The Tribune

The Queen’s College Comets opened the first day of the 2025 Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) Track and Field Championships in the lead with 427.50 points.

The St Augustine’s College (SAC) Big Red Machine, who are the defending champions, are in the second position with 397 points. 

The Temple Christian School (TCS) Suns are third with 172 points and St Anne’s Blue Waves are tied for fourth with the St John’s College Giants at 68 points apiece.

Queen’s College head coach Everette Fraser  spoke about how it feels to hold the lead going into day two of competition.

“It feels great. It feels good with all of the hiccups that we had today. We didn’t execute at all and we had a lot of issues that went down with injuries and false starts. We didn’t execute at all but, at the end of the day, I think the team that executes is the team that is gonna pull this off,” he said.

Coach Fraser said the goal is to build on Wednesday’s performances leading up to Friday.

“I feel like we have some strong events. We have the 100s tomorrow and we are just trying to get most of our relays into the finals. Our goal is to get all of them in the finals and then go from there but Friday is the day where we are gonna start rocking it,” he said.

Day one was highlighted by record-breaking performances, CARIFTA qualifiers and displays of school spirit.

On the Field 

Ahkeel Williams collected a few victories for the Comets on day one.He had a standout performance in the under-15 boys’ javelin throw event, posting a winning mark of 58.43 metres to shatter his previous BAISS record of 44.98m. 

His schoolmate Justin Shepherd placed second in the event with a throw of 39.11m.

Mahlik Williams, representing SAC, was third overall with a toss of 38.45m.

Williams spoke about how it felt to break his own record. “It feels good. I just give all thanks to God for allowing me to hit this big goal,” he said.

Williams also emerged victorious in the under-15 boys’ high jump event. He soared to 1.64m for first place. Khari Ramsey, of Jordan Prince Williams, placed second and SAC’s Johanan Clarke was third.

The Comets’ Taysha Stubbs continued her winning ways in the under-17 girls’ javelin throw. She won with a winning throw of 45.98m, which was over the CARIFTA-qualifying standard of 39.75m.

Dior Rae-Scott and Kamera Strachan were also over the CARIFTA qualifying mark.

Strachan wrapped up second at 39.41m and her schoolmate Scott ended at 38.66m for third.

CARIFTA double gold medalist Jamiah Nabbie secured the victory of the under-20 girls’ high jump event in record-breaking fashion.

She posted a winning jump of 1.68m, which was over the CARIFTA qualifying standard of 1.65m and better than Sasha Joyce/Devinn Cartwright’s BAISS record of 1.67m, set March 9, 2005.

Her schoolmate Paris Rolle was a distant second place finisher at 1.55m. Windsor’s Jayna Saunders-Forsythe got the third podium spot at 1.45m.

The Comets’ Nathan Walker walked away with a victory and a CARIFTA qualification in the under-17 boys’ triple jump event.

He nabbed the win posting a jump of 13.19m which was above the CARIFTA qualifying mark of 12.92m. Second place went to SAC’s Terrin Beckles at 12.67m.

Braeden Cleare, representing Temple Christian, rounded out the top three at 12.59m.

Davon Davis, representing QC, was the best performer in the under-20 boys’ long jump event.

He leapt to 7.10m to take the first spot. The second and third spots went to St Augustine’s Demian Brice and Carlin Archer respectively.

Brice recorded 6.80m while Archer recorded 6.73m.

The Comets also notched first place finishes in the under-13 girls’ javelin throw, under-17 girls’ long jump and under-17 girls’ shot put events.

Track

Although it was only day one, the action was intense on the track.

The Big Red Machine’s Alexis Roberts added a second CARIFTA qualification to her total.

She clocked a winning time of 54.52 seconds to not only finish first but also shave some time off the qualifying standard of 55.40 seconds.

Roberts spoke about how it felt to qualify for the event and get the win for the Big Red Machine.

“It feels good. Before the race I was a little anxious but I just trusted God and my training that I would succeed in this race. I am just grateful,” she said.

Her and Nabbie were neck-and-neck coming into the finish line but the latter fell to second at 54.59 seconds. 

Roberts shared what helped her to edge out Nabbie in the end.

“It was a tight race the whole time. Nabbie was next to me the whole time but I just kept thinking ‘don’t give up’ so we fought to the line and I ended up winning,” she said.

Third place went to QC’s Taylor Robinson, who completed the event in 57.83 seconds.

The Big Red Machine had the perfect one-two punch in the under-20 girls’ 100m hurdles.

Darvinique Dean and Bayli Major both pushed each other to dip under the CARIFTA qualifying mark 14.68 seconds. 

Dean was first overall at 14.39 seconds. Major was just a few steps behind at 14.47 seconds and third place went to Kei-Mahri Hanna, of QC.

Dean said it was exciting to emerge with the win.

“I am very excited that I won my race. I plan to do better at the CARIFTA Trials and bring the gold home,” she said.

“I am very excited that she pushed me. It made me run a very fast time and I am proud of her as well.”

Zion Miller, representing QC, had a brilliant performance in the under-20 boys’ 400m finals.

He ran a swift 47.34 seconds for first place and shaved some time off the CARIFTA qualifying mark of 47.38 seconds. 

Tieanno Ferguson, of Temple Christian, came second at 48.97 seconds. Dylan Simon, of SAC, settled for third at 49.70 seconds.

Jahcario Wilson, of SAC, was well under the CARIFTA qualifying standard of 14.87 seconds in the under-17 boys’ 110m hurdles event.

He stopped the clock at 13.71 seconds for first. Rohman Rolle and Kamron Henfield placed second and third respectively for the Comets.

Eagan Neely gave SAC a comfortable victory in the under-17 boys’ 400m finals. He ran a time of 49.23 seconds to not only nab the win but dip under the CARIFTA qualifying mark of 49.27 seconds.

Second place went to his schoolmate Shevano Nixon at 49.77 seconds.

Aiden Musgrove, of St John’s, dropped to third at 51.97 seconds.

Day two is expected to be even more competitive as the 2025 BAISS Track and Field Championships continue today at the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium. The event resumes at 9am.