The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Jeffery Gibson, the newly elected athletes' representative for the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations, said it's disheartening what is transpiring with the team for the IAAF World Championships, but he has encouraged the athletes to continue to train for the trek to Doha, Qatar.

The BAAA found itself in a quandary after they were told that they would only receive $25,000 of the estimated budget of $116,000 for the 10-member team and managers to compete in the championships, scheduled for September 27 to October 6.

"I don't know all of the ins and outs about what was done and what wasn't done, but it's unfortunate that the team might not go or if they go, they will not go without the full support of the Bahamas Government," Gibson said.

"I'm still waiting on all of the details, but as the athletes' rep, I want the team to go. This issue with the funding for the team seemed to be in the works a long time away, but it should not have affected the athletes."

As the national record holder in his speciality, Gibson said he has represented the Bahamas at the four major international events, including the Olympic Games, World Championships, Commonwealth Games and the Pan American Games and they have never had to be on pins and needles about whether they will travel.

"Despite what they may have heard on social media, I still encouraged the athletes who have qualified for the World Championships to continue training," Gibson said.

"I have been encouraging them to stay focused, even though they might have been hearing this or hearing that. They should still act as if they are going to leave on September 23 to be in Doha in time for the championships."

BAAA president Drumeco Archer said while they have received $25,000 of the projected $116,000 budget they had previously gotten consent from the ministry and an additional $25,000 for their administrative cost for the year, they will be taking the team to Doha.

There's been a lot of back and forward issue over a nine-member team, led by Lanisha Rolle, the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, going to the championships and not providing the full funding for the BAAA to take the team to represent the country.

While there are only nine athletes expected to travel to compete for Team Bahamas, the BAAA is expected to take at least nine officials, including two delegates for the congress, two team managers, three coaches and two medical personnel.

Qualified and named to Team Bahamas for the championships are:

MEN

400m - Steven Gardiner (44.14) and Alonzo Russell (45.28)

High jump - Donald Thomas (2.15m)

Triple jump - Twin brothers Latario Collie-Minns (17.04m) and Lathone Collie- Minns (16.99)

WOMEN

100m - Tynia Gaither (11.04)

200m - Tynia Gaither (22.69) and Anthonique Strachan (22.81)

400m - Shaunae Miller-Uibo (49.05)

100m hurdles - Pedrya Seymour (12.78)

The team, however, will not have any relay teams competing in the men's or womens 4 x 100m or men's 4 x 400m. It's not known if the BAAA will field a team, based on the athletes named to the team, in the inaugural mixed gender 4 x 400m relay that will be contested for the first time at the championships.

The Bahamas, with the team of Miller-Uibo, Strachan, Gardiner and Michael Mathieu, captured the mixed gender relay at the last IAAF World Relays to be held in the Bahamas in 2017.

Gibson, who ran on a few men's 4 x 400m relay teams that attempted to secure one of the top 16 times in the world this year in order to get a chance to compete at the Worlds, said the whole scenario could have been prevented.

"Maybe the ministry could have been more proactive instead of reactive," Gibson said. "But at the same time, as the athletes' rep, I'm just waiting on the BAAA executives to make their final decision. They have to decide what they will do and will not do."

Gibson, the men's 400 metre hurdles bronze medallist in the 2015 championships in Beijing, China, was also expected to compete in the Worlds this year. He was waiting on an invite from the IAAF to secure his spot.

But Gibson said after his sub-par performance this year, he decided to withdraw his name a week ago. The IAAF made a final decision on those athletes who didn't make the standard on Monday.

"I didn't felt like I was up to par," said Gibson, who has run a season's best of 49.53 seconds, well off the IAAF's qualifying standard of 49.30. "I didn't want to go over there and not perform as well as I could."

The team is expected to start making their trek to Doha on Saturday.