Bahamian tri-athletes showed up and put on a show at the Beautiful Bahamas Triathlon meet that was held this past Sunday at Jaws Beach. It was hosted by the Sea Waves Triathlon Club.

The meet was a CARIFTA qualifier and a Commonwealth Youth Games qualifier and featured eight-and-under all the way up to a 40-49 category. The CARIFTA triathlon qualifying system is points based - one that features the top five athletes making the team once they participate in the national triathlon championships set for May 6-7 at Goodman's Bay. The 2023 CARIFTA Triathlon Championships is set for August 25-27 at Goodman's Bay in Nassau, The Bahamas.

Launy Duncombe and Erin Pritchard unofficially booked a spot on the Commonwealth Youth Games squad. They have to be ratified by the Bahamas Triathlon Association (BTA) and the Bahamas Olympic Committee (BOC).

Duncombe won the 16-19 boys division with a time of 33:41. That time was well ahead second-place finisher Enea Gervasini who posted a time of 38:02. Finishing about two minutes later in 39:58 was Barron Musgrove Jr.

The 16-19 girls division was much more competitive for first place as Pritchard and Kami Roach battled for that position. In the end, 14 seconds separated them as Pritchard secured the victory in 37:43. Roach clocked 37:57. Securing the final podium spot was Anjaleah Knowles who completed the race in 45:49.

Malcolm Menzies didn't have much competition in the 13-15 boys division as he put his best foot forward and came way with a blistering time of 32:32. His closest competitor, CARIFTA open water swimmer Ayden Bain, finished the course in 36:33, for second. Jayden Smith was third after recording a time of 42:44.

Issa Bournas comfortably came way with the top finish in the 13-15 girls division. She posted a time of 42:15. Taylor Knowles was a distant second in 49:35 while Chelsea Smith finished third after stopping the clock at 53:21.

The 11-12 boys and girls divisions had a shorter course. Winning the 11-12 boys division was Lauchlin Menzies who posted a time of 16:45. Sobby Potter came in second when he crossed the finish line in 17:43. Mathis Bournas' time of 20:34 was enough to place him third.

Nai'a Belton was brilliant in the 11-12 girls division when she stopped the clock at 18:23 to take home the gold medal. Taylen Nichols was second in 21:47 and Veranique Strachan's time of 22:06 was good to place her third.

There was a female relay team that was made up of Carrie Saidi, Vivianne Proffitt and Kathryn DeSouza. They were the only team that competed, and they finished with a time of 1:43:42. The mixed relay also had one team in action, featuring Grant Menzies, Pauline Menzies and Louise Ready. They finished the course in 1:30:41.

The 30-39 male division was won by Christopher Carter who obliterated the field. His time was 1:14:43, securing not only that division title but also the overall male title. Placing second was Andrew Barnish who completed the course in 1:29:01. Tyrone Paul Jr. was third when he posted a time of 1:50:07.

Suzy Eneas won the 40-49 female division and was the women's overall winner after stopping the clock at 1:21.45. Ilaria Gervasini was second in that division in 1:32.36.

Cameron Roach came out on top in the 40-49 age division in 1:18.02. Finishing behind him in second was Daniel Belton who crossed the finish line in 1:22:37. Crossing the finish line with a time of 1:26:57 for third was Daniel Weightman.

Competing by himself in the 50-and-over male division was Simon Townend and he finished in a time of 1:20:20.

Stafford Sweeting won the 9-10 boys in 12:09. The Menzies duo of Fraser and Lyall were second and third respectively with times of 12:11 and 12:54.

Two eight-and-under boys were in action and Caiden Bain powered his way to win that category in 14:20. Kai Weightman finished second in 16:46.

There were 52 athletes who competed with the youngest being six years old and the oldest being 50-plus. The Sea Waves Club also has a branch in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness staged a 'Walk In Paradise' event on Sunday, April 23, 2023.

The event is part of the activities of the Caribbean Public Health Agency’s (CARPHA) 67th Annual Health Research Conference that will be held April 27-29, 2023 at Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island under the theme: “Caribbean Health and Tourism: Pathway to Recovery and Resilience."

The estimated 3.2-mile exercise began at 6:00 am -- from the National Beach Soccer Stadium, over the Sidney Poitier Bridge -- east on Paradise Island to the golf course – west on Paradise Island to the old bridge – over the old bridge – ending at the National Beach Soccer Stadium.

Participants included officials of the Ministry of Health and Wellness; scores of sports enthusiasts and groups participated, including Seventh-Day Adventists, and the recruits of the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

The Minister of Health and Wellness, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville underscored the importance of healthy lifestyles, a focus of his ministry through the Wellness Unit, which will lead the way in convincing Bahamians to play an active role in the management of their own health.  He foreshadowed that the Walk In Paradise will be an annual event, staged by his ministry.

 

The Ministry of Health and Wellness staged a 'Walk In Paradise' event on Sunday, April 23, 2023. The event is part of the activities of the Caribbean Public Health Agency’s (CARPHA) 67th Annual Health Research Conference that will be held April 27-29, 2023 at Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island under the theme: “Caribbean Health and Tourism: Pathway to Recovery and Resilience." The estimated 3.2-mile exercise began at 6:00 am -- from the National Beach Soccer Stadium, over the Sidney Poitier Bridge -- east on Paradise Island to the golf course – west on Paradise Island to the old bridge – over the old bridge – ending at the National Beach Soccer Stadium. Participants included officials of the Ministry of Health and Wellness; scores of sports enthusiasts and groups participated, including Seventh-Day Adventists, and the recruits of the Royal Bahamas Police Force. The Minister of Health and Wellness, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville underscored the importance of healthy lifestyles, a focus of his ministry through the Wellness Unit, which will lead the way in convincing Bahamians to play an active role in the management of their own health.  He foreshadowed that the Walk In Paradise will be an annual event, staged by his ministry.

