MONDAY, APRIL 14, 2025
Rhema Otabor victorious, Keyshawn breaks record
Men and women national javelin record holders
Keyshawn Strachan and Rhema Otabor, now tag teaming up at the University of Nebraska, turned in some credible seasonbest performances in their signature events over the weekend.
The duo led a field of Bahamians competing at various meets around the United States of America, including Jonathan Rodgers, who picked up a victory in the men’s long jump.
Strachan in recordbreaking feat At the 44 Farms Invitational in College Station, Texas, Strachan etched his name in school history, winning the javelin title with a toss of 262-feet, 5-inches or 80.0 metres, the second-furthest mark ever by a Husker.
He was shy of his national record of 276-5 (84.27m) that he set on March 31, 2023 as a member of the Auburn Tigers at the Texas Relays in Austin, Texas. But it turned out to be a meet
(previously 250-5/76.32m by Sam Hankins in 2024) and faculty (258-1/78.66m by DJ Jonsson in 2021) record for the 21-year-old Strachan, who is coming back from a UCI injury that prevented him from competing last year.
“I felt good about my performance. It was my second-best performance since I broke the national record in 2023,” Strachan said.
“This was my second meet since my injury.
“Last week in Florida, I threw about 74m, which wasn’t too good. I fixed my adjustment to my runup and my technique and I came back and did much better.”
He opened the competition with a heave of 238-11 (78.93m), did 239-9 (73.09m) on his second try, 223-1 (68.00m) on his third and closed out with 235-6 (72.09m) on his fifth after scratching his sixth and final try.
The human development and family major and science and sociology minor said it was a confident booster as he looks ahead to the rest of his season, starting with the Drake Relays over the weekend of May 24-25.
“I just wanted to go out in this meet and execute,” he said. “I stuck to the plan and improved on my technique and kept it relaxed.”
Last July, Strachan entered the transfer portal where he was able to move on from Auburn University to the University of Nebraska in what he considered a “very smooth” transition, nothing major just got colder.
“The environment is the best, it’s like I’m back at home surrounded by my teammates.”
Strachan said his aim is to get ready for his international debut at the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, from September 13-21.
Aso at the meet, Olympian Antoine Andrews, a junior at Texas Tech, placed third in his specialty in the men’s 110m hurdles in 13.29.
Jamar Marshall Jr, a senior at Houston, won in 13.13.
Andrews also showed his versatility as he got sixth in the men’s 200m in 20.74. The winning time was 20.21 by Auhmad Robinson, a senior at Texas A&M. Otabor victorious
There was just as much celebration for the Bahamian representative at both the World Championships and the Olympic Games over the past two years.
Otabor came up big as well as she won the women’s javelin at the Oklahoma Throws World Invitational as a representative of Adidas with her mark of 186-01 (56.73m) on her third attempt to win the title in her season opener.
Her series of throws were 184-03 (56.17m) for an opening mark and 192-0 (58.54m) on her second. She fouled both her fourth and fifth and closed out
the competition with 186-0 (54.73m) on her sixth and final attempt.
“I can’t complain because that was my best opener that I’ve ever had and it is in my range of expectations for what I had,” she said. “I think it was a good starting point for the rest of my season.”
Still at the University of Nebraska where she is being coached by Huskers’ head coach Justin St Clair as she pursues her master’s degree in actuarial science, Otabor said her goal is to qualify for the World Championships as she “continues to progress with some big throws and have some fun doing it.”
If there’s anything she needs to continue to work on, Otabor admits that it’s her runup, but she’s not concerned about it as she prepares for her next competition at the Drake Relays.
Otabor, 22, holds the Bahamian national record
at 210-0 (64.19m), a feat she established on June 6, 2024 in repeating as the NCAA Outdoor Championships’ champion.
