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SPORTS ‘GRAMMY’ WALLACE-WHITFIELD: GO FOR GOLD
By TENAJH SWEETING tsweeting@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMIAN Olympian Pauline Davis and CARIFTA volunteer as well as long-time track and field supporter Beverly “Grammy” Wallace-Whitfield offered strong words of wisdom and encouragement to Team Bahamas.
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The Bahamian legends spoke with the historic 80-member CARIFTA team during yesterday’s practice session at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium. With the country set to host the 50th CARIFTA Games for the ninth time in just one day, officials have dedicated the entire week to morning and evening practice sessions for Team Bahamas.
In her message to athletes at yesterday’s evening practice session, Wallace-Whitfield stressed the importance of time in track and field. “It’s not just running, jumping, and it’s not just doing it to the best of your ability. It’s trying to get the best time of the winners,” she said. She relayed to athletes the story of Olympic gold medallist Pauline Davis who would run far past the finish line at the end of her most iconic races for a definite first-place finish.
The avid track and field supporter added that track athletes of Team Bahamas should keep Davis’ historic Bahamian feat in mind as they come into the home stretch of their respective races.
“Get ready to cross the line at your best,” she said.
Among her other words of wisdom to the
80-member home team was to uphold strong national pride in how they handle the flag and present themselves during the national anthem when they win their events.
Additionally, she emphasised the importance of having breakfast on the mornings of the 50th CARIFTA Games, treating the other Caribbean athletes as guests first but also competitors, and reminded them about the importance of maintaining a good GPA for scholarships.
The Bahamian Olympian followed behind with a fiery message to Team Bahamas as she told stories of her past performances in the Olympics and the last CARIFTA Games win by The Bahamas in 1981.
She told athletes that as long as they have Bahamian