After a four-year hiatus, due to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, National Family Island Regatta is back, taking place in picturesque Rolly Gray's Harbour in George Town, Exuma. The cup races were held on Wednesday and coming out on top were Ruff Justice skippered by Joshua Knowles in the 'A' Class for the Prime Minister's Cup, New Susan Chase skippered by Stefan Knowles in the 'B' Class for the Governor General's Cup, Whitty K skippered by Cochise Burrows in the 'C' Class for the Commodore Emeritus Cup and Man-O-War skippered by Leslie "Buzzy" Rolle in the 'E' Class for the Ministry of Agriculture Cup. The 67th National Family Island Regatta continued on Thursday and into the weekend.

Bahamian Terrence Jones put on a show for the crowd in attendance when he tore up the Percy Beard Track at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational in Gainesville, Florida, on Saturday, tying the Bahamian national record in the men's 100 meters (m). Jones lay his claim to being The Bahamas' fastest man ever, sprinting to a personal best clocking of 9.91 seconds on Saturday.

Jones' time boosts him up in the big leagues as he matched the national record time of Derrick Atkins from International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF), now World Athletics, World Championships in Osaka, Japan, in August 2007. Atkins won a silver medal with that time.

As for Jones, this was his fifth time running the event collegiately, but first for the 2023 season.

The Grand Bahama native ran the seventh fastest time on the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) all-time list. Jones is now the second Texas Tech Red Raiders athlete to run that event in sub-10 seconds in school history. Devine Oduduru was the first, accomplishing the feat in 2019.

Jones, who won the 60m dash at the 2023 NCAA Division I (DI) Indoor Championships, has the fastest time in the NCAA DI rankings and he's also the world leader. The Texas Tech junior is the only collegiate athlete to run sub-10 so far this season, and with that time, he's also qualified in that event for the World Outdoor Championships this summer, adding to the qualifying time he has in the 200m. The 19th World Outdoor Championships is set for August 19-27, in Budapest, Hungary.

Jones' teammate Courtney Lindsey was second in that race on Saturday with a time of 10.04 seconds. Florida State University's (FSU) Amir Willis was third with a time of 10.08 seconds.

The Bahamian and Lindsey teamed up with Adam Clayton and Don'dre Swift to run the 4x100m. The quartet was third, finishing in 38.60 seconds. Gainesville Elite won that race after crossing the finish line in 38.28 seconds.

Bahamian Antoine Andrews was also in action for the Red Raiders. Andrews placed sixth in the 110m hurdles after posting a time of 13.66 seconds.

Keyshawn Strachan's collegiate career is off to a great start. The 19-year-old threw the javelin 76.97m (252' 6") on his third attempt to win at his second consecutive meet for Auburn University. He threw over 70 meters in the four attempts he took.

Strachan was followed by Baylor University's Chinechrem Prosper. He was over six yards behind Strachan with a throw of 70.75m (232' 1"). Louisiana State University's (LSU) Jackson Rimes recorded a throw of 65.23m (214') to place third.

University of Tennessee's senior Charisma Taylor clocked a wind-aided 12.84 seconds to finish second in the collegiate women's 100m hurdles. The University of Central Florida's Rayniah Jones clocked 12.80 seconds to win that event. Coastal Carolina University's Alexis Glasco finished third in a time of 12.91 seconds.

Taylor was not finished for the meet as she was in the triple jump pit. She posted a leap of 13.58m (44' 6-3/4") to take home the bronze medal. Winning that event was Dominica's Thea LaFond with a leap of 14.13m (46' 4-1/4"). The University of Florida's Jasmine Moore finished second after recording a leap of 13.91m (45' 7-3/4").

Alonzo Russell was on the track in the men's 400m. He powered his way across the finish line in a blistering 44.73 seconds, placing second, and tying Troy McIntosh and LaToy Williams for fifth on the all-time list among Bahamians. Adidas' Jereem Richards won that event after posting a time of 44.68 seconds. Richards' club teammate Noah Williams ran 45.22 seconds for third.

Devynne Charlton made her outdoor season debut, competing in the Olympic Development 100m hurdles. The hurdler opened her season with a blistering time of 12.64 seconds which was her fastest season opener ever. She finished third. Nike's Nia Ali was the winner after clearing the hurdles in 12.53 seconds. Winning the silver medal was reigning world champion in the hurdles Tobi Amusan, who ran for Adidas, finishing in 12.59 seconds.

Charlton also ran in the 100m dash and placed 11th overall with a time of 11.66 seconds.

Devynne's younger sister Anthaya Charlton was in action for the University of Kentucky. She ran in the 200m and the 4x100m relay. She was 34th overall in the 200m posting a personal best of 23.47 seconds. The freshman ran the second leg of the 4x100m relay and helped her team that included Victoria Perrow, Masai Russell and Karimah Davis to a first-place finish in 43.12 seconds. Ohio State ran 43.27 seconds for second. Tumbleweed Track Club was third with a time of 43.63 seconds.

Shaun Miller Jr. was in the high jump competition for the Ohio State University Buckeyes. He cleared 2.14m (7' 0-1/4"). That height placed him tied for fourth place with Oakland University's Alex Hugh-Plot. Mississippi State University's Tony Jones won that event with a height of 2.19m (7' 2-1/4").

Also competing at the Tom Jones Invitational were Ohio State's Adrian Curry and Oscar Smith, and Purdue University's Zachary Evans. Curry placed 34th overall in the 100m with a time of 10.54 seconds and Evans placed 48th with a time of 10.69 seconds. Smith ran the 110m hurdles and was 14th overall after running 13.91 seconds.