Rodgers joined the party at Jo Meaker Classic
His name may not be as household as Strachan and Otabor, but Jonathan Rodgers, competing for New Mexico Junior College, made his presence felt at the Jo Meaker Classic. He soared 25-8 1/4 (7.83m) ln his first attempt to secure the win, following it up with marks of 25-5 1/4 (7.75m), 25-2 (7.67m) and 25-6 (7.77m) before he passed on his final two tries.
Smith at Arkansas Oscar Smith, a senior at Louisiana Tech, got fourth in the men’s 110m hurdles at the Arkansas Spring Invitational in a season’s best of 13.67. The race was won by American Cordell Tinch in 13.29.
By BRENT STUBBS
THE Bahamas Cycling Federation will be sending Kami Roach and Grand Bahamian Livingstone
‘Launy’ Duncombe, the top two junior cyclists in the country, to compete in the Pan American Road Championships. The championships will be held in Uruguay from April 21-27 and will serve as a qualifier for the Jr. Pan Am Games that will take place in Paraguay in August.
The duo recently competed at the 2025 Powerade Potcakeman Triathlon at Jaws Beach where Roach was the top female finisher and Duncombe came in second overall in the men’s division.
BCF’s secretary general Barron ‘Turbo’ Musgrove
CARIFTA SWIMMERS TREATED TO BREAKFAST
THE excitement is starting to brew for the Bahamas team as they prepare to head to Trinidad & Tobago on Wednesday for their seventh straight CARIFTA Swimming Championship title. On Saturday with just about the full contingent of the 36-member team on hand, Bahamas Aquatics held a breakfast following their practice session at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex.
The well-known rivals continued their feud but the Commonwealth Bank Giants landed the first blow with a 93-80 triumph over the Rockets in game one of the best-of-five championship series.
The Caribbean Moonshine Rockets, formerly known as the Discount Distributors Rockets, took
THE next chapter of the ongoing rivalry between the Commonwealth Bank Giants and Caribbean Moonshine Rockets came to a head in game one of the 2025 New Providence Basketball Association (NPBA) Division One Finals on Saturday night at the AF Adderley Gymnasium.
home last year’s championship hardware with a narrow 3-2 series win over their competitors in the 2024 NPBA DI Finals.
One season later, the CB Giants were determined to deliver a message from the onset, according to head coach Perry Thompson.
“The idea was to come out and send an early message. I feel like the team came out not lackadaisical like we usually do in the first quarter. We actually made a good collective effort over the entire game so it is a good feeling that we finally played a complete game and saw what we could do against the defending champions,” he said.
Both the Giants and Rockets struggled to put together a cohesive offence in the opening quarter.
The back-and-forth affair in the first ended with the Giants on top 22-19.
Last year’s runners-up started to create some separation as Brandon Strachan, who is playing in his first season at the division one
KEYSHAWN Strachan crouches beside his school record.
RHEMA Otabor in action in the women’s javelin.
Chisholm Jr hits home run in Yankees’ 5-4 loss to Giants
By LARRY FLEISHER Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Jung Hoo Lee homered in consecutive at-bats off Carlos Rodón for his first career multi-homer game, and the San Francisco Giants rallied from a threerun deficit to beat the New York Yankees 5-4 Sunday. San Francisco has won nine of 12 games and took a regular-season series in the Bronx for the first time.
New York has lost five of seven games and three of its last four series. Yankees starters have a 5.40 ERA, tied with Baltimore for highest in the major leagues.
Rodón (1-3) allowed four runs and three hits in 5 2/3 innings. He has allowed five runs in his last three starts after issuing walks and his 36 homers allowed since the
start of 2024 are tied with Toronto’s Jose Berríos for the most in the majors. Lee got San Francisco’s first hit in the fourth inning by homering into the right-centre field seats off Rodón’s slider. He put the Giants ahead 4-3 in the sixth, driving a hanging curveball for his third homer of the series.
Rookie Christian Koss reached on an infield single for his first major league hit and Willy Adames walks. Paul Goldschmidt hit an RBI single off Logan Webb (2-0) in the first before getting robbed of a hit by right fielder Luis Matos’ leaping catch at the wall in the third.
