The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ORLANDO, Florida: A seven-member track and field team from the College of the Bahamas will compete in the Embry Spike Classic this weekend.

The team, managed by Sean Bastian and coached by Bradley Cooper will compete today and Saturday at Embry University before returning home on Sunday. Also assisting with the team is Deandra Mills, the team trainer.

Cooper, the Wellness Center manager at COB, said he's looking forward to the team performing very well as the Caribs compete in their fourth international meet for the year.

"I expect a lot of personal best from this team. This is the team that we have been working with basically for the whole year and I expect for them to conquer the events that they are competing in," he said. "We just came back put of Jamaica and it was a lesson learnt for us. We didn't expect what we saw, but our kids rose to the occasion, so I expect coming out of Jamaica and competing here, we will take our performances up a little higher."

Freshmen Cody Willis and Cresy Dussard are entered in the 100m, while, Willis, Dussard and Dennis Williamson will be entered in the 200m. Williamson will also compete in the 400m, while Avery Thompson will contest the javelin and possibly the 110m hurdles. All four men will also team up to run the 4 x 100m relay. As for the three women - seniors Ashley Oembler and Knastachia Cooper, as well as sophomore Sheriya Ferguson, will all compete in both the shot putt and discus.

"We're looking for some great performances from all of them," Cooper said.

Here's a profile of the athletes competing this weekend from COB:

Name: Ashley Oembler

Age: 20.

High School: St Augustine's College.

Major: BioChem.

Class: Senior.

Event: Shot put and discus.

Personal best: 12.05m (SP), 43.19m (Discus).

Season's Best: 11.07m (SP), 43.19m (Discus).

Name: Knastachia Cooper.

Age: 21.

High School: Bahamas Academy.

Major: Social Work.

Class: Senior.

Event: Shot put and discus.

Personal best: 11.30m (SP), 37.88m (Discus).

Season's Best: 10.70m (SP), 37.88m (Discus).

Name: Sheriya Ferguson.

Age: 19.

High School: Government High.

Major: Art.

Class: Sophomore.

Event: Shot put and discus.

Personal best: 11.07m (SP), 38.28m (Discus).

Season's Best: 11.07m (SP), 36.23m (Discus).

Name: Cresy Dussard.

Age: 20.

High School: Doris Johnson Secondary High.

Major: Electrical Engineering.

Class: Freshman.

Event: 100/200m.

Personal best: 10.70 secs (100m), 21.9 secs. (200m).

Season's Best: 11.1 secs (100m), 22.17 secs (200m).

Name: Coty Willis.

Age: 19.

High School: Catholic High (Grand Bahama).

Major: Physical Education.

Class: Freshman

Event: 100/200m.

Personal best: 10.6 secs (100m), 21.95 secs. (200m).

Season's Best: 11.01 secs (100m), 22.3 secs (200m).

Name: Avery Thompson.

Age: 21.

High School: CV Bethel Secondary High.

Major: Physical Education.

Class: Freshman.

Event: 110m hurdles/Javelin.

Personal best: 14.76 secs (110m hurdles), 5035m (javelin).

Season's Best: 14.8 secs (110m hurdles), 50.35m (javelin).

Name: Dennis Williamson.

Age: 20.

High School: CR Walker Secondary High.

Major: Nursing.

Class: Freshman.

Event: 200/400m.

Personal best: 21.79 secs (200m), 47.89 secs. (400m).

Season's Best: 21.79 secs (200m), 47.89 secs (400m).