The Tribune

BY TENAJH SWEETING

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE future of track and field in the country is in good hands. During the 50th Oaktree Medical Centre CARIFTA Games, Bahamians got a front row seat to witness some of the brightest athletes on display in the sport.

Among the talented track athletes was none other than Team Bahamas’ Jamiah Nabbie. The under-17 competitor is a student of Queen’s College who has been making waves and capturing first place finishes all season long.

The talented 100m and 200m speciality runner brought home two gold medals and a silver at the big event.

In her first gold medal victory, Nabbie claimed first place in the under 17 girls 100m finals. She bested her opponents with a time of 11.67 - a personal best - while also being the first track athlete to bring home gold on the home soil.

Bahamians rallied behind the young athlete’s quest to go for gold and cheered her on along the way.

Her second gold medal came in the under 17 girls 200m finals.

Nabbie finished a close race with a time of 23.67. All eyes were glued to the track as Nabbie again mounted a surge to power past her opponents for a big win.

Although it sometimes seemed like the athlete would fall behind in a race, she always had something extra left in the tank to run through the finish line first.

Drumeco Archer, president of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA), talked about Nabbie’s success at the 50th CARIFTA Games.

Archer described the athlete as brilliant and commended the great work she did on the track.

In his opinion, her performance warranted an Austin Sealy award win but he was proud of her nonetheless.

For her silver medal, Nabbie alongside the 4x100m relay team of Shayann Demeritte, Darvinique Dean, and Bayli Major collectively ran a time of 46.43 in the race. The relay team initially placed third for a bronze medal finish but after the disqualification of Team Jamaica the team secured the silver medal for the country. On the team Nabbie ran the second leg giving them a good lift going into the third exchange.

In only her second year competing at the CARIFTA games the athlete left a lasting impression in the minds of Bahamians; she’s next. Her parents Zuhleka Nabbie (mother), and Jamaal Nabbie (father) were in attendance at the games and were overcome with joy after their daughter’s second gold medal for The Bahamas.

“We’re so excited because she trained hard all year and she didn’t even qualify at first as it took a while for her to qualify but we are here now for the moment,” her mother said.

Her father also talked about how proud he was of his daughter’s success.

“She made me proud and she put in plenty of hard work the last three days and we knew she could do it,” her father said.

He added that he wants the country to now rally behind his daughter after seeing what she is able to do on the track before it’s too late.

After a great performance at The Bahamas’ 50th CARIFTA games Nabbie has surely made her name and presence known in the track world. The young athlete will only look to work harder, and continue to do her best.