Once again, the winning under-20 relay teams from the Scotiabank National High School Track and Field Championships are about to embark on a journey of a lifetime. Each year, the teams are afforded the opportunity to travel to the prestigious Penn Relays, courtesy of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA). This year's teams are the St. Augustine's College (SAC) 4x100 meters (m) and 4x400m girls relay teams, the C.V. Bethel Stingrays senior boys 4x100m relay team, and for the third consecutive year, the Moore's Island All-Age senior boys 4x400m relay team. Those four teams will leave for the 118th running of the Penn Relays today.
"The exposure to the great athletic competition, the scholarships that are available and the incentives that are provided gives the BAAA the incentive to contribute sponsoring the winning teams," said BAAA Public Relations Officer Alpheus 'Hawk' Finlayson yesterday. "I just want you athletes to know that you will get an opportunity to see the best athletes in the United States, the Caribbean and the rest of the world," he added.
The event, also known as the Penn Relays Carnival, is the oldest and largest track and field competition in the United States. It has been hosted annually since April 21, 1895 by the University of Pennsylvania at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This year's event, which is expected to attract over 100,000 spectators, will run from Thursday to Saturday. On a regular basis, more than 15,000 participants from high schools, colleges, and track clubs throughout North America and the region compete in more than 300 events.
The manager of the team is Lyndon Johnson, and the coaches are Dianne Woodside from SAC, Rupert Gardiner from C.V. Bethel, and Rev. Anthony Williams from Moore's Island All-Age. For the past three years, the incentive has been provided by the BAAA to the winning under-20 relay teams from the Scotiabank high school nationals, but recently, there has been some controversy as reports surfaced about C.V. Bethel not being represented at the Penn Relays by the winning team from the Scotiabank nationals. According to reports, the coach had plans to take other athletes from the school as opposed to the ones which ran and won the relay at the Scotiabank nationals.
"Well it's an incentive provided to the winning schools," said Finlayson. "The schools are allowed to use whichever athletes from their school that they feel give them the best chance of winning," he added.
Be that as it may, order seems to be restored. As for the athletes, Shaunae Miller, fro SAC, said they're looking forward to doing their best, and hopefully coming out on top. Elroy McBride from Moore's Island All-Age said that they want to go out there and represent their school and country well.
"We feel that we have a very good team so we feel confident of our chances," he said. "The weather will be a bit of a challenge but we've been there before so we know what to expect. We're just going to go there and do our best," added McBride.
The uniforms for that Moore's Island team has been donated through the efforts of the National Workers Health Plan. The following is a statement released by that organization:
"We're pleased to assist the 4x4 relay team from Moore's Island and their dedicated coach, Rev. Anthony Williams. It's a tribute to Rev. Williams's Christian ministry that he has found a way to involve young men and young women in a form of discipline that has tremendously impacted the lives of the young people of Moore's Island and indeed the nation. What is unusual about Mr. Williams and Moore's Island is that as a pastor in a traditional fishing community he has found a spark that will change the destiny of many young men and women. The emergence on the scene in Moore's Island Track Club winning at the nationals, at CARIFTA, and being invited to compete in the Penn relays is a testimony to Rev. William's dedication. It is also a testimony of the national gift that lies in many of our out island children. Without the benefit of modern facilities, Rev. Williams has proven what is possible. His work and his faith is a hallmark for all of us to admire. We want Rev. Williams to know that we are in support of his team and the work he seeks to do to give each of them an opportunity to dramatically improve their lives. A light has been put in Moore's Island that will make a difference in its future; it is our moral responsibility to stand with Rev. Williams and the young men and women from Moore's Island. The National Workers Health Plan salutes Rev. Williams and the team from Moore's Island. We wish them well at the relays."
Also attending the Penn Relays this year, through their own arrangements, are the boys 4x100m and 4x400m teams from Queen's College, the boys 4x100m and 4x400m teams from SAC, the boys 4x100m team from Moore's Island, Queen's College's Jermaine Smith who will be competing in the 110m hurdles, and SAC's Danielle Gibson and Antonique Butler who will be competing in the long and triple jumps respectively.

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