UB Track holds time trials ahead of season

UB Track holds time trials ahead of season
The University of The Bahamas announces some of the results from the Mingoes Time Trials at the university's track on Monday, November 30, 2020 (UNIVERSITY OF THE BAHAMAS)

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The University of The Bahamas (UB) Mingoes track and field team held time trials as the team looks to kick off the season next year.

Runners for The UB Mingoes hit the track at UB early yesterday morning with the dew still on the grass track. Mingoes and potential Mingoes participated in trials at the 1200 meter (m), 350m, 300m and 250m distances.

“This is the beginning, so I’m satisfied at where we are at now,” Head Coach Ednal Rolle said. “I told them it is not necessarily how you start — however, you want to have a good start — but how you improve on where you are now. This time trial is simply to tell them where they are at
right now.”

Potential walk-on athletes also participated for an opportunity to make the team.

Rolle added that the team has been training hard and it shows, and that there were some standouts in the trials.

“We are in a good place right now,” he said. “We had a great time from Romica Josey in the 300m and that was expected because she has been consistent in her training and really pushing hard and hitting the weight room.

“The most improved today, I think, was Sierra Sears who didn’t have that great of a season last season but she’s really hitting it hard this time around.”

Rolle also pointed out that Kendrick Thompson, who was once listed as the third best heptathlete in the world, had a solid performance in the 350m trial. Thompson scored 5,636 at the Purdue Gene Edmonds Memorial Invitational in January and was ranked third in the world at that point. Thompson is now ranked number 22 on the world stage.

Freshman sprinter from Queen’s College Paige Stuart also had a strong first showing, Rolle noted.

“She came in and had the fastest time on the day. It’s a great start for her,” he said.