JC Escarra added an RBI double, and Ben Rice hit a run-scoring single in the second off Webb.
Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr homered off sidearmer
Tyler Rogers in the eighth, ending an 0-for-24 slide.
Tyler Walker got a called third strike on Aaron Judge to finish his fourth save.
Webb allowed three runs and five hits in five innings.
The Giants added a run in the seventh when Casey
Schmitt scored on an error by Goldschmidt, who misplayed Koss’ grounder.
After the deal, the Yankees played Alicia Keys’ “Empire State of Mind.”
They are no longer using “New York, New York” after home defeats this year.
Key Moments Lee homered on one of just eight curveballs thrown by Rodón.
Key Stat Rodón issued two walks on his slider in the sixth.
Up Next
Giants: Play in the opener of a four-game series today in Philadelphia. Yankees: Play in the opener of a three-game series today.
The Giants were 1 for 11 with two walks against the pitch and the one hit was Lee’s first homer.
KIX ACADEMY U12S MAKE FINAL OF SHARKS SOCCER CUP
KIX Academy’s under-10 and under-12 teams delivered strong performances at the 2025 Sharks Soccer Cup in South Florida April 4-6, holding their own against well-established opposition and continuing to showcase the club’s steady progress. The U12s made
FROM PAGE E1
Interested athletes can contact coach Rupert Gardiner at 821-2836 for more information.
BASEBALL/ SOFTBALL RELOADED INVITATIONAL THE Reloaded baseball and softball programme for boys and girls is scheduled to hold its fourth invitational tournament April 18-21 at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.
The event, organised by Stephen “Bishop” Beneby, is being sanctioned by the Bahamas Baseball Assocation, headed by Clarence “CJ’ McKenzie and will be sponsored by Pro Youth Foundation.
It will feature baseball teams for boys and softball teams for girls from Grand Bahama and New Providence. It’s also anticipated that some teams from the Family Islands will also be in New Providence to participate.
PEACE ON DA STREET FAMILY
NIGHT PLANS are underway for the staging of the Peace on Da Streets’ Basketball
an impressive run to the tournament final, defeating Davie United 7-3, drawing 1-1 with Aventura FC Bold Nation, and securing a 2-0 win over Okeeheelee Heat Guerrero in group play.
In the final, they were narrowly beaten 4-2 by Okeeheelee Heat Ruiz.
Classics’ Road to 30 years of existence. The event, being organised by the Hope Center under the theme “Shooting hoops instead of guns,” will be held from July 14-19 at the Michael ‘Scooter’ Reid Basketball Center. The highlight of the event will be the Family Night, scheduled for Sunday, July 20 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium when the finals in all of the divisions will take place, starting at 3pm. There will also be the Mr Ship It Three-point shootout and the Joe’s Slam Dunk Contest. The night will conclude with the exciting Clergy versus Politicians match-up. Lots of prizes, including round trip tickets, will be up for grabs.
FAST TRACK ATHLETICS SPRING FLING INVITATIONAL
THE Fast Track Athletics Club is scheduled to hold its 4th annual Spring Fling at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex May 16-17.
The event is open to competitors from throughout The Bahamas. The action is slated to begin at 5pm on Friday, May 16 and at 10am on Saturday, May
All 12 goals scored by the U12 side were the work of Cael Ramsey, a standout forward on loan from Futprep, whose pace, movement and finishing ability made him a constant threat throughout the tournament. “I just wanted to help the team as much as I
16. It promises to provide fast competition, perfect prep for championship season and an unmatched island atmosphere in Grand Bahama.
For more information on the meet, persons can email fasttrackmanagement00@gmail.com
RESURRECTION
10K RUN/5K WALK
“Arise and Shine” is the theme for the Resurrection 10K run, 5K walk, bike and breakfast fellowship as they encourage persons to “push your limits, cross the finish for change.”
