The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations hosted its second national championships in two weeks, this time for the juniors, at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium over the weekend.

The meet served as a qualifier for both the 8th IAAF World Youth Championships, scheduled for July 15-19 in Cali, Columbia and the 18th Pan American Junior Athletics Championships set for July 31 to August 2 at the Foote Field in Edmonton, Canada.

The IAAF World Youth Championships is designed for athletes who are 17 years or younger, while the Pan Am Jr Championships is for athletes who are 19 years and under.

No Bahamians are listed on the World Youth Championships list, but sprinter Anthonique Strachan is the only Bahamian to hold a Jr Pan Am record. Her mark is in the women’s 200 metres in Miramar, Florida, in 2011, when she ran 22.70 seconds.

Looking at the performances turned in at the junior nationals, which came on the heels of the CAC Age Group Championships, BAAA president Mike Sands said he’s looking forward to the Bahamas being well represented in both events this year.

“I’m very pleased with the performances and the fact that we have a number of qualifiers,” Sands said. “It means that we should have two quality teams to compete at the Jr Pan Am and the World Youth Championships.”

Sands, however, said the BAAA will provide an additional meet for the athletes to compete in when the National Open Track and Field Championship is held over the weekend of June 26-27 before both of the final teams are selected.

“Some of the juniors will also be competing there, so it will give those that didn’t have the opportunity to compete for spots on the teams,” Sands said. “It’s not mandatory, but if they have not made the standards, they are encouraged to come out and compete.

“We are also looking for those who would have made the standard and would be named provisionally, subject to ratification, to come out and compete as they will get a chance to compete at a level they will compete at the global level of the World Youth Championships and Jr Pan Am.”

Although they will identify those athletes who would have attained the qualifying standards for both events, Sands said the BAAA will officially name the teams at the conclusion of the National Open Track and Field Championships.

There were a number of multiple winners at the trials over the weekend.

Brianne Bethel, the Grand Bahamian who competed on the Bahamas women’s 4 x 100 and 4 x 200m relay teams at the IAAF World Relays, pulled off a double in the under-28 girls 100m in 11.65 and the 200m in 24.00.

Dreshanae Rolle won the 400m in 56.36 and 400m hurdles in 1:02.96, while Quanisha Marshall, also from Grand Bahama, doubled up in the 800m in 2:24.25 and the 1,500m in 5:13.94.

On the field, Serena Brown took the shot put with a toss of 14.55m and the discus with a heave of 44.73m.

Donovan Storr led the under-18 boys division by turning in his deuce in the 200m in 21.73 and the 400m in 48.98. Javan Martin, who has already qualified in both sprints, came through with a victory in the century in 10.48.

Deondre Rutherford picked up a pair of victories in the discus with 44.34m and the javelin with 60.18m.

In a clash of the two titans in the under-20 girls division, Jenae Ambrose captured the 100m in 11.73 and the 200m in 24.03 as Keianna Albury got second twice in the 100m in 11.89 and the 200m in 24.29. Coshan Campbell pulled off the 400m (57.45) and 800m (2:37.56) double.

Brashe Wood was the only double winner on the field, taking the shot put with 11.83m and the discus with 44.66m. However, Vinisa Beneby soared 1.71m in the high jump and Bria Sands cleared 11.78m in the triple jump.

The under-20 boys sprints were split up as Keanu Pennerman crossed the line first in the straight away race in 10.35 ahead of Ian Kerr’s 10.57. Kerr came back and returned the favour in the half-lap race in 21.13 with Pennerman getting third in 21.37 behind Kendrick Thompson’s 21.30 for second. Thompson was third in the century in 10.57.

Grand Bahamian Henry Delauze won the one-lap race in 47.01, while Rocky Jean-Louis of Moore’s Island came through with his victories in the 800m in 1:53.91 and the 1,500m in 4:02.72.

LaQuan Nairn was one of two double winners on the field as he took the long jump with 7.45m and the high jump with 2.05m. He was joined by Drexel Maycock in the shot put with 16.12m and the discus with 54.78m.

Denzel Pratt threw the javelin 64.07m and Jamieson Pratt did the triple jump with 14.00m.