Just like a year ago, the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) has decided to go with just qualifiers for the CARIFTA Games over the Easter holiday weekend, and they're hoping that they reap the same benefits.
It paid dividends for The Bahamas last year, as the team went from seven in the standings to second, winning eight gold medals compared to just one in 2014. The BAAA ratified a 55-member team yesterday, just two more than the 53-member squad that represented the country in 2015 in Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis. That team won 31 total medals last year - eight gold, 13 silver and 10 bronze. A 79-member team won just one gold medal in 2014. BAAA President Rosamunde Carey said that the major goal is to exceed last year's performance and keep improving as they go along.
"Going with qualifiers worked for us last year, so this year, we expect great things again," said Carey. "What we did this year was look at every individual event and break it down carefully. We believe that we have a very strong and
dynamic team. We have a quality team, rather than quantity."
Carey said that all they ask is for the young athletes to do their best in Grenada. The regional track and field meet is set for March 26-28, in St. George's, Grenada.
"If the athletes could do their best, I know that they would be on the medal stand, and if not on the medal stand, they would be finalists," she said. "I am absolutely satisfied that we got the best possible team to represent The Bahamas. It is a strong team, and we feel good about our chances. We're looking for a better performance from last year. The whole idea is to keep improving, and we're looking forward to doing that. Once we improve on a year ago, then we would have accomplished our major goal."
The Bahamas will be represented 55 athletes at the 45th CARIFTA Games in Grenada. They are: under-18 girls Divine Parker, Sasha Wells, Megan Moss, Brittni Fountain, D'Nia Freeman, Quanisha Marshall, Charisma Taylor, Donneisha Anderson, Daejha Moss, Kennedy Culmer, Gabrielle Gibson and Marissa White; under-18 boys Johnathan Smith, Benjamin Clarke, Kyle Alcine, Edward Kemp, Johnie Jean-Jacques, Branson Rolle, Adrian Curry, Trent Ambrose, Shaquille Higgs, Jevaughn Culmer, Kaze Poitier, Lavardo Henfield, Sherrod Corey and Rubin Smith-Bastian; under-20 girls Jenae Ambrose, Shaquania Dorsett, Serena Brown, Brashae Wood, Taj Dorsett, Kaylea Albury, Brianne Bethel, Tenea Miller, Brittni Bethel, Alexia Sawyer and Wendira Moss; and under-20 boys Javan Martin, Keanu Pennerman, Samson Colebrooke, Verdell McIntosh, Kinard Rolle, Tavonte Mott, Shakeem Smith, Benjamin Najman, Blair Fernander, Perry Adderley, Romell Poitier, Duvclean Rolle, Kendrick Thompson, Ken Mullings, Ken Russell, Cameron Oliver, Holland Martin and Bradley Dormeus.
The head coach for the team is Wendell Collie and the team manager is Mildred Adderley.
There weren't any major disappointments in the selection of the athletes, perhaps with the exception of CARIFTA standout Henri Delauze not submitting a time this season and consequently not being selected for the team, and a couple of young high jumpers who will be left at home, falling victim to the numbers game. Overall, five young athletes qualified for the CARIFTA games in the under-18 boys' high jump, but only two could represent the country in that event in Grenada, hence the decision to go with the top two finishers from the CARIFTA Trials this past weekend.
Two returning CARIFTA athletes who have shown a lot of improvement this year, and will be counted on to help lead Team Bahamas with their performances on the track, are Divine Parker in the under-18 girls' division, and Samson Colebrooke in the under-20 boys' division.
Parker was a double winner in the sprints at the trials this past weekend, winning the 100 meters (m) in a wind-aided 11.64 seconds on Friday, and taking the 200m in a personal best time of 23.72 seconds on Saturday. She's unbeaten in her age group in the longer race this year.
"I feel really good about my performances," said Parker. "I worked extremely hard, and now I am seeing the results. I just have to give thanks to everyone who helped me to get this far, especially my coaches. It's a joy to be given the privilege to go out there and represent my country at CARIFTA. I'm excited. I just want to wear The Bahamas colors with pride, and hopefully get on the podium. I'm just going to do the best that I could do and hope for the best."
Sasha Wells was second in the under-18 girls' 100m at the trials, in 11.81 seconds, and Kennedy Culmer finished third, in 11.89 seconds. In the 200m, Megan Moss was second behind Parker in 24.52 seconds, and Wells was third in 24.95 seconds.
Colebrooke was a pleasant surprise in the under-20 boys' sprints. He was third in the 100m finals, in 10.62 seconds, and took the tape in the 200m, in a personal best time of 21.33 seconds.
"I just went out there, put my trust in God and I came through. It's not me; my strength came from God," said Colebrooke. "I wanted to go out strong. God used me and guided me through, and I came out on top. Thank God," he added about the 200m race. "God is going to do some things in Grenada. I'm going there with an open mind and let him have his way with me, and his way with The Bahamas. Everyone is going to see the power of God come through in the 200 meters. Thanks to my mother, family, Word of Life family, Chapel on the Hill crew, and my track coaches and my teachers at Queen's College for their support."
Colebrooke will represent The Bahamas in the 200m and 4x100m relay in Grenada. The two spots in the 100m will go to the first and second finishers at the trials - Freeport native Javan Martin, and Purdue freshman Keanu Pennerman. Martin won the 100m title on Friday night, in 10.43 seconds, Pennerman was second, in 10.48 seconds. Colebrooke finished third.
In the 200m, Colebrooke came through in 21.33 seconds. Verdell McIntosh, from Moore's Island, was second in 21.41 seconds, Ken Russell finished third in 21.55 seconds and Pennerman faded to fourth in 21.57 seconds.
The team will leave for Grenada on March 24 and return to New Providence on March 29.

Team Bahamas (55)
Under-18 girls (12)
Divine Parker
Sasha Wells
Megan Moss
Brittni Fountain
D'Nia Freeman
Quanisha Marshall
Charisma Taylor
Donneisha Anderson
Daejha Moss
Kennedy Culmer
Gabrielle Gibson
Marissa White

Under-18 boys (14)
Johnathan Smith
Benjamin Clarke
Kyle Alcine
Edward Kemp
Johnie Jean-Jacques
Branson Rolle
Adrian Curry
Trent Ambrose
Shaquille Higgs
Jevaughn Culmer
Kaze Poitier
Lavardo Henfield
Sherrod Corey
Rubin Smith-Bastian

Under-20 girls (11)
Jenae Ambrose
Shaquania Dorsett
Serena Brown
Brashae Wood
Taj Dorsett
Kaylea Albury
Brianne Bethel
Tenea Miller
Brittni Bethel
Alexia Sawyer
Wendira Moss

Under-20 boys (18)
Javan Martin
Keanu Pennerman
Samson Colebrooke
Verdell McIntosh
Kinard Rolle
Tavonte Mott
Shakeem Smith
Benjamin Najman
Blair Fernander
Perry Adderley
Romell Poitier
Duvclean Rolle
Kendrick Thompson
Ken Mullings
Ken Russell
Cameron Oliver
Holland Martin
Bradley Dormeus

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