The event, powered by Unity Initiative, is scheduled for Easter Monday, April 21, starting at 5:45am from the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.
The categories include 12-and-under, 13-17, 18-39, 40-59 and 60-and-over for male and females.
Trophies and medals will be presented to the top finishers in all categories. “Come one, come all as we celebrate” is the call for all physically challenged, families, churches and all civic groups. For more information, persons can contact Votebcp242@gmail.com, telephone 242-524-1798 or log onto www.bcppaerty. org
could,” said Ramsey. “The players and coaches at Kix made me feel really welcome, and it was a lot of fun competing at that level.”
The U10s also had a strong showing, despite falling just short of a place in the knockout rounds.
They were edged 4-2 by Springs Soccer Club and bounced back with a 6-3 win over South Miami United FC.
And they narrowly lost 4-3 to Aventura FC Bold Nation.
Deantoin Bostwick led the U10 scoring with seven goals, while Adom Kwakye added four. Rodrick Mitchell, on loan from Skillz, chipped in with one goal.
“I was just trying to score and help my team win,” said Bostwick.
“It felt good to play against tough teams and show what we can do.”
Head coach Jared Higgs praised both teams for their performances, highlighting the value of international tournament experience
for his players. “This was our first trip to the Sharks Soccer Cup and our fourth trip to a tournament in South Florida,” said Higgs.
“The development and progress is very clear to see. Our U10s competed very well, and of course our U12s showed a lot of quality to make the final.”
Kix Academy continues to invest in player development through travel competition, structured training and exposure to high-level match play.
NEW York Yankees’ Anthony Volpe, left, and Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr, right, react after Chisholm Jr hit a home run during the eighth inning against the San Francisco Giants yesterday in New York.
(AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
KIX Academy team at the 2025 Sharks Soccer Cup in South Florida.
NPBA: Commonwealth Bank Giants take 1-0 series lead
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level, nailed a nifty floater to put the Giants ahead by six (28-22) early in the second period.
The defending champions continued to hang around on the scoreboard.
The team got back-toback buckets from Devon Ferguson.
The latter drained an open three from the top of the key to close in on the Giants 36-33 with less than three minutes remaining in the first half.
The Rockets managed to close the gap to just one (41-40) thanks to their late surge to end the first half of basketball.
The third period is where the Giants really asserted their dominance against the reigning champions.
Dastyn Baker came off the bench with the hot hand and erupted for 14 points, which included four three-pointers, in the third quarter.
He finished the game with 17 points and put a wedge between the Giants and Rockets in the third period.
Coach Thompson commended the efforts of his bench unit after game one.
“It started when the playoffs began. Every game somebody stepped up and it was Baker’s turn tonight. He came in and hit a lot of big shots. He has been one of my efficient players over the years. He doesn’t need 40 minutes to make an impact, he is a coach so he knows exactly what to do when he gets on the floor,” he said.
Baker helped the Giants to mount an unanswered 8-0 run with two threes on back-to-back possessions complemented by a pull-up jumper from veteran guard Jackson Jacob.
The score was 53-46 after this stretch until the Giants built a double-digit deficit (61-50) at the three-minute mark.
Through three quarters, they remained in control of the game 71-56.
DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONSHIP
SERIES RESUMES
TONIGHT AT THE AF ADDERLEY
GYMNASIUM
The Giants took their feet off the gas pedal a bit in the final period of play and the Rockets tried to capitalise.
After trailing by double digits for a good chunk of the third period, the Rockets got within seven (84-77) with less than three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. However, two quick Buckets by Eugene Bain and Jacob quelled any chances of a Rockets comeback.
Jacob pitched in 16 points and veteran big man Bain scored 15 points in the Giants’ victory.
Abel Joseph scored a team-high 19 points for the Rockets in the loss.
