The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunedia.net

National 100 metre champion Tynia Gaither, one of at least four Grand Bahamian natives on Team Bahamas, said there’s nothing like being home to compete.

Team Bahamas will include 11 female and 17 male competitors who will be participating in the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Championships this weekend at the refurbished Grand Bahama Sports Complex in Grand Bahama.

Coming off her seventh-place finish at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, in the 100m two weeks ago after she got a false start two weeks earlier at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, Gaither said she’s here to represent the Bahamas to the best of her ability.

“I feel good. I’m blessed that the event is being hosted here. I think it’s a blessing for the whole country with the smaller island being showcased,” Gaither said. “So, I’m just excited to compete in front of my family and friends.”

In a relaxed mood at the Games Village before they participated in a motorcade through the streets of Grand Bahama, Gaither said everything is shaping up to what is anticipated to

be a great meet from Friday to Sunday with more than 400 athletes from 15 countries in the region participating.

The 29-year-old Gaither is entered in the 200m where she is listed at number five in performances from athletes registered to compete. Heading the list is world champion Shericka Jackson from Jamaica. Jackson also tops the 100m list that includes her fellow training partner and Bahamian Anthonique Strachan.

Coming off an injury, Strachan is posted at number six.

Going into the meet, Gaither said the goal is always to run a personal best. “I know if I do that when I line up, things should fall into place,” she said.

“But most importantly. I want to enjoy the moment. We don’t always get to host meets like this in Grand Bahama, so I really want to soak up this moment and enjoy it.”

With the field of competitors expected to line up for the event, Gaither said the Bahamian public can expect to witness a tremendous show.

“Each event will be stacked,” she noted. “So, you can expect to see the best of the best from the region. So, it’s definitely a meet worth coming out, bringing your family out and just cheering on Team Bahamas as we run, jump and throw to the best of our abilities.”

Gaither and Strachan will be joined by Olympic and world champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo, the top contender in the women’s 400m at 49.11 this year, along with national record holder Devynne Charlton, the world indoor silver medallist, World Championship finalist and Commonwealth Games silver medallist, who is listed at number three in the women’s 100m hurdles.

Other members on the women’s side for Team Bahamas are Printassia Johnson, an added competitor in the 100m with Strachan, Jenae Ambrose, who will compete in the 400m with Miller-Uibo, Denisha Cartwright, who will compete alongside Charlton in the 100m hurdles, Tamara Myers in the women’s triple jump, Rhema Otabor in the women’s javelin, Tahejee Thurston in the hammer and Camille Rutherford on the 4 x 100m relay team.

On the men’s side, Grand Bahamians Donald Thomas in the high jump, Alonzo Russell in the 400m and Holland Martin in the long jump, will lead the parade of stars in the absence of injured 400m Olympic and world champion Steven Gardiner.

Commonwealth Games’ long jump gold medallist LaQuan Nairn is a part of the rest of the delegation that includes:

Samson Colebrooke (100m); Ian Kerr (200m); Bradley Dormeus (400m); Xavier Coakley (110m hurdles); Andre Colebrooke (400m hurdles); Shakeem Smith (400m hurdles); Kaiwan Culmer (triple jump); Kristen Hanna (triple jump); Shaun Miller Jr (high jump); Keyshawn Strachan (javelin); Antoine Andrews (relay); Carlos Brown (relay); Wanya McCoy (relay); Wendell Miller (relay) and Kinard Rolle (relay).

Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ president Drumeco Archer said he’s pleased with the collection of stars that will represent the Bahamas at home against the best in the region.

“Team Bahamas has arrived in Grand Bahama and we have assembled what we believe is the best team possible, with the exception of Steven Gardiner, who is injured,” Archer said.

“We have Shaunae Miller- Uibo, who just ran 49.11 seconds at the World Championships and LaQuan Nairn, who won the men’s long jump at the Commonwealth Games and Devynne Charlton, who won the silver medal (in the 100m hurdles). So, I think with all of the other athletes added, we have a super team here for the championships.”

Archer, who serves as the managing director of the Local Organising Committee, said all of the teams should be in Grand Bahama by today.

He noted that Cuba was the first to arrive yesterday and the majority of the athletes from the other countries were coming in via a Bahamasair charter out of Miami, Florida into Grand Bahama.

The United States of America, according to Archer, is coming with more than 100 athletes, coaches and dignitaries, the largest of any delegation.

Athletes will be competing for prize money of $2,000 for gold, $1,000 for silver and $500 for bronze. The winners of all events, with the exception of the walk and relays, will receive a wild-card entry into the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary and the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, both in 2023.

“It’s going to be a big weekend here in Grand Bahama and everything is in place to ensure that this is a first-class event,” Archer stated.

“We want to make this the biggest and best NACAC Championships that has ever been held.”

While she’s glad to be home competing, Gaither said she intends to join some of the other visitors to Grand Bahama who are expected to stay behind and relax after the meet.