The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH all the excitement brewing over the return of the CARIFTA Games after a two-year hiatus, the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations has pushed back its final trials to ensure that they get the maximum out of the athletes preparing to go to Kingston, Jamaica, next month.

The BAAA had intended to stage the final trials over the weekend of March 25-26, but president Drumeco Archer noted that it is now scheduled to take place April 1-2 in order to afford the athletes more time to prepare for the competition.

“This year, we have produced more sprinters who can qualify than we have produced in a very long time. We have about six men who can qualify in the under-20 boys’ 100 and 200m. And there are at least four in the under-17 division.

“So the sprints are looking good for us because we also have Wendell Miller, who has gone pro, who will be coming home to compete for us...So on the track, I’m very comfortable with what we’ve seen both on the boys and girls’ side.”

However, as they head into Jamaica for the games over the Easter holiday weekend, Archer said there’s some concern about the middle distance and jumping programme where the Bahamas seems to be lacking more than any other discipline.

“This is probably the first time in a very long time that we have not had a very strong jumping contingent,” Archer pointed out. “With one month left to go, I’m looking at how we can improve on our jumping because that has always been one of the areas that has carried the Bahamas.”

At this point in the season, Archer said there are at least 30 athletes who have attained a combination of the A automatic standard and the B standard where athletes will be given a chance to compete in events where there are no A qualifiers.

“I anticipate that we should carry a complement of 50 athletes and officials (management and coaching staff) to the games,” Archer said. “I think we will continue to be a force to reckon with. Despite COVID-19, we have maintained the integrity of our programme and we have been active as we abide by the protocol requirements.

“So while COVID-19 has hampered some of the meets from taking place, we have been able to maintain a level of stability and I feel that we will have a team that will go to CARIFTA and make the Bahamas very proud once again.”

Archer said despite the fact that they have had to reduce or postpone some of their meets earlier in the year because of COVID- 19 restrictions, the BAAA is working on providing as many opportunities for the athletes to compete.

He noted that heading into the trials, the BAAA is looking forward to putting on a meet over the weekend of March 25-26 in the spot that was originally scheduled for the final trials.

He noted that efforts are being made to ensure that the athletes are given the best opportunity to qualify for the team. After being postponed for the past two years due to the spread of COVID-19, CARIFTA - the top junior regional competition - will return to its rightful place on the calendar for the weekend of April 16-18 at the national stadium in Kingston.