Coach Thompson said the goal is to keep the same momentum going into game two of the championship series. “In game two we want to ride out this momentum. Tomorrow [today] we will get some rest and do some recovery and in game two we will come out with the same intensity. We won’t let up,” he said. The 2025 NPBA DI Championship series is slated to resume tonight at 8:15pm in the AF Adderley Gymnasium.
Photos by Chappell Whyms Jr
‘Buddy’ scores eight in Warriors’ 124-119 loss to Timberwolves in overtime
By TENAJH SWEETING
Sports Reporter
WHILE the Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves clinched the two remaining Western Conference playoff spots, Grand Bahamian sharpshooter Chavano “Buddy” Hield and the Golden State Warriors will have to go through the National Basketball Association play-in tournament to secure a playoff berth.
The NBA fans got a playoff-esque matchup from the Clippers versus Warriors game yesterday at the Chase Centre in San Francisco, California.
The Warriors got their playoffs hopes dashed momentarily as the Clippers edged them out 124-119 in overtime.
‘Buddy’ had a relatively quiet night off the bench. He led the second unit in scoring with 8 points and a rebound. Hield shot 3-for-7 from the field and 2-for-6
from deep in 16 minutes of action.
Warriors point guard Stephen Curry got it going for 36 points and Jimmy Butler III scored 30 points in the loss.
With the last playoff spot up for grabs, the Warriors and Clippers left it on all the hardwood in the regular season finale.
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard missed the goahead pull-up jumper at the end of regulation, signalling the start of overtime.
Clippers guard James Harden scored the first 10 points for his team to lead 121-117 with 1:15 remaining in OT.
Butler converted on a layup off a Draymond Green assist and that shifted the score to 121-119.
Leonard missed a point blank layup on the Clippers side but Green failed to convert his layup attempt for the Warriors on the following possession.
Leonard was then fouled and split a pair of free
throws at the charity stripe, giving the Dubs a chance to force double overtime.
The Clippers’ defenders hounded Curry leading to Hield attempting the potential game-tying three on the left wing, but he was unsuccessful with his attempt.
Harden then iced the game with back-to-back freebies to help his team clinch the fifth seed with a 50-32 (win/loss record). He finished the contest with a game-high 39 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.
Leonard wrapped up the win with 33 points and seven assists.
The Clippers won the battle of the boards 42-25.
The LA Clippers will now prepare to face the fourth seeded Denver Nuggets in round one of the Western Conference playoffs.
As for Hield and the Warriors, they will prepare to take on the eighth seeded Memphis Grizzlies tomorrow night. The winner of the matchup will face the second seeded Houston Rockets.
Bahamian big man Kai Jones and the Dallas
Mavericks were also in action on Sunday.
The Grizzlies handed the undermanned Mavericks a 132-97 loss in their regular season finale at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee.
Jones logged 26 minutes off the bench and put up 11 points, eight rebounds, two assists and a steal.
The Mavericks will also battle in the NBA play-in
tournament against the ninth seeded Sacramento Kings.
The winner of that matchup will face the loser of the seventh and eighth seed play-in game.
The victor will earn the eighth seed to face the OKC Thunder in round one of the NBA Playoffs. Dallas will return to action on Wednesday night against the Kings.
NBA’s West spots set with Nuggets, Clippers and Timberwolves in and Warriors play-in bound
By BRIAN
THE Los Angeles Clippers worked overtime to clinch a playoff spot — and send the Golden State Warriors to the NBA’s play-in tournament.
The final game to end the regular season was a big one for seeding in the Western Conference, with the Clippers beating the Warriors 124-119 in overtime yesterday to clinch the No. 5 seed.
The Warriors fell to No. 7 and will host No. 8 Memphis on Tuesday, with the winner earning the No. 7 seed.
Had Golden State won, the Clippers would have fallen to seventh. But James Harden prevented that with 39 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds to cap an All-Star season for the former NBA MVP and give the Clippers an eighth straight win and a 50-32 record. “We’re a good team and we’re excited to show
the world, but we’re a good team,” Harden said in a postgame interview with ESPN on the court.
