Bahamas swept Martinique 3-0 (27-25, 25-20, 25-14) in quarterfinals on Thursday to reach the semifinals of the 2023 CAZOVA Championship in Paramaribo, Suriname.
It’s the fourth defeat of Martinique in this tournament. On Wednesday they were beaten by Barbados 3-1 (25-27, 25-18, 25-12, 25-15).
Outside hitter Kyle Wilson led with 21 points, three aces and two blocks. Prince Wilson had 13 points. Meanwhile, Martinique’s outside hitter Lohan Lefaivre had eight points.
Lloyd Davis, coach of Bahamas expressed his delight at the outcome.
“I am happy how the game went. We expected that Martinique would play hard. The win shows that we want this and trying to reach the final,” he said.
Bahamas captain Bryon Ferguson said his team was confident of victory. “We did not expect anything less or more,” he said. “I am happy we could hold off Martinique and play our own game. One set at a time.”
Excelsior headlines finalists for Boys Championships of America 4x100m final at Penn Relays
A host of Jamaican schools will line up in the final of the High School Boys Championships of America 4x100m final, as they successfully navigated the qualifiers on day two of the 128th Penn Relays at the Franklin Field in Philadelphia on Friday.
Leading the qualifiers was the Excelsior quartet of Ryeem Walker, Damor Miller, Malike Nugent and Lennon Green, which clocked a brisk 40.62 seconds to top their heat.
They will be joined by local rivals Kingston College (41.30s), St Jago (41.35s), St George’s College (41.42s), Calabar High (41.70s) and Jamaica College (41.73s), and Wolmer’s Boys (41.84s). The other two lanes in the medal event will be occupied by Washington DC-based Archbishop John Carroll (41.49s) and Virginia-based West Springfield (41.77s).
Meanwhile, the High School Boys International final, also scheduled for Saturday, will see six Jamaican schools going up against those from Trinidad and Tobago, St Vincent and the Grenadines and The Bahamas, respectively.
St Elizabeth Technical (STETHS) headlines that field, after they posted the fastest qualifying time of 42.26s, followed by Cornwall College (42.53s) and the Bahamian school Queens College (42.61s). St Benedict’s, of out the twin island republic, and Munro College, both clocked 42.83s, while St Vincent Grammar (43.11s), Petersfield (43.14s), St Catherine (43.26s) and Vere Technical (43.55s), are the other qualifiers.
JDF and UWI retain JaVA Men’s and Women’s Club League titles
The Jamaica Defence Force and UWI Volleyball are champions of the Jamaica Volleyball Association Club League which culminated at the GC Foster College of Physical Education and Sports in St. Catherine over the weekend.
In the Women’s final, Master’s Volleyball Club were no match for the defending champion as UWI Volleyball Club won in straight sets 3-0 (25-16, 25-15, 25-20).
The team was led by team captain and national representative Erica Harris.
In the Men’s final, The Jamaica Defence Force defeated MOSA Volleyball Club in straight sets 3-0 (25-10, 25-21, 25-22).
JDF was led by 2023 RJR Sportsman of the Year for Volleyball and team captain, Ryck Webb.
GC Foster College (Women) and UWI A (Men) placed third after straight sets victories over MOSA Volleyball Club and UWI B respectively in the 3rd place playoffs.
Miller-Uibo excited to grace World Relays on Bahamian soil; eyes Olympic berth in 4X400m Mixed Relay
Two-time Olympic Games 400-metre champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo declared her readiness to compete at next month’s World Athletics World Relays in The Bahamas.
While expressing excitement about competing on home soil, the United States-based Miller-Uibo, who won back-to-back Olympic 400m titles at the 2016 and 2020 Games in Rio and Tokyo, pointed out that her main goal is to represent the country well.
She is hoping to assist the Bahamian mixed relay team to Paris Olympic qualification, at the May 4-5 World Relays to be held at the renovated Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium in Nassau.
“I think we have an amazing team for the mixed relay and I’m hoping we can qualify The Bahamas for the Olympic Games,” Miller-Uibo said.
“It’s wonderful competing here because there’s no other feeling like hearing your home crowd cheer you on. It makes you want to bring your best," she added.
In fact, Miller-Uibo went further to describe The Bahamas as "Paradise", almost as if extending an invitation for sports enthusiasts to come down and enjoy a piece of the island outside of the World Relays action.
"Our people are good-natured, always ready to share a good laugh, and that we are, in my eyes, one of the most beautiful countries in the world. It’s literally paradise," she declared.
Ever the trailblazer, the 29-year-old star is ultra-competitive, determined, and hard to slow down, and these traits are exactly why Bahamians are so proud to have her.
In short, Miller-Uibo is a fierce athlete who won’t be overlooked. Even welcoming her son Maicel last April didn’t halt her charge, as she competed at the Bahamas nationals just 10 weeks after giving birth.
Along with her two Olympic titles, Miller-Uibo also won gold at the 2022 World Athletics Championships and is the Bahamian national record-holder in the 200m and 400m. She also holds the world 300m best.
But her path to gold was not without setbacks.
“Those watching us never get the full scope of what athletes go through,” Miller-Uibo opined.
“Injuries are one of those things. I’m not only referring to the physical pain but also the mental toughness you need to recover," she noted.
On that note, the vivacious athlete offered a word of advice to up-and-coming Bahamian athletes chasing their own path.
“Always keep God first, choose a sport and event that you love, and always have fun doing it," Miller-Uibo shared.
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