The Tribune

By TENAJH SWEETING

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN Olympian Pauline Davis and CARIFTA volunteer as well as long-time track and field supporter Beverly “Grammy” Wallace-Whitfield offered strong words of wisdom and encouragement to Team Bahamas.

The Bahamian legends spoke with the historic 80-member CARIFTA team during yesterday’s practice session at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium. With the country set to host the 50th CARIFTA Games for the ninth time in just one day, officials have dedicated the entire week to morning and evening practice sessions for Team Bahamas.

In her message to athletes at yesterday’s evening practice session, Wallace-Whitfield stressed the importance of time in track and field. “It’s not just running, jumping, and it’s not just doing it to the best of your ability. It’s trying to get the best time of the winners,” she said.

She relayed to athletes the story of Olympic gold medallist Pauline Davis who would run far past the finish line at the end of her most iconic races for a definite first-place finish.

The avid track and field supporter added that track athletes of Team Bahamas should keep Davis’ historic Bahamian feat in mind as they come into the home stretch of their respective races.

“Get ready to cross the line at your best,” she said.

Among her other words of wisdom to the 80-member home team was to uphold strong national pride in how they handle the flag and present themselves during the national anthem when they win their events.

Additionally, she emphasised the importance of having breakfast on the mornings of the 50th CARIFTA Games, treating the other Caribbean athletes as guests first but also competitors, and reminded them about the importance of maintaining a good GPA for scholarships.

The Bahamian Olympian followed behind with a fiery message to Team Bahamas as she told stories of her past performances in the Olympics and the last CARIFTA Games win by The Bahamas in 1981.

She told athletes that as long as they have Bahamian pride, quitting is never an option. “I don’t care where you are in that race, you do not ever give up [and] you do not ever quit,” Davis said.

She emphasised the importance of having Bahamian pride, especially at the 50th CARIFTA Games that coincides with the 50th year of the country’s independence.

“When they line up against you in the finals you do what you have got to do,” the Olympian added.

Her last bit of advice to athletes was to know that diet is important to success in the sport, praying to God and believing in your training and yourself.

With Easter’s CARIFTA Games looming, Team Bahamas’ coaching personnel practiced baton exchanges and other relay techniques for the highly-anticipated race at yesterday’s practice session. Additionally, the field athletes worked on their jumping techniques ahead of this weekend’s event. The team usually practices in the morning session at 8am and once again in the evenings at 3:30pm.

John Ingraham, head coach of Team Bahamas from Grand Bahama, talked about why he intentionally divided the practices into two sessions.

“The reason why I did the morning and evening sessions is to get the bodies and minds of the kids adjusted to the morning and evening sessions which prepares them for when they run in the morning and when they run in the evenings at the CARIFTA games,” CARIFTA’s head coach said.

He added that the coaching team is working strongly with the relay teams so that the team is flawless as the Bahamian crowd loves the exciting race. He alongside the other seven assistant coaches are working hard to ensure the kids are ready and he is positive that they are going to do a great job.

Officials expect the home crowd to give Team Bahamas a big lift as they go for gold at this weekend’s April 7-10 CARIFTA games.

Colors for the Easter weekend track and field extravaganza are black on Friday, white on Saturday, aquamarine on Sunday, and gold on Monday.