The West bracket wasn’t set until a final day that had numerous teams in the running for numerous positions after the top three of Oklahoma City, Houston and the Los Angeles Lakers was already determined.
The Denver Nuggets regrouped after their chaotic final week that included the firing of coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth to secure the No. 4 seed and homecourt advantage in the first round against the Clippers by beating the Rockets 126-111.
The Lakers, Nuggets and Clippers all finished 50-32, with Los Angeles having the tiebreaker to finish No. 3 and start a series in Los Angeles for the first time since 2012.
The Timberwolves — who could have slipped all the way to eighth in some scenarios — instead landed
in the No. 6 spot at 49-33 following their 116-105 victory over Utah. Anthony Edwards scored 43 points after stressing to his teammates the urgency to avoid having to play at least one more game.
“Like, we don’t want to play in the play-in, because I’ve been in both situations,” the All-Star guard said. “We want to be fully prepared going into the playoffs. We want that whole week.”
So did the Warriors, who have never won a game in the play-in tournament. They would have finished sixth to set up another marquee matchup between Stephen Curry and LeBron James in the postseason and have just two days to shake off the disappointment.
“We’re right where we want to be,” forward Jimmy Butler said. “We’ve still got an opportunity and we control our own fate. We’re going to be just fine.”
Sacramento is No. 9 and Dallas No. 10 in the West.
They will play Wednesday in Sacramento, with the winner having to beat the loser of the Golden StateMemphis game to face the top-seeded Thunder in the first round. There was no final-day drama in the East, where everything had already been decided. Cleveland is No. 1 and Boston is No. 2, and they will await the two teams to advance from the play-in. The No. 3 New York Knicks will face the No. 6 Detroit Pistons, and No. 4 Indiana will meet No. 5 Milwaukee. Orlando is No. 7 and will host eighth-seeded Atlanta on Tuesday, with the winner advancing to face the Celtics. The loser will get another shot against the winner of the game between No. 9 Chicago and No. 10 Miami. Finishing with 50 Besides the victories by the Nuggets and Clippers, the Indiana Pacers beat Cleveland in two overtimes to finish 50-32. That gave the NBA nine teams with at least 50 wins for the first time since 10 teams did it in 2014-15.
GOLDEN State Warriors guard Buddy Hield (7) shoots a 3-point basket over Los Angeles Clippers guard Kris Dunn (8) during the first half yesterday in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A Vásquez)
DALLAS Mavericks forward Kai Jones (23) brings the ball up court in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn.
(AP Photo/ Brandon Dill)
MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer
GOLDEN State Warriors guard
Buddy Hield reacts during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Portland, Oregon. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)
KAMI ROACH AND ‘LAUNY’ DUNCOMBE TO COMPETE
IN THE PAN AMERICAN ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS
said the federation wants to ensure that their top cyclists get a chance to qualify for these prestigious meets.
“This is just an opportunity for them to measure themselves and to qualify for the Junior Pan Am,” Musgrove said.
“From that, we are looking forward to the Caribbean Elite Junior Championships in Barbados on August 28 and the elite and uner-23 championships in Belize in October.
“All of these are events that we want to use to expose our athletes for more international events as we prepare for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. These events will only improve the performances of our cyclists.”
Countries expected to compete are Uruguay, El Salvador, Paraguay, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Grenada, Dominica, United States of America, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Cuba, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela, Bolivia, Cayman Islands and Chile.
The team for the first time will be managed and coached by women, including Duncombe’s mother Launa Maxis, who will also serve as a coach along with Lori Roach, the mother of Roach, who will be her assistant coach.
“I feel very confident in being the manager of this team. It’s an opportunity to look forward to because it’s a different level of elites and pros competing,” said Maxis, who served previously as the manager of the Grand Bahama Cycling team for the Bahamas Games.
