The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

JUST ahead of their official recognition and celebrations at home, several members of Team Bahamas were recognised by their university for their participation in the Rio Olympic Games.

Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, Leevan Sands and Teray Smith were introduced at halftime of the Auburn Tigers’ 51-14 win over Arkansas State on Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama.

They were just three of five current or former Tigers to represent Team Bahamas in Rio, along with Sheniqua Ferguson and Donald Thomas.

The Tigers went on to win their first game of the year after a season-opening loss to No.2 ranked Clemson last week.

In her third Olympic appearance, Vanderpool-Wallace competed in the 100m and 50m Free in Rio.

In the 50m Free, her signature event, Vanderpool-Wallace, the 26-year-old veteran, clocked 24.60 seconds, but was edged out for the eighth and final spot by Aliksandra Herasimenia of Belarus, who was fifth in the second semis in 24.53.

She finished ninth overall in the event.

In the 100m Free, she finished seventh in heat six and No.18 overall in 54.56 and two spots shy of a spot in the semi-final.

Sands returned from a near career-ending injury at the last Olympics in London, England and completed his inspiring and highly publicised “Road To Recovery.”

Sands, the 34-year-old veteran, could only muster a best leap of 16.53 metres or 54-feet, 2 3/4-inches on his third and final attempt for 10th place in Group A and 18th place overall.

The former Beijing 2008 Olympic bronze medallist in the event was also the Bahamas’ flag bearer for the closing ceremonies.

Smith, the only current member of the Tigers’ programme, enters his senior season at Auburn following his Olympic debut.

It wasn’t what he anticipated, but Smith knew that after a long season at Auburn University, the 200m in Rio would be a challenge.

The 21-year-old came through the fourth heat in 20.65 for sixth place, but not fast enough to get a shot in the semis. Smith was left out tied with two others for 52nd overall from of a field of 77 competitors.

Ferguson, 26, also competed in the 200m and was eighth in her heat in 23.62. She ended up 58 out of a field of 72 competitors in her second Olympic appearance.

Thomas, the 32-year-old 2007 IAAF World champion, came up with a jump of 2.29m to finish seventh in Rio.

He was clear through the first three heights at 2.20m and 2.29m before he knocked down all three attempts at 2.33m.

Thomas recently completed his season on the IAAF Diamond League circuit at the AG Insurance Memorial Van Damm in Brussels, Belgium.

The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture announced last week that the celebrations for Team Bahamas for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, will take place this weekend.

The ministry has revealed that in conjunction with the Bahamas Olympic Committee, Tommy Stubbs and Buttons Formal Wear has been charged with the organisation of Team Bahamas’ celebrations.

It is scheduled for 3pm Sunday, September 18, at the Melia Beach Hotel, Cable Beach.

“Immediately following the event, the general public is invited to join us in a motorcade from Melia Nassau Beach Hotel through the streets of Nassau ending at the Fish Fry, Arawak Cay, where the athletes and the entire Bahamas Olympic team members will mix and mingle with the Bahamian public,” according to a press release.

The celebrations for the entire team will take place almost a month after a celebration was held for Shaunae Miller for winning the gold medal in the 400m.