Bahamas sending just one team to IAAF World Relays

Bahamas sending just one team to IAAF World Relays

NASSAU, BAHAMAS- Team Bahamas will field just one team at this year’s International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) World Relays in Yokohama, Japan.

According to a release sent out yesterday by Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mabeline Miller, the BAAA has elected to withdraw several of its relay teams from the upcoming event. The 2019 IAAF World Relays take place May 11-12 at the Yokohama International Stadium.

The release stated that the BAAA had the intention of contesting the men’s 4×100, 4×200, 4×400, and also the women’s 4×100 meter (m) relays.

“Within this track and field cycle, we are mindful of using every opportunity to qualify for the World Championships,” Miller said. “This is why it was important to contest the traditional 4×100 and 4×100 events in Tokyo. Entry standards were only imposed in the 4×100 and 4×400 and are determined through the IAAF World Ranking list. The final entry deadline was on April 22, 2019.

“After submitting our entries, we received news today that the men’s and women’s 4×100 relay teams did not make the top 24, meaning that The Bahamas does not have a lane in those events. As a result, we have decided to withdraw our men’s 4×200 team as this is not an event on the World Championship schedule.”

The men’s 4x400m team is the only one that will represent The Bahamas in Japan. That team is made up by Steven Gardiner, Alonzo Russell, O’Jay Ferguson, Andre Colebrook and Teray Smith.

 

 

About Randy Smith

Randy Smith is the producer of the widely-watched local television show “Beyond The Headlines” and the web content manager of Eyewitness News. He joined Eyewitness News as a sportscaster in 2018, a role he still performs, and has previously covered a slew of international sporting events, including the 2015 Pan American Games, the Nike EYBL Showcase, several IAAF World Relays, the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, the Commonwealth Youth Games, the Bahamas Bowl and multiple CARIFTA Swimming and Track & Field Championships. Randy has been recognized by the Bahamas Press Club with awards for “Best Sports Broadcast” as a sportscaster and “Best TV Talk Show” as a producer.