“I look forward to Launy and Kami doing very good. Launy trains with Mr (Kenton) Roker here in Grand Bahama on a daily basis, they train every morning at 5am. Kami is now in college and she’s been doing her training in the United States.”
The team will be leaving from Nassau on Monday, April 21 to Panama and then on to Uruguay for the competition that features the time trails on Wednesday, April 23 and the road race on Friday, April 25. “They have to travel with
CARIFTA SWIMMERS TREATED TO BREAKFAST
Bahamas Aquatics’ president Algernon Cargill gave some remarks encouraging Team Bahamas to go out and perform their best and indicated that they are looking forward to the team winning the title again. Also on hand was William Russell, the owner of the Athlete’s Foot, who said his company always had a personal relationship with swimming from his competitive days as a swimmer on the CARIFTA team to watching his sons follow in his footsteps.
“I know how hard these kids work,” he stressed. “You’re talking sbout hours and hours in the morning and night. So, I’m just lucky to be in the business this year to help them and to reward them with some shoes.”
The team will have Travano McPhee as the head coach and he will be assisted by Jasmine Gibson. The open water coach will be Allan Murray. The female chaperone is Therell Smith and Melvin Rolle is the male chaperone. Gibson, who hails from Grand Bahama, was
two different bikes, a time trail and a road bike,” Maxis said. “It will be interesting to see how they travel with their bikes, take it down and put it back up.”
Roach, the current women’s under-23 national champion and winner of the women’s segment of the Tour de Grand Bahama, will compete in the women’s
under-23 division. “I want to race well and finish in the top half,” said Roach, a 19-year-old student at the University of Tampa. “I feel good. I’ve been training,
but it’s a big event so I’m a bit nervous and excited to compete.
“I just need to hydrate and eat well and go there with a positive mindset. I’m looking forward to meeting new people and racing against the international competition.”
This is the third international competition for Roach, who last competed in a triathlon at the Youth Commonwealth Games in Trinidad & Tobago two years ago.
“I know it will be similar to the Youth Commonwealth Games where the countries will be sending their top cyclists,” Roach said.
“So I’m sure the competition will be very good because we are all trying to qualify for the Jr Pan Am Games.
“I’m just excited because I’m going to a new place as well, so I really want to see how well I can compete against the rest of the field. I know it’s going to be a challenge, but I’m up for it.”
Duncombe, the men’s junior national champion and the junior champion of the Tour de Grand Bahama, will be entered in the youth 17-18 division.
“I just want to go there and do my best. This is the first time I will get to compete in this meet,” said Duncombe, a 17-year-old 11th grader at Sunland Christian School in Grand Bahama.
“I will try to go there and place or try to win, but I’m just going to give it my best and whatever I come out with, I will be satisfied.”
In preparation for the championships, Duncombe said he just returned from the United States where he got to get some new equipment that he hopes to make good use of.
“I know it’s a very long race, so I know I will have to optimise as I work on my distance riding,” said Duncombe, who has already competed in about 6-8 international events, including a triathlon last month in Cuba where he placed 13th.
pleased with what she saw as the entire came together over the weekend.
“We’re still inside the intense side of our training and they are looking good in the after,” Gibson said.
“Their feedback is they are feeling good and they are ready for competition.”
Gibson said the goal right now is to get the swimmers geared up to race in Trinidad.
Dexter Russell, one of the swimmers from Grand
Bahama, said he had to make the adjustment to the intense training at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex, but he is confident that he will be able to cope in Trinidad.
Russell is entered in the boys 11-12 division where he will a workhorse in Trinidad, swimming the 50m 100 and 400m freestyle 50m, 100 and 200m butterfly, 50m breaststroke and 50m backstroke. He said he’s confident that the Bahamas
will “definitely” win its seventh straight title.
Bahamas: Swim team
Females 11 -12 - Sienna Campbell, Skarlette Donaldson, Isabella Munroe, Taylen Nicolls and Semaiah Rolle.
