The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

HAVING served as a coach on the last national team to win the North American, Central America and Caribbean Age Group Championships six years ago, Keno Demeritte is confident that this team can duplicate that feat.

Demeritte, who will be back on the team as the manager/head coach, said based on what he saw at the two-day trials over the weekend at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, this team going to Nicaragua next week is similar to the team that represented the Bahamas in El Salvador.

“I think this is a very strong team from the under-13 to the under-15 division,” said Demeritte, who will be assisted by Kenny Moxey Sr, Kenrid Munroe, Clarita Hall from Grand Bahama and Holly Riley-Woodside from Andros.

“This team reminded us of the year when we won with the team that had Doneisha Anderson and Bronson Rolle onit. We have some very strong girls and the under-15 boys are extremely strong as well.”

Based on their performances, the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations has selected the following athletes to represent the Bahamas at this year’s championships December 17-18.

Under-13 girls - Keyezia Thomas, a 12-year-old 10th grader at Bishop Michael Eldon School in Grand Bahama and Keely Deveaux, a 12-year-old eighth grader at CH Reeves Junior High.

Under-13 boys - Kamron Henfield, an 11-year-old sixth grader at Temple Christian Academy and Johnathan Higgs, a 12-year-old eighth grader at HO Nash Junior High School.

Under-15 girls - Jamiah Nabbie, a 13-year-old ninth grader at Queen’s College and Phebe Thompson, a 10th grader at Bishop Michael Eldon High School in Grand Bahama.

Under-15 boys - Kenny Moxey Jr, a 14-year-old, a 10th grader at Queen’s College and George Nottage, a 13-year-old eighth grader at CH Reeves Secondary High School.

“I’m expecting us to go over there and come back with the overall championship title,” Demeritte said. “Looking at the results from the trials from the other countries, I expect that this group will come back with the championship title.”

And if the athletes perform up to their expectations, Demeritte said he doesn’t see why some of the athletes like Nabbie and Moxey Jr should not be successful winning the individual title in the under-15 girls and boys divisions respectively.

“They are pretty strong in those divisions. They remind me so much of Doneisha Anderson and Bronson Rolle, who both performed exceptionally well when they represented us at the championships.”

Moxey Sr, one of the country’s premier decathletes and pole vaulters, said he’s proud of his son’s achievement and he’s looking forward to watching him and the other team members perform at the championships.

“I’m just expecting better things. There’s still a lot more room for improvement,” Moxey Sr said. “He’s a lot more blessed than I am talent wise and I’ve been in the game for a long time.

“I’m hoping and praying that at the end of the day, he will continue to do what he needs to do to be successful. But I’m very proud of his accomplishments so far. He’s nearly twice my height, so he should be much better than I was.”

The team is scheduled to leave the Bahamas on December 15 and return on December 19.

Before they depart, Demeritte said they will be assembling the team together so they can work on their weaknesses and hopefully they will be able to improve on their performances at the trials.