The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE performances from the cross-section of elite, collegian and locally-based athletes at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ National Track and Field Championships got the attention of BAAA president Drumeco Archer.

Following the two-day event over the weekend at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, Archer was beaming with excitement and was confident that they had produced one of the best nationals ever.

The meet, which was to serve as the final trials for athletes to qualify for the World Championships, was sponsored by Fidelity Bank & Trust International Limited Group and the Oaktree Medical Center.

Archer said while they would have liked to have seen more participation from the crowd coming out of the COVID-19 environment, they were pleased with the product that they had to offer for those in attendance.

At the beginning of every final on the track, the athletes burst through a curtain draped in the Bahamian national flag colours as they made their entrance onto the track.

The majority of the field competitors were introduced at the start of their particular event at the various stations that they performed from.

While he was really impressed with the performances by the age-group athletes, Archer said the BAAA is confident that based on what he saw, the senior athletes are ready for the various international meets on the horizon.

“I think the performances we saw over the past two days ravel the world when you compare the performances of our athletes,” Archer said. “So our athletes are ready to go to the World Championships and the World Junior Championships.”

With the nationals now completed, the BAAA is expected to name the teams heading to the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon next month and the World Junior Championships in Cali, Colombia in August.

“The athletes select its own team,” Archer said. “We have qualifying standards and the athletes have to make the standards in order for them to be selected to the team.”

Unfortunately, the Bahamas Olympic Committee has already named the team that will be going to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England in August. With a limited quota, the BOC indicated that they had to submit the team in advance of the Nationals to meet the deadline by the local organising committee.

“It’s unfortunate that the team had to be named before our nationals, but it’s nothing we could have done,” Archer said. “They had a deadline to meet and it’s unfortunate that it came before our nationals were held.”

With the team already selected, Archer said they wish the 11 athletes named to the 28-member team every success at the Commonwealth Games, scheduled for July 29 to August 7 in Birmingham.

Archer also took the opportunity to congratulate Corrington Maycock, the founder and head coach of the Blue Chips Throwers Club, for being elected as the new president of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Coaches, replacing out-going president Shaun Miller Sr.

“I’ve had a personal conversation with Corrington and his mandate is very clear. We’re going to raise the standards and he wants to prepare the athletes and the coaches in time for the CARIFTA Games in 2023.”

Archer said they are looking forward to the rest of the year with even greater anticipation.