The Tribune

By TENAJH SWEETING

Tribune Sports Reporter

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

Athletes delivered standout performances on day one of the 2025 Bahamas National High School Track and Field Championships at the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium.

After day one of competition the St Augustine’s College (SAC) Big Red Machine already has the advantage in four out of eight divisions.

SAC is leading the under-15 female division with 49 points, the under-20 female division with 51 points, the under-15 male division with 42 points and the under-17 male division with 42 points as well. 

The Queen’s College Comets and Tabernacle Baptist Academy have taken charge in the under-13 female division with a leading total of 33 points.

The Comets are also ahead in the under-17 female division with 70.50 points and the under-20 male division with 50 points.

A few athletes attained the CARIFTA-qualifying standards and broke national high school records on the opening day of competition.

Bishop Michael Eldon’s Keyezra Thomas blitzed her competitors in the under-17 girls 100m finals to qualify for her fourth CARIFTA event. She clocked a time of 11.88 seconds in the event which was well under the qualifying standard of 12.08 seconds. “I feel amazing. I thank God for allowing me to come over here and stay injury-free and take the win in this 100m,” she said.

Thomas added that it feels good to know she has qualified in four events up to this point. “It feels amazing. I won’t be competing in all of them but it just feels good to have all of them under my belt.”

Thomas was joined by Queen’s College student Brion Ward who also ran a CARIFTA-qualifying time of 12.03 seconds for second place. His schoolmate Zara Fraser came third at 12.32 seconds.

Versatile athlete Jazae Johnson also dipped under the under-17 girls’ 100m CARIFTA-qualifying mark in the under-15 girls’ 100m finals. She requalified and emerged victorious with a time of 11.99 seconds.

Additionally, Johnson dipped under the national high school record of 12.34 seconds set by Brion Ward last year.

St Augustine’s Brianna Bootle was also in top form. She ran 12.24 seconds for second place and her teammate Taree Forbes got the third spot in 12.44 seconds.

Johnson also picked up a first-place victory in the under-15 girls’ high jump event. She soared to 1.52m in the win.

Alexandria Komolafe, representing Queen’s College, requalified in the under-17 girls’ high jump.She prevailed with a winning jump of 1.68m which went over the CARIFTA-qualifying mark of 1.63m.

Thomas, of BMES, settled for second at the same height and CV Bethel’s Kirra Williams got third place at 1.50m.

SAC’s Bayli Major got the job done in the under-20 girls’ triple jump event and also requalified for the 2025 CARIFTA Games. She soared to a winning jump of 12.36m, good enough to surpass the qualifying mark of 11.94m. 

Zante Ferguson, of QC, dropped to second with her jump of 11.64m and BMES’ Myah Knowles rounded out the top three at 10.98m.

The Comets’ Annae Mackey was back at it again in the under-20 girls’ discus throw event.

She pulled off a winning heave of 41.80m to go over the CARIFTA qualifying mark of 40.36m once again.

Second place went to RM Bailey’s Kenya McKenzie at 26.02m.

CI Gibson’s Kristian Butler dropped to third at 23.04m.

Avonte Lotmore, representing Tabernacle Baptist Academy, came up big in the under-15 boys’ 400m finals.

He stopped the clock at 52.07 seconds for a new meet record. He was a few steps faster than Valentino Bodie who ran 52.09 seconds in 2012.

Justin Sheperd, of QC, got the second position in 52.86 seconds and the Blue Waves’ Tristan Lockhart nabbed the third podium spot in 54.84 seconds.

There were a few more qualifiers in the 400m events.

It was a tight race in the under-20 boys’ 400m finals.

Zion Shepherd, representing Jack Hayward, narrowly edged out QC’s Zion Davis with a CARIFTA qualifying time of 46.88 seconds.

Shepherd was grateful for the victory.

“He was going in the first part of the race but my coach told me to just run my race, put it together and I should be able to come out on top which I did. I would like to thank God for allowing me to finish this race healthy,” he said.

He is expecting Bahamians to shine in the 4x400m relays at the 2025 CARIFTA Games.

“I feel like this is the best The Bahamas has ever looked in the quarter so I feel like we are gonna go to CARIFTA and tear those boys up,” he said.

Davis ran 47.10 seconds for the second spot. Both quarter-milers were under the CARIFTA qualifying standard and former meet record of 47.65 seconds.

Davis expressed that he was nervous about running out of lane eight but was thankful for the win.

“Coming into the race, I came in with the slowest time in the finals and got lane eight. I was a bit discouraged about that lane but I am thankful that God allowed me to come out here and PR and push Zion to run 46 seconds as well,” he said.

He is now looking forward to the 2025 CARIFTA Trials.

“I am excited for the CARIFTA Trials and the 400m. I know for sure that I will get a better lane in the finals so it could be a better push. I really couldn’t feel him coming home to know what to do but I am just grateful that I was able to come out here and compete to the best of my abilities,” he said

CC Sweeting’s Emmanuel Adams crossed the line in 48.19 seconds for third.

Jireh Woodside, representing SAC, held his own in the under-17 boys’ 400m finals, clocking 49.26 seconds for first place.

He shaved some time off the CARIFTA qualifying mark of 49.27seconds.

Woodside said it felt good to get the victory in the 400m finals.

“It feels good. I would like to thank God for giving me the opportunity to run fast along with my coaches and my family for supporting me,” he said.

He has plans to work on his start in the sprint events headed into the CARIFTA Trials.

His schoolmate Shevano Nixon trailed for second place in 49.63 seconds.

Zion Bradford, of Sunland Baptist Academy, was third in the event at 49.72 seconds.

There were two CARIFTA qualifiers from Tabernacle Baptist Academy in the under-20 boys’ high jump event.

Dwight Jones secured the win with a jump of 2.00m which was right on target for the CARIFTA standard.

Claudius Burrows notched the same mark for second. CC Sweeting’s Donovan Samuels was third overall at 1.85m.

Over in the relays, there were new meet records set in the under-17 and under-20 mixed 4x400m relays.

The Comets’ quartet of Zion Miller, Kei-Mahri Hanna, Leviticus Levarity and Taylor Robinson collectively recorded a time of 3:37.09 for first place.

The relay team was faster than the previous meet record or 3:42.63 set by the CV Bethel Stingrays last year.

In the under-17 mixed 4x400m relay, the Temple Christian Suns’ team of Delvan Barton, Denika Gittens, Braeden Cleare and Ramonique McLennon clocked 3:51.52 to take down the school’s previous meet record of 3:52.24.

QC’s relay team including Nathan Walker, Sarsha Wright, Andrew Seymour and Jade Knowles also shaved time off the previous record with their final time of 3:51.92.

Day two of the 2025 Bahamas National High School Track and Field Championships begins at 9am.