The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

FOLLOWING its final trials over the weekend, the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations has released a list of 65 athletes named to the team that will represent the Bahamas at the 2017 Carifta Games in Curacao over the Easter holiday weekend.

After a lengthy selection progress that began around 8am yesterday at Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, Carey said they have decided to stick to their mandate of taking only the qualifiers, but they have added some additional athletes as usual for relay duties.

Looking at the make-up, Carey said they are a little weak in the under-20 girls’ division with most of the country’s best competitors off to school in the United States. But after it was ratified by the general body, they are pleased that they will be taking a very strong team that will surpass the performances from last year in Grenada.

The team, an increase of the 62 that participated last year, was named on Sunday by BAAA president Rosamunde Carey and Mildred Adderley, who will be returning for her second sting as team manager.

Adderley, who headed the delegation that competed last year, said the team would be out to improve on its second place finish with 33 medals and third place in the gold rush.

But she admitted that the under-20 division, especially the girls, is not as strong as it was last year because most of the competitors are away in college and won’t be able to compete.

Joining Adderley on the management team is Clarita Hall as assistant manager, Fiona Tucker, Ann Bullard, Courtney Wallace and Kendrick Brown.

Marvin Darville is the head coach. He will be assisted by Nekeno Demeritte (jumps coach), Corrington Maycock and Dawn Johnson (throwers’ coaches), Kenny Moxey (pole vault coach), Ricky Moxey, Tamar Bodie and Bernard Rolle (sprint coaches) and Ali Rolle (distance coach).

Leading Team Bahamas in the under-18 girls’ division, which will comprise of 14 athletes, is sprint sensation Devine Parker. Jump specialist Daejha Moss will lead the 13-member under-20 division, while sprinters Adrian Curry and Javan Martin will head the boys’ under-18 (20 members) and under-20 (17 members) respectively.

Adderley, however, said the number could increase if they get confirmation from throwing specialist Serena Brown, who is currently attending Texas A&M.

“Most of our athletes named on this team were qualifiers,” Adderley said. “We have added about 10-12 athletes who will be competing on the relay team. If the coaches say where they can put them in any events that they compete in, it’s up to their discretion.

“We got 33 medals last year and we got 31 the prior year and our goal was to improve our medal count,” Adderley stated. “This year, we not just want to increase our medal count, but we want to increase the gold.

“Even though we got more medals than the second-place team, they were named second place because they got one more gold than us. So this year, we are hoping to increase our gold count as well as our overall medal count.”

If the Bahamas doesn’t come first, then Adderley said they expect no less than second place as they get ready to contend with the perennial kingpins, Jamaica.

“We are ready to contain with the world,” she emphasized. “I believe in our athletes. We have a strong team and I would never tell anybody that we are second string. We are ready to compete with the world.”

Carey stressed that the “Bahamian pride run deep.”

Also during the congress that will be held at the games, Carey said the Bahamas would be making a presentation on their preparation for the hosting of the 2018 Carifta Games.

“For us, that is an easy sell,” she pointed out. “We are hosting the World Relays for the third time so we are using the same facilities. We have the venue, we have the accommodations and we have the transportation. So we can say we have all the components to host a very successful 2018 Carifta Games.”

Note: A meeting will be held at 6 pm today at the stadium for the parents and athletes named to the team. At that time, the BAAA will outline the requirements for the athletes to compete in Curacao.