The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE numbers were not as high as they had anticipated, but Sherry Francis said they were appreciative of the athletes, coaches and clubs who came out to support the second annual Thelma Murray Road Race.

On Saturday, the event was held at the Bahamas Hot Rod Association facilities in memory of the deceased Murray, mother of the racing clan that included Francis, Ashley and Stephen Murray. She died October 25, 2014 and the family hosted the first road race a month later.

“I noticed that a lot of persons who didn’t participate in the last one came out and competed this time,” said Francis, one of the event organisers. “We’re noticing a lot of young and coming distance runners. We had a lot of kids in the under-10 age group who performed very well from a new club called 3P Stallions, headed by Shericka Rolle.

“She had a girl in that age group, Jazmine Mackey, who is awesome. I think we saw a lot of future 800 metre runners, so I think it’s catching on. We’ve seen a lot of camaraderie with the coaches on the sideline. They are talking and laughing and enjoying themselves. So we just need to get an alliance so that we can get this youth development programme off the ground.”

There were competitors in categories for girls and boys from the under-6 to the open divisions.

• Among the winners were: Zara Fraser, fast forward, under-6 girls; James Knowles, Road Runners, under-6 boys; Azariah Marshall, X-Treme Athletics, under-8 girls; Evin Ferguson, Road Runners, under-8 boys; Jazmine Mackey, 3P Stallions, under-10 girls; Jahmai Maura, Fast Forward, under-10 boys; Tajah Clarke, T-Bird Flyers, under-12 girls; Cayden King, under-12 boys; D’Shantae Forbes, Bahamas High Performance, under-14 girls; Kendrick Major, Fast Forward, under-14 boys; Britini Fountain, Striders Track Club, under-16 girls; Blaze Darling, Fast Forward, under-16 boys; Doniesha Anderson, TWD, under-18 girls; Veronica Bonimy, Striders Track Club, open women and Ian Adderley, Ashland Murray Track Club, open men.