The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation's five-member team gave it their best shot at the Caribbean Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships held over the weekend at the Renaissance Hotel in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The young team saw Kaif Young emerge with a silver medal in the men's physique Tall Class over 182cm and Wellington Wallace with another in the men's physique D class up to and including 178 cm.

Fania Joseph was a fourth place finisher in the women's Bikini Fitness Class Up to and including 160 cm and David Dormavil was fifth in the men's physique up to and including 170 cm, while Bertram Miller placed 10th in the men's muscular physique up to and including 175 cm.

Unofficially, the Bahamas finished seventh overall. The championships saw the Dominican Republic cart off the overall title with Venezuela second and Puerto Rico coming in third.

Federation president Joel Stubbs, who also accompanied the team, congratulated the members for what he called a "gutsy" performance. The team was managed by Leonardo 'Nardo' Dean and coached by Raymond Tucker.

"There were great and enthusiastic competitors at this year's championships. You never know what you are up against until you reach and then of course it's time to battle," he said. "I want to congratulate David Dormavil, who had a gutsy performance against a field of some 12 guys in his category, a bunch of talented guys with a lot of muscles.

"He edged out so many guys because of his symmetrical shape. He tapered what they called the X-factor. His muscles are still maturing and over the course of time, maybe a year from now, he will be much more impressive."

Francisco Soriano from the Dominican Republic was the gold medallist. The silver went to Weston McDonald from Jamaica and Yannick Grimes from Guyana took home the bronze.

For a novice at the championships, Stubbs said Joseph also performed exceptionally well. The gold went to Meryenith Rojas from Venezuela, the silver was awarded to Anilly Castillo from the Dominican Republic and Melissa Seaforth from Antigua & Barbuda picked up the bronze.

"I was really happy to see her make the final first of all and then to finish in fourth place," he said.

"I thought she did very well, seeing the bodies that she went up against. So excelling as high as fourth place is very good."

Stubbs noted that it was a tough field this year for Wallace and it showed as he was unable to successfully defend his title, having to settle for the silver this time around. He was beaten out by Carlos Alvarez of Puerto Rico.

"This was a shock to all of us. We thought Wellington would have won his category again," Stubbs said. "But from the outcome that we saw, the judges saw something differently. Not a problem. We celebrate his silver medal as well. We understand that he will go back into the trenches and make the adjustment." Stubbs added that to see Young emerge from being out of a top six finalist in his initial appearance three years ago to become a silver medalist is a remarkable improvement. He lost out to Kenroy Christian from Antigua & Barbuda.

"We were very happy to see what he did," Stubbs said. "It was a very close score when we checked it. It was very close. The gentleman who beat him.

"Winners never quit and quitters never win, so he know he has to get back into the trenches and study the guy who beat him to make the improvement to his physique to come back next year and take the gold medal."

And although he didn't place in the top six, Stubbs said Miller realizes what is required for him to get to the next level and he anticipate that he will work harder next year.

As the lone female competitor on the team, Joseph said she was excited that she was afforded the opportunity to compete in her international debut.

"I didn't place in the top three, but I placed in the top six. That's an accomplishment in itself, seeing that I just recently started," she said. "This is my first year in the sport, so I am very proud of this accomplishment that I was able to obtain."

Looking at the competition she faced in the A class in the Bikini segment of the championships, Joseph admitted that they were competitive.

"Everybody came with their A game, so I know what to expect next year," she stated.

As for getting more women involved next year, Joseph told them that it's a wonderful and exceptional experience because one can meet people from all nationalities and backgrounds.

"I know it requires hard work, but with some time committed to your dieting and training, you can accomplish this look," said Joseph as she reflected on her physique. "Who doesn't want a bikini body.

"So it's a great opportunity for you to get your feet wet, to meet people, to do it in style, to do it in shape."

If she can develop her body a little tighter, get her abs more compact and her legs a little smaller, she can be a contender for one of the top spots next year.

"The fact that I didn't place first will be my driving force," Joseph said. "I'm not a quitter and I'm going to win that gold come next year."

Back at the championships since he made his debut three years ago, Young said he felt he performed to the best pf his ability.

"I'm happy that I brought back some hardware," said Young, who first competed in 2016. "I felt I came in much better, health-wise, diet-wise and so I felt much better. I felt more confident coming into this show."

Young said he expect to come back next year much bigger and better, but he ant to encourage more competitors to come out and participate so that they can keep the sport alive in the country.

Wallace, back for his second straight appearance, was elated with her silver medal performance, despite leaving the title he won previously behind.

"I think my performance this year was much better. I practiced a lot, I trained hard as always. I got second. It was 13 countries that I went up against," he said.

As he look ahead to next year, Wallace admitted that there is some improvement he have to make.

"I think I can improve more on my body in terms of my shoulders and my chest. The guy who won, I think he won because he had more shoulders, but I think I did very well," he stated.

At first Wallace said he was a bit nervous when he saw the big line-up of competitors, but he believed in his ability to get the job done and he put his best foot forward.

Dormavil said the best thing for him was to have fun.

"The experience is everything for me. This is my first time. I think I did very well," he said. "I came fifth in the competition against guys who have been competing for years, so I get to see what I need to work on and what I need to improve on."

When he saw the amount of competitors in his class, Dormavil said he was terrified at first, but he was aiming to get into the top six and he accomplished that feat.

But he realized that he will have to improve on his chest, shoulder and calf if he's going to get over the hump and get into the top three spots. It's something that he is inspired to achieve next year.

"I have a lot of work to do. I have to go back home and put in the work and come back to win," he summed up.

Although he didn't place in the top six as a finalist, Miller said he took was pleased with his efforts in the men's muscular physique.

"I didn't get the gold like I wanted too, but it was a nice push," he said. "The competition was heavy. You just have to bring it with a lot of hard work, a lot of muscular physique and then you can pull it off."

Miller, however, said the level of competition is far more advanced than the Bahamas nationals because he faced competitors, who were training since they were youngsters.

"In order to be successful in this sport, I think we need to start training at a younger age," he pointed out. "But I intent to go back to the lab and get bigger and better next year."

Looking at the competition he faced, Miller said he have to develop more mass, so he intent to go back to the drawing board as soon as he return home.

"I am possibly thinking about doing some bodybuilding, but bodybuilding is not an easy class to get into," he stressed. "Training is going to be more intense if I am going to cross over.

Now that the championships are over and then with, Stubbs said the federation could possibly look at showcasing some of their athletes in the Night of Champions in November. A decision will be made in another week or so.

The next CAC Championships will be held in Bogota, Colombia in September, 2020.