Two local companies have officially thrown their financial support behind the Olympic trials for the sport of track and field.
The generous donations from communications giant, the Bahamas Telecommunication Company (BTC) and Scotiabank Bahamas Limited will ensure that the Olympic trials, hosted by the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) will run smoothly. The two-day meet, which will feature several head-to-head competitions, is now being referred to as the BTC/Scotiabank Olympic Trials.
The meet will be held June 22-23 at the Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium. It is a mandatory event for all persons hoping to be named to the squad. The official team will be named that Sunday.
"The Olympic fever has begun in The Bahamas with the London 2012 Olympic Games being just 43 days away," said Kevin Teslyk, managing director at Scotiabank. "Scotiabank is again proud to be partners with the BAAA as we showcase the very best of track and field in The Bahamas, at the BTC/Scotiabank Trials 2012."
The trials will also serve as the last opportunity for many of the junior athletes wanting to meet the qualifying standards for the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Junior World Championships. With so many of the local junior athletes ranked so high in the world, president of the BAAA Mike Sands is confident that the mixture will add the much needed flavor to the meet.
Young Anthonique Strachan has the fastest time in the world, for junior female athletes, in the 100 meters (m). Strachan has already qualified for the Olympic Games with her season's best of 11.22 seconds. She will contest the 100m dash with fellow training partner Sheniqua Ferguson and veteran sprinter Chandra Sturrup, both of whom have posted fast times this year, and have qualified for the London Games.
In the half lap event, on the junior circuit, Strachan follows Shaunae Miller who has a best of 22.70 seconds. Both are a shoe-in for the Olympic Games and the IAAF Junior World Championships, Strachan has a best of 22.75 seconds.
It is not certain if Miller will contest the loaded 200m, which will include national record holder Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie and Sheniqua Ferguson, among several others. However, she will line up in the 400m with Christine Amertil, an Olympic finalist in the event.
Junior quartermiler O'Jay Ferguson's name is ranking among the elite athletes. He is one of the favorites going into the 400m event, during the trials. Chris Brown, Michael Mathieu, Demetrius Pinder and Avard Moncur should not be counted out. Ramon Miller and Andretti Bain have also entered the stacked field.
On the field, national record holder in the men's triple jump event Leevan Sands will be challenged by Lathone and Latario Collie-Minns. Raymond Higgs has moved over the long jump clearing the way for Ryan Ingraham, Trevor Barry and Donald Thomas.
Barry has already met the qualification standard of 2.31m, which is the A level set by the IAAF. The B standard is 2.28m and Ingraham has cleared that.

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