The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

COACH Cedricka Rolle feels now that quarter-miler Jasmine Mackey has broken the mantle as the first 3PA Stallions Track and Field Club member to make the CARIFTA Games team, she envisions that others will be inspired to follow suit.

Mackey, a 16-year-old member of the club for the past six years, was named to the 80-member team that will represent the Bahamas during the three-days of intense competition during the games from Saturday to Monday at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

“I’m very excited, especially to get the opportunity to run against athletes not only from the Bahamas, but the other countries coming in,” Mackey said. “I think it’s going to be extraordinary for me.”

Having made the qualifying standard as an under-17 competitor, but didn’t get to compete because she was too young, Mackey said she is delighted that she made it this time in the post COVID-19 environment and she intends to make the best of her opportunity.

“I really want to show people what I can do and that age really doesn’t matter in this stage of the game,” said Mackey, who was disappointed that she didn’t make it as an under-17 competitor.

Now that she’s on the team and competing in the under-20 division, Mackey said she’s still feeling the jitters from the time she was selected to the team. But the 11th grader from Teleos Christian Academy said she hope to shake it off once she feel the excitement from the crowd.

Coach Rolle said she’s confident that Mackey will perform very well for the Bahamas.

“She has been working really hard. Since Covid-19 when we had that lag, she got a bit out of shape, but she managed to work herself to the point that she was able to make the team. So we are all excited about her accomplishments so far.

“She’s excited and she’s put in the work and I am pretty much confident that she will go out there and give it her best shot.”

As the first member of 3PA Stallions out of the gate as a member of a Bahamas national team, Rolle said she will only inspire a lot of the younger athletes or “babies” as a lot of people refer them too and as they grow into the junior division, they hope to groom them to follow in Mackey’s footsteps.

“There are two others, Dahjia Mesidor and Zante Ferguson, who are shadowing Jasmine. They are really excited for her and it’s a good encouragement for them going into next season where they hope to compete at the trails and hopefully make the CARIFTA team.”