The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

‘GOLDEN Girl’ Shaunae Miller-Uibo threw her endorsement for the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations elections on Saturday behind incumbent secretary general Drumeco Archer, who will be seeking the post of president.

Although Miller-Uibo is unable to vote, she said for what it’s worth, she is endorsing Archer for the top spot when he takes on incumbent president Rosamunde Carey, who is coming off an historic term in office as the first female to head the country’s top-fledged sporting organisation.

“I decided to endorse him and his slate after seeing his concern for the athletes and their well-being,” Miller-Uibo told The Tribune over the weekend, becoming the first athlete to openly express herself in the media, although male quarter-miler Steven Gardiner and female high hurdler Pedrya Seymour have expressed their support on social media.

“In my dealings with him, he seems to have a good heart and is fair. He is always checking with the athletes to find out how their training is going and how can he assist if possible. He simply cares about the athletes.”

It’s no secret that Miller-Uibo and her camp had some problems with Carey and some of her executives during her administration. When asked what she sees different in Archer and his ‘Be The Goat’ slate, Miller-Uibo said it’s the wealth of experience that they bring to the table. “From looking at their slate, everyone seems to have been in the BAAA administration before or constantly around the sport,” she said. “I know all of the candidates on Mr Archer’s team and I have had the pleasure with working with all of them in the past.”

Miller-Uibo, 24, is the country’s premier athlete who is in the running for the IAAF Female Athlete of the Year to be announced live on stage at the IAAF Athletics Awards 2018 in Monaco on Tuesday, December 4 after going through an undefeated season this year. She said if elected, she expects Archer and his team to recognise the athletes whenever they compete and do well for the country. “A lot of the kids and junior athletes should be awarded for their efforts from the federation,” Miller-Uibo stated. “I also expect for them to put the athletes first because without the athletes, there is no need for a federation.

“Also let me note, that from World Championship 2015 to present, never once did the present administration publicly acknowledge and thanked the athletes for their accomplishments.”

At those championships in Beijing, China, the Bahamas finished tied for 22nd with Trinidad & Tobago and Ukraine with Miller-Uibo earning a silver in the women’s 400 metres and Jeffery Gibson a bronze in the men’s 400m hurdles.

In 2017 in London, England, the Bahamas again got a silver from Steven Gardiner in the men’s 400m and Miller-Uibo had to settle for a bronze in the women’s 200m. The Bahamas for a two-way tie with Hungary in 27th spot.

And in between at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Miller-Uibo struck for gold in the women’s 400m and the men’s 4 x 400m team of Michael Mathieu, Alonzo Russell, Steven Gardiner, Chris Brown and Stephen Newbold picked up the bronze.

“I also expect more assistance from the federation when we are at major competitions,” Miller-Uibo stressed. “The athletes need to be focusing on the competition, so I expect the federation to cater to the athletes so our minds can be relaxed and focused on the task ahead.”

If elected, Miller-Uibo said she hope that Archer and his administration would spend more time getting the coaches to spend more time on the raw talent that is available throughout the length and breadth of the Bahamas.

“I would like to see them activate a program for athlete’s development, whereby every two (2) weeks or even a month, coaches can go to the length and breadth of the Bahamas and help develop our athletes,” she proclaim. “There are a lot of talent in the family islands, that can be the G.O.A.T., the greatest of all times.”

Miller-Uibo’s father, Shaun Miller, is the current president of the Bahamas Coaches Association. He too has been agitating for clinics to be conducted on the Family Islands to identify the raw talent that needs to be harnessed.