The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations has released the names of a mixture of 29 youth and experienced athletes that will represent Team Bahamas at the 2nd International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) World Relays, scheduled for May 2-3 at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium.

The team, which will only compete in the men’s and women’s 4 x 100, 4 x 200 and 4 x 400 metres, was named late last night just ahead of today’s IAAF deadline. The BAAA has opted not to participate in the 4 x 800m and the distance medley, which replaced the 4 x 1,500m. At last year’s relays, the Kenyans set world records, winning the men’s and women’s 4 x 1,500m races.

Last year, the Bahamas’ 28-member team finished eighth on the 43-country points chart with 15.0 as the United States dominated, carting off the Golden Baton as the top country with 60. Jamaica, who set a world record in the 4 x 200m without Usain Bolt, but with Yohan Blake, got second with 41.0 and Kenya got third with 35.

The Bahamas came up with one medal in the men’s 4 x 400m relay as the team of LaToy Williams, Demetrius Pinder, Chris Brown and Michael Mathieu ran 2:57.59 for the silver behind the United States, anchored by LaShawn Merritt, in 2:57.25. Trinidad & Tobago got the bronze with Jarrin Solomon on anchor in a national record of 2:58.43.

The BAAA team selection for this year’s relays come at the completion of the National High School Relays held over the weekend at the stadium. The BAAA included events for the women’s and men’s 100, 200 and 400 metres in a bid to give athletes a last chance meet to run one of the top eight times, which the BAAA was hoping to use as a guideline as there was no official trials or qualifying standards.

With the exception of Golden Knight Ramon Miller, who made his debut after suffering an injury at the initial World Relays, and sprinter V’Alonee Robinson, none of the elite athletes competed in the meet. Except for those two, all of the athletes named to the team participated in meets in the United States or were considered based on their past performances in the case of those who have not competed so far this year.

• Here’s the list of athletes who were named to the various pools in the events the Bahamas will be participating in:

Women’s 4 x 100m

Brianne Bethel (junior athlete)

V’Alonne Robinson

Tylar Carter

Adanaca Brown

Keianna Albury (junior)

Krystal Bodie

Men’s 4 x 100m

Alfred Higgs

Shane Jones

Deneko Brown,

Trevorvano Mackey

Javan Martin

Blake Bartlette

Women’s 4 x 200m

Anthonique Strachan

Sheniqua Ferguson

Shaunae Miller

Adanaca Brown (junior athlete)

Brianne Bethel (junior athlete)

Lanece Clarke

Men’s 4 x 200m

Andretti Bain

Alfred Higgs

Javan Martin

Deneko Brown

Blake Bartlett

Trevorvano Mackey

Women’s 4 x 400m

D’Nia Freeman

Lanece Clarke

Brianca Farrington

Shaquania Dorsett (junior athlete)

Christine Amertil

Katrina Seymour

Men’s 4 x 400m

Steven Gardiner

Michael Mathieu

LaToy Williams

Christopher Brown

Ramon Miller

Alonzo Russell

The head coach is Rupert Gardiner, assisted by Shaun Miller and Fritz Grant. The management team includes Kim Hanna and Nathaniel McKinney.