The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

FOR the first time, the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAAs) has assembled a Relay Training Camp at home with the view of getting the teams ready to compete in the Blue Marlin Track Classic on Sunday.

The Independence Day meet at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium will serve as a last chance meet for the men and women 4 x 100 metres and women 4 x 400m teams to secure one of the top 16 times in the world before the Monday (July 11) deadline for the qualification process.

“Today was the first day that we got everybody into camp and right away we started gelling,” said George Cleare, who is the designated head coach of Team Bahamas for the Olympics. “Having a group of people who are happy to be around each other is 80 per cent of the battle.”

Cleare will be working directly with the women’s relay teams and he liked what he saw from the athletes who came home for the training camp.

“I think they’re very focused on the goal of making it to the big dance at the Olympics, so I’m looking forward to them executing their baton exchanges before we compete on Sunday. We have a very good chance of running fast here at home and get the teams to Rio.”

With the games being held every four years, Cleare said if they don’t do it now, they won’t have another chance to compete and with the mixture of youth and experience meshed together, he’s confident that they can get the job done.

The members trying out for the team are all excited to be in the training camp.

“I just think it’s a good opportunity for me to be on the relay team, although I didn’t run a lot of open 100m races,” said Olympic 100m hurdles qualifier Pedrya Seymour. “I’ve ran a lot of relay teams for my school.

“So it’s a good opportunity for me to try and help the Bahamas relay team qualify. We’re looking good. All of the girls are pretty fast and we got our exchanges down in one shot.”

For veteran Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, who got fifth in the 100m at nationals, this is expected to be her last hurrah and she’s looking to go out with a bang in Rio, if the team qualifies.

“We have an excellent group of ladies and we are hoping that we can put it all together on Sunday and qualify,” said Ferguson-McKenzie, who missed qualifying in the 100m. “We have the people. We just have to make sure that we get the stick around and be able to come out here and gel as a team.”

Anthonique Strachan, who has slowly worked herself back into form after undergoing surgery last year, said she’s delighted to be at home competing again. She was the runner-up in the 200m at the nationals.

“This is my fourth meet, including nationals, so I’m excited about it,” Strachan said. “We’re looking strong and good. We stand a strong chance to have a relay team in Rio. Our practices have been going very well and with God’s grace, it should all go well. I know I’m ready to run.”

And Sheniqua ‘Q’ Ferguson, the nationals’ 100m runner-up and 200m third place finisher, said she is excited about the Bahamas’ chances on Sunday.

“Everything is looking good. I think we have the legs and the speed to qualify,” she said. “It’s just a matter of us going out there and executing. We are just in the middle of passing the baton and it’s going smoothly. We just have to continue to practice and get ready for Sunday.”

She’s one of the two youngest members trying out, but Shaquania Dorsett said she’s not going to let her inexperience deter her.

“It’s nice being here because I’m learning stuff that I didn’t really know about passing the baton,” she said. “So it’s been a good experience. These ladies have some positive vibes about competing and I’m just trying to gain as much knowledge from them as possible.”

Double national sprint champion Tynia Gaither said they have all fitted in quite well.

“We have a very strong group of girls here. Everyone is finally here. We’re starting to put it together, so I think we are going to do something magical on Sunday,” she said. “I know I’m honoured to be here because I haven’t had the privilege of working with the ladies until now, so it feels good to finally bring all the talent together.”

Tayla Carter, the national 100m fourth place finisher, said she’s just as eager as her teammates in running on Sunday. “I think it’s a privilege and a blessing to be here,” she said. “Not everyone gets this opportunity so to be selected among my countrymen to represent the Bahamas is an honour.

“I will do my best to represent the Bahamas at the 2016 Olympic Games if we get to make it there. So I’m excited to see what this weekend holds as we push to strive to qualify for the Olympics.”

Carter said the team’s chemistry is coming together. “We are looking very well. Everything seems to be cohesive,” she said. “There are just a couple of things that we need to fix in terms of timing, but everyone is looking healthy and strong. So all we have to do is pass the stick around and finish strong.”

Quarter-miler Lanece Clarke has a dual role to play on Sunday, but she said she’s up to the task.

“I want to say thank you to coach Cash for putting on this last chance meet because it also gives me the opportunity to chase my Olympic dream of qualifying in the 400, so I am happy for that,” she said.

“Secondly, I feel very thankful to be a part of the Bahamas’ relay pool to help us qualify for the Olympics. We know that everybody wants to see the Bahamas compete at the big games. We have a very good pool of sprinters this year with a lot of young athletes. So I think we are all going to do very well.”

Also included in the relay pool were collegiate sprinters Jenae Ambrose and Carmiesha Cox and veteran quarter-miler Christine Amertil.