The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine, still celebrating their recent triumph in the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools, captured all three divisions of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ National High School Track and Field Championships and final CARIFTA Trials.

Last night at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, the Big Red Machine captured the under-14 combined boys and girls division with 236 points, ahead of arch rival Queen’s College Comets, who got second with 228.50 and the CH Reeves Raptors in third with 138.

In the under-17 division combined, SAC reeled off a huge decision, accumulating 317 points over the three days of competition, well ahead of QC with 191.50. Grand Bahama’s Tabernacle Baptist Falcons came in third with 145.

And in the under- 20 division combined, St Augustine’s College emerged on top with 290 points. Queen’s College got second with 179 and Tabernacle Baptist ended up in third with 93.

It was the first time that the BAAA, in conjunction

with the Ministries of Youth, Sports and Culture and Education collaborated to combine the hosting of the two meets at the same time. And while there were some concerns about the outcome of staging the dual meet, it turned out to be a very competitive one.

On Monday’s final day of competition, there were 13 additional national records broken and seven more qualifying performances as the curtain came down on what turned out to be an eventful segment of the final trials ahead of the team selection today.

One of the leading performances came from Jamiah Nabbie of Queen’s College in the under-17 girls division as she added the qualifying standard in the 200 metres to her previous feats in both the 100m and long jump over the previous two days.

Nabbie completed her hat trick in the 200m in a time of 24.52 to erase the national high school record of 26.07 and surpassed the CARIFTA standard of 24.83. SAC got second and third from Shayann Demeritte in 25.27 and Alexis Roberts in 25.56.

“I enjoyed the 100m more because the long jump interfered with the 200m so I couldn’t compete to the best of my abilities in the semifinals,” said Nabbie, a 5-foot, 10-inch versatile athlete, who just turned 15 in December.

In preparation for the trek towards the games, Nabbie admitted that she had to change her diet coming into the trials. Now that she has completed her mission, she noted that she’s looking forward to doing all three events at CARIFTA, if she gets the opportunity to do so.

Cayden Smith, running unattached, was the clear winner of the under- 17 boys 200 metres in a national high school record time of 21.87 seconds as he also surpassed the qualifying standard of 22.08. SAC’s Andrew Brown got second in 22.14 and Aiden Kelly of Tabernacle Baptist was third in 22.24.

“I feel great. It’s amazing. The 200m is my race, I own it. I envisioned that time,” said the 15-year-old 10th grader of South Plantation in Florida. “This is the home of my mother, so I want to come home and represent her well at the games.”

Two qualifiers came in the under-20 boys 110m hurdles as Tayshaun Robinson of St John’s College leaned through the 10 flights of three-foot, six-inch hurdles in 14.08 seconds to erase the national record of 15.20 and was joined by SAC graduate Otto Laing, who came home from college for second in 14.15 as they both surpassed the CARIFTA standard of 14.20.

Lavardo Deveaux, coming off his CARIFTA qualifying performance in the gruelling two days of competition in the octathlon, had enough energy to surge into third in 14.98.

“Going into the race, I just wanted to be the first one to cross the finish line and stay focused the rest of the race,” said Robinson, a 16-year-old 12th grader of St John’s.

Robinson said he was pleased to get the opportunity to compete against a quality competitor in Laing, who helped to pull him through as they both secured their berths for CARIFTA.

As he looks ahead to the games, Robinson said his aim is to stay focused and hopefully get a chance to get on the podium for a medal.

And in the under-17 boys’ 100m hurdles, Quinton Rolle of SAC powered through the field in a time of 14.65 to shatter the national record of 16.43. His nearest rival was versatile Kenny Moxey of Queen’s College, who came back a day after a thrilling showdown in the high jump, for second in 15.07. Malik White of SAC was third in 16.85.

“The race was good. It was a fast race, well executed. I want to thank my mother (Nicolette McKinney) for being there to support me,” said Rolle, a 16-year-old 10th grader.

Rolle, a towering 6-4 figure, said he hopes that he can run at least 13.9 and be a contender for a medal, if he is selected to the team.

In the under-17 girls 100m hurdles, Meagan Moss of SAC took the victory in 15.96 over St John’s Valentina Knowles in 16.65. Andrinique Lamour of Nassau Christian Academy was third in 17.05.

Sunland Baptist’s Jaynae Pinder took the under- 20 girls 100m hurdles in 15.24, nipping CR Walker’s Ivaneice Charlton, who slipped and fell through the finish line in 15.25. Davondra Sands, competing unattached, was third in 15.39.

SAC got a 1-2 punch from Nathan King in 13.20 and Deahyne Saunders in 13.25 in the boys under- 14 80m hurdles. Dameco Davis of Jack Hayward was third in 13.30.

Grand Bahamian Treasure Burrows surged from the middle of the pack on the back stretch and emerged down the home stretch for the win in the under-20 girls 800m in 2:18.51 with Jasmine Mackey, competing unattached, second in 2:18.85. Ezthia Maycock of SAC was third in 2:!9.27.

“I felt pretty good. I did what I came here to do,” Burrows said.

“At the beginning of the race, I wasn’t in it because I wanted to see where my opponents were.

“But as I came down the stretch, I knew I had to go for it.”

Akaree Roberts of CR Walker went out on her own in the final 600m and went for the qualifying time of 2:19.22m, but fell short at the line in her victory in 2:19.39 as she fell off the late surge by Grand Bahama’s Erin Barr of Tabernacle Baptist in 2:26.03. Yulianis Akompi of SAC placed third in 2:26.87.

Tyrone Conliffe of Sir Jack Hayward came from second on the back stretch to power on top in 2:02.73.

In the under-14 girls 800m, Shakinah Lewis of AF Adderley out-sprinted the field in the girls under- 14 8-00m in 2:40.66 to hold off a pair of competitors from Queen’s College as Cierra Delancy was second in 2:42.42 and A’Mayah Davis was third in 2:43.09.

Arjay Roberts of SAC pulled off the win in the under-14 boys two-lap race in 2:22.08 over St John’s duo of Anthony Saunders in 2:38.09 and Cordell Munroe in 2:31.00.

On the field, SAC’s Boyli Major soared 11.73m in the under-17 girls triple jump to surpass the qualifying standard of 11.42m for CARIFTA. Zoe Adderley, competing unattached, was second with 11.32m as she fell short. CV Bethel’s Darininique Morris was third with 10.27m.

And in the under-20 boys triple jump, there were a pair of CARIFTA qualifiers as Johnathan Rodgers of CI Gjbson won with 15.10m and LaQuan Ellis, competing unattached, was second with 15.04m. They both went over the CARIFTA standard of 14.68. Coming in third was Rollie Hanna of Anatol Rodgers with 14.12m.

Although she might be a little too young to make the CARIFTA team, 13-year-old Keyezra ‘KK’ Thomas of Bishop Michael Eldon produced a pair of smashing performances in winning both the under-14 girls 100 and 200m.

Like she did in the 100, Thomas used her height to power away from the field to easily out-distance her rivals in the 200m in 25.28 for a national high school record. QC’s Zara Fraser was second in 26.38 and TA Thompson’s Brion Ward was third in 26.74.

“I am very glad about the way I performed and I really want to thank the Lord for allowing me to finish injury free,” Thomas said. “Many people say I’m very fast for my age and if I continue, I can do many great things for the Bahamas.”

Thomas said her goal is to continue to work hard and be ready to take her rightful place on the CARIFTA team in 2024.