The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

LAKEISHA Miller became the ninth Bahamian overall out of the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation and the second in three months to earn her professional bodybuilding card.

Over the weekend at the Ben Weider Legacy Cup in Toronto, Canada, Miller led a 10-member team by winning the master women's physique overall to pick up a total of three of the Bahamas' seven medals.

Miller, leading the way for the Bahamas, won the master women's physique 35-44 years by dominating the field of three others. She also out-classed six others in the women's physique over 163cm and she won over two others in the master women's physique overall.

"It feels great," Miller told The Tribune. "It's a long time coming."

Miller, who has been in the sport for over 10 years, but had a break before coming back in 2014, follows in the footsteps of Jameil Hamilton, who earned his pro card by winning the men's bodybuilding overall and the men's bodybuilding over 100kg at the Ben Weider Legacy Cup in Aruba August 4-6.

Miller and Hamilton adds to the elite list of Bahamians that have pro cards, including Charles Kemp, who became the first recipient in 1998 in El Salvador, Natasha 'Downtown' Brown in 2002 in Venezuela, Joel Stubbs in 2003 here at home, Gena Mackey in 2007 in Bermuda, James 'Jay' Darling in 2011 in El Salvador and Dominique Wilkinson in 2013 in the Dominican Republic and Dawn Charlton in 2015 also at home.

In Toronto, Miller and the rest of the Bahamians participated in the Ben Weider Legacy Cup after the Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships was cancelled in Mexico because of the damage left behind by Hurricane Irma.

The Bahamas along with Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, Curacao, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago and the US Virgin Islands all took advantage of the invitation to compete in the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness sanctioned event with the United States and Canada.

Gemo Smith won over three competitors in the master men's physique 40-44 years open, while Paul Wilson was the lone competitor entered in the men's bodybuilding up to 70kg and Sidney 'Butts' Outten was the lone ranger in the master men's bodybuilding over 60 years open.

Wilson, however, was seventh in a field of nine competitors in the men's bodybuilding overall with Outten coming in ninth. Grand Bahamian Bernard Davis got 11th out of a field of 12 competitors in the men's bodybuilding over 100 kg.

Also, Alberto Armbrister placed fourth out of eight in the men's physique up to 170cm Class A, Smith was ninth out of 10 in the men's physique up to 174cm Class B and he finished sixth out of seven in the men's physique overall.

Grand Bahamian Tammy Stubbs got fourth out of six in the master women's body fitness 35-44 years up to 163 cm and she was sixth out of nine in the women's body fitness up to 160 cm Class A; Dekel Nesbitt came in fifth out of five in the women's body fitness up to 166 cm Class C and Shakira Ferguson was 11th out of 14 in the women's bikini-fitness up to 163 cm Class B.

Stubbs, who serves as the president of the federation and coach of Miller, Hamilton, Mackey and Charlton, said he was very proud of the Bahamian athletes, although they didn't compete as an official Team Bahamas delegation.

"I thought it was a gutsy effort of the Bahamian athletes from the federation," he said. "I think we had a very, very excellent performance on their part.

"Their bodies were still in great shape from their preparation for the CAC, even though I thought at this time some of them would have dropped off. But they stepped up to the plate in grand style."

Stubbs said the Bahamian athletes were all commended on how well they performed and he figured that had they carried the entire team that was originally named to travel to the CAC Championships, they probably would have had some more outstanding performances.

"We still have that much more to offer, but there were some financial issues for some of them and one or two couldn't get the time of from their jobs to go and compete," said Stubbs after they had already made plans to travel in September to Mexico.

"But nonetheless, we were just happy and grateful and thankful for the few athletes who took it upon themselves to purchased their own tickets to travel. Once they got there, the federation paid for their rooms and other accommodations."

Even though he's the coach of Miller, Stubbs said she stepped up and performed exceptionally well and deserved the honor of becoming the latest Bahamian pro card recipient.

"The best is still yet to come. We still have a few more athletes who are vying for the same opportunities and the same abilities to get their pro cards," he projected.

"We will get them there. It's just a matter of time. From the time I took office, we were just plagued with the financial status of this federation, but the athletes are putting their best foot forward in trying to get to the next level."

Although they are still looking for more financial support, Stubbs said they are grateful to the Bahamas government for their assistance. He said they are still asking corporate Bahamas to make their contributions to help the federation continue to push their athletes forward.

Stubbs also commended Terran Knowles, who recently competed in Miami, Florida where he placed second and third in three different categories and was awarded three swords for his accomplishment.