The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

ADD the Bahamas National High School All-Star Relays 2015 Relay Championship to the résumé of the St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine Track and Field Programme.

The Big Red Machine powered by the field of more than 25 schools to claim the title while the St John’s College Giants finished second and Queen’s College Comets third.

Hundreds of student athletes throughout the country took to the track at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium to contest the 4x100m, 4x200m, 4x400m and sprint medley relays.

They also contested individual sprint events, the 100m, 200m and 400m.

The event served as a qualifier and test event leading up to the IAAF/BTC World Relays Bahamas 2015, scheduled for May 2-3.

The top eight male and female teams in the 4x100m, 4x200m and 4x400m relays will qualify for the “One Lane, One School” high school segment of the world relays on Sunday, May 3.

It was also a major part of the selection process for Saturday’s junior segment of the world relays where student athletes represent their respective islands in the “One Island, One Lane” competition.

Both junior segments will precede the main event, beginning at 5pm.

Prior to the meet, Frank “Pancho” Rahming, senior director of competitions for the IAAF/BTC World Relays Bahamas, said the importance of the meet served two purposes - to showcase the athletes as qualifiers and give a preview to the meet logistics.

“We want to simulate the world relays as much as possible this weekend, even in terms of event presentations and bus schedules to and from the hotels and the stadium,” said Rahming.

“This weekend is very important to us, not just for the competition side, but for other sections as well, particularly media and security.”

Bringing brief remarks at the opening ceremony was Minister of National Security Dr Bernard J Nottage, who was a long-time president of the Bahamas Amateur Athletics Association (BAAA).

He observed that the High School Relays was the first in a series of first-class events to be held this year at the stadium.

It was organised by the Local Organising Committee of the IAAF/BTC World Relays Bahamas 2015.