The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHILE you come out on the final day of competition for the final CARIFTA Trials, fans can also participate in the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ Steak-Out and Family Fun Day at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium on Saturday.

BAAA assistant treasurer Mildred Adderley, who will also head the team that will travel to Grenada over the Easter holiday weekend as the team manager, said they are encouraging the public not just to come out and cheer for the athletes, but to also make a financial contribution during the festivities to assist the association in their much needed fund raising extravaganza.

“We don’t want to be known as the BAAA that just wants to look for a handout. We want to be involved in our own finances and assisting ourselves as well,” Adderley said. “This is our first official fund raiser. We will be having the bouncing castle and cotton candy so the younger ones can enjoy themselves also.

“We are also hoping that the people who will come out to pick up their steaks will also stick around and watch some of the action. This is one of the drawing cards for us to get more people to come out and watch our athletes compete.”

More than 100 athletes have signed up to compete and there are some collegiate athletes who will not get a chance to come home because of their school commitments. But out of that list, the BAAA is hoping to field its team to represent the Bahamas in Georgetown, Grenada at the CARIFTA Games over the Easter holiday weekend.

“As the team manager, I am really excited about the performances we will see this weekend,” she said. “We are looking forward to the competitors from Grand Bahama and the Family Islands as well as New Providence.

“Our junior athletes are passionate about making this 2016 CARIFTA team so I am sure we will see quite a bit of standards met and surpassed over the weekend. At the end of the event, we should have a very strong CARIFTA team heading to Grenada, hungry for gold medals.”

Following the trials on Saturday, the BAAA will ratify the team on Sunday. The BAAA is hoping to improve on the second place with 31 medals, including eight gold that the team got last year in St Kitts and Nevis. The Bahamas once again had to play second fiddle behind the perennial kingpins Jamaica.

As the BAAA hosts the trials and the steak out simultaneously, Adderley agrees to put out a plea to the general public to show their appreciation and support of the BAAA and the junior athletes.

“There are a number of events happening around town this weekend, but the Thomas A Robinson Stadium is the place to be,” she said. “I am encouraging all Bahamians to come out and be a part of this very exciting once in a lifetime event.”