The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations will not be sending a team to the fifth edition of the World Athletic Relays, scheduled for May 1-2 at the Silesian Stadium in Chorzow, Poland.

After hosting the first three editions of the World Relays in 2014, 2015 and 2017 at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, the fourth edition was moved to Yokohama, Japan in 2019 after the Bahamas Government declined to provide the necessary funding.

The Bahamas decided to send a men’s team to compete in both the 4 x 200 and 4 x 400m relays, but neither team fared that well.

In fact, the men’s 4 x 400m relay didn’t compete.

But in the 4 x 200m, the team of Cliff Resias, Stephen Newbold, Anthony Adderley and Shavez Hart advanced to the final with a second place in their heat in 1:22.40 for the sixth fastest time.

However, in the final, the team of Resias, Newbold, Adderley and Rico Moultrie didn’t finish.

BAAA president Drumeco Archer confirmed that the Bahamas will not be going to Poland because it doesn’t have sufficient athletes available to compete.

“We didn’t have athletes who are available to compete,” Archer told The Tribune. “Shaunae (Miller-Uibo) and Steven (Gardiner) camp indicated that they have decided not to travel outside of the US because of COVID-19.

“And a lot of our elite athletes are still in university and college, who are not going to be released from their duties. So, we thought it would be prudent for us not just to take a team for team’s sake. If we’re going to take a team, we will take a team that will have an impact.”

World Athletics has released a statement indicating that 127 relay teams from 37 countries will compete in Silesia.

Archer said it’s disappointing that the Bahamas won’t be represented.

When asked how he feels World Athletics will take it, he noted that he “can’t speak for World Athletics,” but it was not for a lack of trying to get a team into Poland.

“We have done all we can to get the athletes to compete,” he said. “I can’t speak for Shaunae’s or Steven’s camp. We have always asked for their participation. We have communicated with their management team for them to compete under the banner of the Bahamas, particularly for relay duties.

“They are two global beaters, and they certainly make a difference. We have expressed our concerns at every level, management and personal, for them to compete in the relays. The decision ultimately rests with them. They will have to decide if they are going to compete or not.”

With the Olympic Games as the biggest sporting spectacular on the calendar this year after it was postponed last year, Archer said he know that the athletes are preserving themselves to travel to Tokyo, Japan to compete.

“The Olympic Games is the big dance and from all indications, you can see that the athletes are ready to run, those at the collegiate level and the professionals. They are all doing very well,” Archer said.

The Olympic Games have been rescheduled for July 23 to August 8 in Tokyo. The event comes under the auspices of the Bahamas Olympic Committee, who have indicated that all systems are for Team Bahamas to compete.