It might be long overdue, but the athletics list to represent The Bahamas at the 20th Commonwealth Games has finally been released and the team is set to leave this Saturday, from various locations, for Glasgow, Scotland. The Commonwealth Games will get underway next week Wednesday and will run until August 3 in Scotland.
A total of 27 track and field athletes have been confirmed for the team, bringing the total number of participants this year up to 45, representing the largest Bahamian team ever represented at the Commonwealth Games. There is still a possibility of more being added.
As far as the athletics portion is concerned, there is a total of 15 men and 12 women.
The men named to the team are Shavez Hart and Adrian Griffith in the 100 meters (m), Hart and Teray Smith in the 200m, Chris Brown and LaToy Williams in the 400m, Jeffery Gibson in the 400m hurdles, Raymond Higgs in the long jump, Lathone Collie-Minns and Lamar Delaney in the triple jump, and Donald Thomas, Ryan Ingraham and Jamaal Wilson in the high jump. The men's 4x100m relay team will consist of Hart, Griffith, Smith and Warren Fraser, and the men's 4x400m relay team will consist of Brown, Williams, Michael Mathieu and Alonzo Russell.
On the women's side, Anthonique Strachan, Sheniqua Ferguson and Cache Armbrister have been listed for the 100m, Ferguson and Nivea Smith have been named to contest the 200m, Shaunae Miller has been named for the 400m, Bianca Stuart and Tamara Myers are expected to compete in the long jump, and Myers has been listed for the triple jump as well. The women's 4x100m relay pool will consist of Strachan, Ferguson, Armbrister, Smith and V'Alonee Robinson and the women's 4x400m relay pool will consist of Miller, Lanece Clarke, Christine Amertil, Shakeitha Henfield and Miriam Byfield.
Late entries still awaiting approval by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) are Dennis Bain in the men's 110m hurdles, 'Superman' Leevan Sands in the men's long jump, Teshon Adderley in the women's 800m, Demetria Edgecombe and Krystal Bodie in the women's 100m hurdles, Katrina Seymour for the women's 400m hurdles and Andretti Bain to add to the men's 4x400m relay pool.
The team manager is Ralf Mckinney, the Head Coach is Frank 'Pancho' Rahming, and the assistant coaches are Peter Pratt, Ronald Cartwright and Mae Miller.
Overall, The Bahamas will be represented in six sporting disciplines this year, the most ever for the country at the Commonwealth Games. For the first time ever, judo and wrestling will travel. The sporting disciplines of athletics, boxing, cycling and swimming will also be represented.
Cynthia Rahming and D'Arcy Rahming Jr. will represent the country in judo. Rashji Mackey will travel as the country's sole wrestler. Carl Heild, Keishno Major, Godfrey Strachan and Rasheed Williams will be the boxers on the squad. Chad Albury, who lives and trains in Australia, Anthony 'Biggie' Colebrook, Roy Colebrook Jr., Jay Major and D'Angelo Sturrup will make up the cycling team for The Bahamas. Joanna Evans, Dustin Tynes, Elvis Burrows, Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, Laura Morley and Ariel Weech will represent the country in swimming.
The Chef de Mission of the team is Roy Colebrook Sr. Kathy Dillette is the team attache. Dr. Rickey Davis is the team doctor, and Dr. Jennifer Davis, Dr. Phillip Clausen and Cottrice Robinson from Freeport will make up the remainder of the medical team. Ralf McKinney is the team manager. D'Arcy Rahming Sr. will be the coach of the judo team. Clarence Rolle will coach the country's sole wrestler. Andrew Loveitt and Lionel Moreau will guide the swimmers. Andre Seymour and Floyd Seymour will be in charge of the boxing team, and Wayne Price, Byron 'Turbo' Musgrove and Keith Lloyd will coach the cyclists.
The Bahamas was represented by just 25 athletes at each of the past two Commonwealth Games, but this year's squad has swollen to 45 members so far, with track and field once again making up the bulk of the squad.
The sport of athletics has always been the most productive for The Bahamas, accounting for all but two of the medals won at the quadrennial games. In total, The Bahamas has won 31 medals at the Commonwealth Games - nine gold, 10 silver and 12 bronze.
At the last games in New Delhi, India, four years ago, The Bahamas won six medals - one gold, one silver and four bronze.
Competition for The Bahamas will start with swimming, judo, cycling and boxing. The athletics portion of the games won't get underway until July 27, and wrestling won't begin until June 29.
20th Commonwealth Games Team Bahamas track and field athletes
Men
Shavez Hart - 100m, 200m, 4x100m
Adrian Griffith - 100m, 4x100m
Teray Smith - 200m, 4x100m
Chris Brown - 400m, 4x400m
LaToy Williams - 400m, 4x400m
Jeffery Gibson - 400m hurdles
Raymond Higgs - long jump
Lathone Collie-Minns - triple jump
Lamar Delaney - triple jump
Donald Thomas - high jump
Ryan Ingraham - high jump
Jamaal Wilson - high jump
Warren Fraser - men's 4x100m
Michael Mathieu - men's 4x400m
Alonzo Russell - men's 4x400m
Women
Anthonique Strachan - 100m, 4x100m
Sheniqua Ferguson - 100m, 200m, 4x100m
Cache Armbrister - 100m, 4x100m
Nivea Smith - 200m, 4x100m
Shaunae Miller - 400m, 4x400m
Bianca Stuart - long jump
Tamara Myers - long jump, triple jump
V'Alonee Robinson - 4x100m
Lanece Clarke - women's 4x400m
Christine Amertil - women's 4x400m
Shakeitha Henfield - women's 4x400m
Miriam Byfield - women's 4x400m
Late entries awaiting approval
Dennis Bain - men's 110m hurdles
"Superman" Leevan Sands - men's long jump
Teshon Adderley - women's 800m
Demetria Edgecombe - women's 100m hurdles
Krystal Bodie - women's 100m hurdles
Katrina Seymour - women's 400m hurdles
Andretti Bain - men's 4x400m
Team manager
Ralf Mckinney
Head coach
Frank "Pancho" Rahming
Assistant coaches
Peter Pratt
Ronald Cartwright
Mae Miller
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