The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH an ambitious plan that includes eight international meets to participate in, the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations is calling on the public to assist in their campaign to raise over one million dollars to get the job done.

During a press conference on Super Bowl Sunday at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, the BAAA revealed how interested persons can get involved, while they will reintroduce the exciting BAAA Relays as well as the clarification of the closure of the two track stadiums in preparation for the 50th CARIFTA Games.

“Be My Running Partner”

While the BAAA dispelled any notion that the funding secured by the Local Organising Committee for the CARIFTA Games, scheduled for April 7-11, BAAA president Drumeco Archer said they are in pursuit of their own funding to take care of their aggressive programme.

They intend to introduce their plans to their potential sponsors 6:30pm on Wednesday at the Humidor Graycliff Restaurant where they will get the opportunity to dialogue with the BAAA executives.

“There are about eight major international events that the federation has to underwrite the cost for this year,” Archer said, “It is a Herculean and very aggressive budget that we have in place in trying to get our teams abroad.

“We want to make clear distinction between the CARIFTA movement, which we’re a part of, and the federation’s work. We are always grateful to our public partner, which is the Government of the Bahamas, but that is never enough.”

To that end, Archer said they decided to engage corporate Bahamas in a slightly different way in encouraging the small businessmen and women to join the big corporate conglomerates to get involved.

“Track and field touches all when it comes to the development of the country,” Archer said.

“If you look at the legacy of track and field, you would find that some of our best doctors and best lawyers and best politicians come out of the belly of track and field.

“It creates a levelled playing field for persons who otherwise would have not had the opportunity. Beyond identifying the world’s greatest athletes, we are trying to identify athletes who could be good student-athletes who would make great contributions to the country.”

Archer said they are appealing to corporate Bahamas to come out and support their efforts because their money will not go in vain, but will be well spent on developmental programmes and the implementation of programmes that will develop a more diverse and exciting country.

Archer revealed that they will be offering packages from $85,000 as plantinum sponsorship to as much as $500 for the ordinary man or woman who wants to assist the BAAA.

BAAA Relays

The BAAA will return one of its popular events to its schedule on Saturday when they host the BAAA Relays, starting at noon at the original Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium.

Special events coordinator Damaris Cash said they have exciting events for both the schools and club teams to participate in.

“We want to put an environment where we can be moving the stick around the stadium in terms of disciplines like 4 x 1,” Cash said. “This year, we have a new one on our agenda, which is the mixed 4 x 1. We will have a mixed 4 x 1, mixed 4 x 4. We have 4 x 4 relay, 4 x 2, distance medley and a 4 x 800m for persons to start getting the distance programme back on track.

“In terms of individual events, we will be offering an opening male and female 100m. We have something new on the agenda, which is an elimination mile. The elimination mile will include fighting for position. So every lap, if you are in last place, you will be asked to come off the track for those four laps.”

For the field competitors, there will also be the shot put and discus for the under-17 boys and girls to compete in. “This event, we are trying to get the fans more involved,” Cash stated. “So we will be giving out some keepsakes as we try to get some momentum for CARIFTA and other events to get fans to return home.

“We want to have more participation from our fans. We want to say thank you for travelling on this journey with us. We want this to be a movement where it is spirit filled and we are excited about these young kids and we are excited about this journey.”

Team Bahamas

Relay coordinator Fritz Grant revealed that their mission this year is to qualify all of their men and women relay teams for the international meets on the agenda this year.

“We have a number of sprint coaches, who will be assisting with these relays in reference to preparation and getting the teams together,” Grant said.

Everette Fraser, Andrew Tynes, Daron Lightbourn, Bernard Rolle and Olympian Ramon Miller are all assisting Grant in the venture.

“With these coaches, we have a list of the top 10 100, 200 and 400m runners and we will be inviting them on Wednesday to start working with baton exchanges. We know that exchanges are very important so we want to start working on that right away.”

With all of the coaches on board, Grant said they can now prepare to get the teams ready for competition. He noted that the elite athletes who are home training, like Samson Colebrooke, have pledged their support in getting the teams qualified.

He noted that those home-based athletes will be teaming up to compete with the high school and club relay teams to add to the excitement of the relays on Saturday. To see where they stand and to sharpen their skills.

“A lot of athletes use relays to get themselves fit in reference to speed,” Grant said. “So what we’re looking at is developing some chemistry for our athletes, so we are looking at a big week ahead.

“We want to accomplish all of our goals in qualifying all of our relay teams for 2023, so it’s very exciting and we are looking forward to a great event and for great things as we look forward to our teams qualifying to the 2024 World Relays.”

Stadiums under repair

With both the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field and National Stadiums in dire need of repair, Archer said while the old track will be fully resurfaced by Beynon, the new stadium will receive general repairs to improve it to a class two certification by Mondo.

“There will be no conflicts,” Archer said. “We are working very closely with the executives of the National Sports Authority and the scheduling will be such that there will be no interruption in competition and there will be no interruptions in practice sessions.”

Beynon will be in town by the end of the month and will commence their work on the old stadium by the beginning of March. Mondo, meanwhile, is already here, and by the beginning of March, they would have completed their work.

“Once we are completed with one facility, we will move over to the next facility for training and competition,” Archer said.

“Once work has commenced, on the weekends when we have competition, work will be suspended so there is no interruption.”