Overseas Athletes To Return For Championships
[Written by Donna Watson] We will have several races that will be exciting with our locally based athletes competing against our overseas based athletes and the non-Bermudian athletes who are coming in for the championships.
Tre Houston will be coming home for the championships so that should be a good race in the 100m and 200m with Jeneko Place who is having a fantastic year as he prepares for the Junior International events(CAC Jnr, World Juniors and Youth Olympics) and Tre preparing for the senior international events (NAC U23, CAC Games and Commonwealth). Both having qualified for the international events so it will be all about the competitions.
Next we have Shaquille Dill and Henry Stevens-Carty our silver and bronze medalist in the 800m at the Carifta Games. Both of these athletes are trying to meet the qualifying standard of 1:51.00 for the World Junior championships. Shaquille over the weekend has just run a PB of 1:51.38 and Henry last week running 1:52.02. This should be a close race. They have both already qualified for the CAC Jnr Championships. Unfortunately they won’t have Aaron Evans to push them as he has to go to summer school and is unable to get home for the championships.
Then we have Shianne Smith who will be home for the championships and competing in the Heptathlon. Andrea Jackson who has been home after graduating from last year and this should be an interesting competition in this event. Shianne is preparing for the CAC Games and earlier this year broke the National record in the Heptathlon.
With Shianne at home some of her individual events will be exciting also as Jasmine Brunson who has had a fantastic year will be competing in the Long Jump which will include the 2 heptathlon athletes. Jasmine may also be competing in the Triple Jump against our 2 Carifta medalists Alison Outerbridge and Akeilah Richardson.
The young lady from overseas that won the front street mile will be returning with some of her team mates to compete against our middle distance athletes Taylor Ashley Bean and Ashley Berry. Unfortunately her coach informed me that she is injured so will not be able to compete. Both Ashley and Taylor have qualified for the CAC Jnr. Championships so will be using this as a good tune up. The athletes are Maddy Cline running the 1500 & 800, Nikita Kinsell 1500 & 800, Kasay Urma 1500 & 800 and one male Zander Souza running the 1500 & 800. With the times they have run this year they should add to our middle distance events and will be very competitive with our athletes.
Of course not leaving out our younger athletes we have been having some very good races in the younger age group. Most of these athletes are preparing for either the CUT Games or overseas club events. Kylah Scraders has been running some great times this year, competitive with our older athletes in the 1500 & 800 and may have her run with the older ladies race.
All of our Carifta athletes and medalist will be competing this weekend. With this being the last opportunity for the athletes to reach the CAC Jnr. Championships standard (deadline Monday June 20th) we should see these athletes really giving 100%. Athletes are still trying to qualify for the World Junior Championships and Commonwealth Games. The CAC Games team has been finalized and the deadline passed.
As I had stated to you many years ago I am hoping that the National Championships becomes one of our biggest events. I am hoping to bring in even more overseas athletes next year. Unfortunately not all of our athletes are able to come home for this event due to varying reasons. Hopefully next year we can schedule it where all of them will be able to return.
This should be an exciting weekend for track & field. The public can come out and see some exciting races.
The full schedule follows below, click full screen for greater clarity:
