The Bahamas has a rich tradition of high jump sensations beginning in 1927 with the great Charlie Major, who set a national record at that time, of 6' 7-1/2", at the Melrose Games, at Madison Gardens in New York. That record stood for 40 years. The Bahamas' current record holder Troy Kemp's record of 7' 9-3/4" is 18 years old. Recently, The Bahamas has been blessed with the exploits of World High Jump Champion Donald Thomas and World bronze medalist Trevor Barry.
Now, the Parents Association of Track and Field Athletes, an affiliated member organization of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA), is introducing through its Family Island Student Athlete Relocation Program, 15-year-old Juan Armbrister. Armbrister, on the advice of his father, has decided to transfer from the Preston Albury High School in Rock Sound, Eleuthera to the C.R. Walker High School here in New Providence, under the parents association's student athlete relocation program to train with Coach James Rolle of the Leap of Faith Track Club for the Colina CARIFTA Trials and beyond. Young Armbrister is 6' 6" tall.
He has already cleared 6' 3". His transfer was arranged with the assistance of Coach Floyd Armbrister, the senior master at C.R. Walker. Coach Rolle is ranked number one in the world by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) as a junior athlete's jump coach. He is noted for being the coach of many CARIFTA medalists, the coach of World Junior bronze medalist Ryan Ingraham and the coach of American collegiate high jumper Kenya Culmer.
Under the Family Island Student Athlete Relocation Program, the athlete and his parents commit to the terms and conditions of behavior, study and athletic practice, with a view to achieving athletic and academic excellence, and to entering college after high school. The Parents Association of Track and Field Athletes congratulates Juan Armbrister and thanks coaches Floyd Armbrister, Jamie Williams of Preston Albury and James Rolle, for making this young man's dreams a reality.
Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian
