The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

FOR the fifth consecutive year, coach April Smith is in town to conduct the Blue Chips Athletic Club's Annual Throwers Summer Camp.

Rain or shine, the camp, organised by Blue Chips Athletic Club founder and coach Corrington Maycock, will get started at 9am today and will wrap up on Saturday at the Queen's College campus. Daily sessions will run until 3pm.

Smith, in her fourth season as an assistant coach in charge of the Fresno State throws group, said she's delighted to be back to facilitate the camp along with her husband Robert, a former throws coach at Appalachian State, now coaching at a high school in Fresno State.

"It's going to be a very interesting and fun camp this year because I have campers who have been a camper all four years that I have been here," Smith said. "So we're going to have an advanced portion for those campers where we will introduce a next level for the technical aspects from the college aspect that we will be introducing to them.

"And we will have a portion for the beginners where we go through the basics and teach them the introduction to the sport. I've gotten some video from Corrie on a lot of the youngsters who will be coming into the camp for the first time, so we are very excited to work with those campers."

The expectations for this year's camp is at a high level, according to Smith, because of the dynamics of what they will be implementing this year.

"Each year the camp has grown, so hopefully this will be one of our biggest year," she projected. "I know that there is a lot of talent here and that has been evident by the successes of some of the campers, who went on to compete at the Carifta Games. So hopefully that trend will continue with those who come out and participate."

Coming out of her previous trips here, Smith has been able to sign her second Bahamian to a college scholarship at Fresno State in California. She noted that Latia Saunders will be begin her freshman year starting in August and will be teaming up with Tahj'Nee Thurston, another thrower, who is on the Bulldogs' roster along with sprinter/long jump Andira Ferguson.

"Corrie has sent me some video of some of the campers who I will be looking at for further consideration and the good thing is that they are expected to be at the camp," she stated. "So I'm really looking forward to the talent that is available here and we will continue to look at the talent that is available."

Smith said her and her husband brought their two sons, age 15 and 12 years old, who will coming to the camp.

"The weather is not going to be a problem for us," she insisted. "If it rains, we have the indoor facilities at Queen's College where we can revert and get in some gym work and get some other things done. So I don't want the campers to feel that the weather is going to be a factor.

"I just really appreciate all of the support that we have gotten from the time we came off the airplane. I am looking forward to spending the week here and looking forward to working with as many of the campers as we can this year."

Maycock said the camp will go on as planned and so the campers can look forward to an exciting time this week.

"I just want the campers to come out and have some fun at the camp," May cock stressed. "The important thing is for them to know that they have the potential to be able to get a scholarship and at the same time, they can advance their skills in the throwing events."

Maycock said they couldn't ask for a better facilitator than Smith, who has contributed greatly to the Bahamian community by providing scholarships to athletes in the past and she continue to do so for those deserving of one.

Ronald Cartwright, Maycock's former mentor and coach when he competed, will also be a part of the camp. Cartwright is the head coach of RC Athletics.

Interested persons wishing to participate in the camp are urged to contact Maycock at coachmaycoxk@yahoo.com or call 395-6381.