by Cuba in a match that lasted one hour and 10 minutes. Cuba won 25-20, 25-16 and 25-15.

Playing out of Pool B, coach DeVince Smith will have to find a way to get Team Bahamas to regroup before they play their next match against Puerto Rico today.

Team Bahamas was simply too small compared to Cuba and they never really got to mount any serious challenge in the match that highlighted a series of activities for the Bahamas.

Here’s a brief look at what transpired:

ATHLETICS

With their third final in two days, Team Bahamas is still looking for its first medal at the Heriberto Jara Athletic Stadium. All hopes rested on the shoulders of sprinter Adrian Griffith in the men’s 100 metres. The 30-year-old was only able to clock 10.48 seconds that placed him eighth overall. The gold went to Cruz Palacios of Hondurus in 10.27. while Levi Cadogan of Barbados took the silver in the same identical time, picking up the bronze was Yaniel Carrero of Cuba in 10.28.

The other finalist for Team Bahamas yesterday was Delron Innis in the men’s shot put. Innis, 26, finished eighth as well with his best throw of 14.40 metres. Winning the gold was Mario Cota of Mexico with 19.30m on his sixth and final attempt. His compatriot Stephen Saenz got the silver with 19.27m on his third throw, while the bronze went to Raymond Brown of Jamaica with a heave of 18.30m on his second toss.

It was Innis’ second appearance in a final. On day one of athletics on Monday, he was also eighth with a best of 41.24m. Jorge Fernandez of Cuba took the gold with 63.17, Maurici Ortega of Colombia won the silver with 60.69m and the bronze went to Mario Cota of Mexico with 58.21m.

Also yesterday, Petra McDonald advanced to the final of the women’s 100 metre hurdles with the eighth and final spot after she placed fifth in her heat in 13.98. The 30-year-old, last of the two females on the track team, will run out of lane one in the final today.

And Wesley Neymour, competing in the preliminaries of the men’s 400m, ran 47.25 for fifth place in his heat. He finished 14th overall in the three heats combined and failed to advance to the final.

TENNIS

While the men and women singles players as well as the mixed doubles team were all eliminated on day one of competition at the Palmas Racquet Club, the two doubles teams feared much better.

On the men’s side, the duo of Philip Major and captain Marvin Rolle had an easy outing, taking down the team of Shakir Elvin and Kyle Joseph in 47 minutes in straight identical scores of 6-1 (24 mins), 6-1 (23 mins).

The ladies’ pair of Kerrie Cartwright and co-team captain Larikrah Russell needed 1hr and 36 mins before they prevailed with a hard fought 6(5)-7 (44 mins), 6-4 (39mins) and 10-6 (11mins) victory.

BOWLING

The first six-game bloc in singles was contested yesterday with Team Bahamas turning in varied results. Competing out of Women’s A squad, Janice Lockhart ended up in 25th spot with a total 941 and an average of 156.8. Driskell Rolle was tied with another competitor for 26th with her total of 933 and a 155.5 average.

However, when combined, Johnson leads the pack in 43th spot, followed by McClain in 46, Lockhart 50th, (Driskell) Rolle 51st and (Camille) Rolle 56th.

On the men’s side, Leonardo Davis was sitting in 21st spot with a total of 1,178 and an average of 196.3. He was followed by David Slatter in 22nd with a total of 1,177 and an average of 196.2. Sonith Lockhart was 29th with a 1,046 total and an average of 174.3. Both the men and women will be back on the lanes today.

SAILING

All activities for Team Bahamas on the water were postponed due to the rough seas yesterday. Skipper Robert Dunkey and crew member Michelle Hope were scheduled to compete in races five and six but they were both called off. Through the first four races, Dunkley and Hope are sitting in sixth place with six points.

And Paul de Souza, competing in the Sunfish Class, is currently in fourth place with four points after the first four races. Yesterday’s fifth race was postponed due to the rough seas.