The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) ratified a 28-member team, 15 women and 13 men, to represent the country at the IAAF/BTC World Relays Bahamas 2015, and whilst a few notable names are absent, Head Coach Rupert Gardiner is confident that the members selected will turn in some exceptional performances on the track.
The second International Association of Athletics Federations' (IAAF) World Relays is now just 12 days away, May 2 and 3 at the 15,000-seat Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, and Team Bahamas was ratified after a selection meeting late last night. Today is the deadline for entries for the global meet.
The numbers for Team Bahamas are slightly up from a year ago, 28 compared to 25, and once again, The Bahamas will compete in all of the sprint relays - the men and women's 4x100 meters (m), 4x200m and 4x400m relay events.
The team members are: Adanaca Brown (Junior), Brianne Bethel (Junior), Keianna Albury (Junior), V'Alonee Robinson, Tayla Carter and Krystal Bodie for the women's 4x100m; Brown, Bethel, Anthonique Strachan, Sheniqua Ferguson, Shaunae Miller and Lanece Clarke for the women's 4x200m; D'Nia Freeman (Junior), Shaquania Dorsett (Junior), Clarke, Bianca Farrington, Christine Amertil and Katrina Seymour for the women's 4x400m; Javan Martin (Junior), Alfred Higgs, Shane Jones, Deneko Brown, Trevorvano Mackey and Blake Bartlett for the men's 4x100m; Martin, Higgs, Brown, Bartlett, Mackey and Andretti Bain for the men's 4x200m; and finally Steven Gardiner, Michael Mathieu, LaToy Williams, Christopher Brown, Ramon Miller and Alonzo Russell for the men's 4x400m.
The coaches for the team are Rupert Gardiner, Shaun Miller and Fritz Grant, and the management team consists of Kim Hanna and former quarter-miler Nathaniel McKinney.
Notably missing off the squad this year is "Golden Knight" Demetrius Pinder, a member of The Bahamas' 4x400m winning squad at the London Olympic Games, and the three fastest Bahamians ever, Derrick Atkins, Shavez Hart and Warren Fraser. Also missing are Adrian Griffith and Tynia Gaither who are two top notch performers for The Bahamas, but back in action is former World Youth and World Junior Champion Shaunae Miller who was injured last year, and who just ran a world-leading time of 22.50 seconds in the 200m on Saturday.
"The BAAA made a decision to go with top times this year, and we as coaches support that," said Head Coach Gardiner. "Overall, we're very excited. When you look at the team a year ago, and then add a Shaunae Miller, we feel very good about our chances to do well in a number of the races. I think in the ladies 4x200m in particular, we have a great shot of getting a medal. Also, we are always strong in the men's 4x400m, and with the addition of Steven Gardiner, we feel very good about our chances. I think we have a very good shot of upsetting the United States in the men's 4x400m," he added.
A number of the athletes left off the list, including "Golden Knight" Demetrius Pinder would not have ran for the year. Also, collegiate athletes such as Hart and Gaither have school commitments.
"Overall, the team is very balanced. We have high school, college and professional athletes," said Gardiner. "The schedule really won't permit the athletes to do more than two events, but with the legs that we have, it is a very good team all around. The competition should be much stiffer than a year ago, but we're ready for the challenge," he added.
With the world's fastest man, Jamaican Usain Bolt, confirming his attendance to the world relays this year, ticket sales have skyrocketed. Tickets for the event are still available, but are disappearing rapidly. They can be obtained online at www.bahamasworldrelays.org or at the box office at the national stadium from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.
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