The last time The Bahamas won just one gold medal at the CARIFTA Games was 30 years ago, and even then, the team was miniscule in comparison to the mammoth squad in Fort-de-France, Martinique this past weekend.
Understandably, many Bahamians are wondering what is going on with national junior program, and why the medal count was so low this year. Is it that the team performed poorly, or have other countries, particularly Jamaica, taken its program to another level?
There are a lot of unanswered questions, and many track enthusiasts want answers. Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr. Danny Johnson said that whatever the case may be, they in the government are not going to sit idly by.
"We have to go and re-group, re-energize and reconstruct a national program," said the minister yesterday. "At this time, the government is embarking on the national sports academy program. Those academies will act as centers of excellence. In Jamaica, Trinidad and even Barbados, they practice sports science, sports medicine and sports psychology. You would see the results coming from their programs. We in The Bahamas have to put more focus on this. We hope to begin that process this summer where we intend to interface with all federations so that they have access to the new developments."
The Bahamas finished a disappointing seventh at the 43rd Annual CARIFTA Games this past weekend, with just 19 total medals - one gold, eight bronze and 10 bronze. Jamaica was completely dominant winning a record 42 gold and 88 total medals. They added 34 silver, and 10 bronze. Trinidad & Tobago was a distant second with 25 total medals - six gold, seven silver and 12 bronze, and Barbados finished third with 16 total medals - five gold, five silver and six bronze.
What is creating the huge disparity between Jamaica and everyone else though? The 42 gold medals were the most ever won by any nation at CARIFTA. The 88 total medals was also a record. Instead of teams closing the gap, Jamaica is pulling further and further away in regional track and field dominance.
"It's tough. We sent nearly 100 athletes and we didn't get the results that we expected. Jamaica is just on another level right now," said the minister. "I think this is going to be a learning experience for us. We have to look at what we do and how we do it. This is junior competition but it is still one of the most intense meets in the world. The competition is real fierce. What this does is show that some of the other countries have move ahead in their sports programming and coaching. We in The Bahamas have relied on the status quo and we have not progressed as we should."
Be that as it may, the minister said that the government is committed to providing centers of excellence, with specialized training, psychological advantages and medical support.
"The national sports academy program is something that we are looking at, and we want to get started on that by this summer," said Minister Johnson. "We have a nation of islands so it is essential for us to put a center in the north, one in the south, and one in the central. Once we would have done that, you would see the talent that is coming from the Family Islands.
"Everyone wants to reap and harvest the success but we have to become farmers. We have to nurture our talent. Those academies in the islands will become farms, and we intend to progressively get better from one step to the next. We're looking at starting in Moore's Island, and hopefully that will be completed by the end of the year. Next year, you will see camps opening."
Despite the country's worst performance in 30 years at CARIFTA, Minister Johnson congratulated the young athletes on behalf of the government.
"Many of these athletes would have come here and done their best, and for that, we congratulate them," he said. "There are some bright sparks out there, and the response from us is, 'well done to those kids'."
The Bahamas' 81-member team returned home at the Lynden Pindling International Airport last night. It is the largest CARIFTA squad ever, but yet, the team was only able to muster just one gold medal, courtesy of the under-18 boys 4x100 meters (m) relay team, and it can be argued that even that only occurred because Jamaican sprinter Raheem Chambers pulled up with a hamstring injury on the anchor leg.
Despite the subpar showing, Minister Johnson and a number of administrators and coaches in the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) remain optimistic about the country's ability to bounce back at the junior level in regional athletics.
Next year's CARIFTA Games will be held in St. Kitts & Nevis, and the 2016 event is tentatively set for Grenada, pending the renovation of its national stadium.
The Bahamas' CARIFTA Medalists
Total - 19
Gold (1)
Under-18 Boys 4x100m relay - Kinard Rolle, Tyler Bowe, Keanu Pennerman and Javan Martin - 40.76 seconds.

Silver (8)
Jenae Ambrose - under-18 girls 100m - 11.62 seconds.
Henry Delauze - under-18 girls 400m - 47.60 seconds.
Benjamin Najman - under-18 boys 1,500m - 4:09.66.
Denzel Pratt - under-20 boys javelin - 64.55m (211' 9").
Under-18 Girls 4x100m relay - Blayre Catalyn, Jenae Ambrose, Andira Ferguson and Brianne Bethel - 45.91 seconds.
Under-18 Girls 4x400m relay - Shaquania Dorsett, Dreshanae Rolle, Brianne Bethel and Doneisha Anderson - 3:39.65.
Under-18 Boys 4x400m relay - Kinard Rolle, Samson Colebrook, Justin Pinder and Henry Delauze - 3:13.16.
Under-20 Boys 4x100m relay - Cliff Resias, Ian Kerr, Deedro Clarke and Steven Gardiner - 40.35 seconds.

Bronze (10)
Dreshanae Rolle - under-18 girls 400m hurdles - 1:00.43.
Javan Martin - under-18 boys 100m - 10.54 seconds.
Javan Martin - under-18 boys 200m - 21.15 seconds.
Travis Ferguson - under-18 boys javelin - 60.40m (198' 2").
Miquel Roach - open girls heptathlon - 4,365 points.
Laquan Nairn - under-20 boys high jump - 2.00m (6' 6-3/4").
Drexel Maycock - under-20 boys discus - 49.31m (161' 9-1/4").
Under-20 Girls 4x100m relay - Devynne Charlton, Loushanna Neymour, Makeya White and Keianna Albury - 45.47 seconds.
Under-20 Girls 4x400m relay - Juannae Lewis, Loushanna Neymour, Marisa White and Talia Thompson - 3:47.64.
Under-20 Boys 4x400m relay - Kelson Pierre Jr., Janeko Cartwright, Ashley Riley and Xavier Coakley - 3:11.32.

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