Females 13 -14 - Isabella Cuccurullo, Tiah Seymour, Saleste Gibson, Siann Isaacs, DNDN McKenzie, Violet Saralegui, Kimaya Saunders and Skyler Smith.
Females 15 -17 - TiaIsabella Adderley, Lelah Lewis, Mia Patton, Elle Theberge, Zoe Williamson and Elyse Wood.
Males 11 -12 - Kai Bastian, Logan Comarcho, Da’Kari Cooper, Nitayo Knowles and Dexter Russell.
Males 13 -14 - Christon Joseph, Alexander Murray, Trace Russell, David Singh, Kaylan Williams and Issac Wright.
Males 15 -17 - Tristen Hepburn, William Farrington, Ellie Gibson, Ayrton Moncur, Donald Saunders and Caden Wells.
Open Water Team
Female 14 -15 - Gillian Albury, Samirah Donaldson and Madison Fox.
Female 16 -18 - Madison Gilbert, Alanna Murray and Erin Pritchard.
Female 14 -15 - Lauchlan Menzies, Trace Russell and Kaylan Williams.
Female 16 -18 - Kevin Johnson Jr., Malcolm Menzies and Myles Saunders.
The team will be back in practice today and Tuesday before they head out on Wednesday. Their competition will take place at the National Swim Complex in Trinidad from April 19-22 with the open water swim on April 23 just before they return home.
THE Bahamas Cycling Federation will be sending Kami Roach and Grand Bahamian Livingstone ‘Launy’ Duncombe, the top two junior cyclists in the country, to compete in the Pan American Road Championships. The championships will be held in Uruguay from April 21-27 and will serve as a qualifier for the Jr. Pan Am Games that will take place in Paraguay in August.
BAHAMAS Aquatics’ president Algernon Cargill addresses the CARIFTA swim team at breakfast.
MEMBERS of Team Bahamas being feted to breakfast on Saturday.
Mingoes, Renegades in scoreless draw
THE University of The Bahamas men’s soccer team came out with a scoreless draw against Renegades FC in a battle of the top team in Division I play of the Bahamas Men’s Soccer League.
The match, which was played at the Roscow A L Davies Soccer Fields, saw UB did more of the attacking, but Renegades defence stood tall for the draw. Both teams now sport a 1-0-1 win/loss/draw record for a total of four points. UB sits in second place while Renegades hold the top spot on goal difference.
Alex Thompson, head coach of UB’s men’s soccer team, said that his team lacked cohesion on the field.
“We were very fortunate to get the draw. We did not have a good game and Renegades to their credit, set up in a way that we weren’t used to facing and we could not come up with enough solutions to break down the problem,” Thompson said.
UB did have their fair number of scoring chances in the first half from midfielder and captain Ronaldo Green and midfielder Philip Pilgrim but not enough to get past the keeper. Renegades’ defence made life difficult for UB’s attackers.
The first 15 minutes of the second half saw UB’s attack being stagnated. Their attacking game opened in the final 30 minutes of the game, but the Renegades goalkeeper made some tough saves to keep the game at 0-0.
UB’s goalkeeper, Antonio Beckford was sharp in goal to come away with the clean sheet.
ON THE REPLAY: The University of The Bahamas men’s soccer team came out with a scoreless draw against Renegades FC in a battle of the top team in Division I play of the Bahamas Men’s Soccer League.
Photos by UB Athletics
Rory McIlroy wins Masters playoff to complete the career Grand Slam
By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer
AUGUSTA, Georgia
(AP) — Rory McIlroy turned another major collapse into his grandest moment of all, hitting a wedge into 3 feet for birdie in a sudden-death playoff yesterday to finally win the Masters and take his place in golf history as the sixth player to claim the career Grand Slam.
What could have been a coronation for McIlroy along the back nine at Augusta National turned into a heart-racing, leadchanging, jaw-dropping finish at golf’s greatest theatre that ended with McIlroy on his knees sobbing with joy and disbelief.
It ended with more heartache for Justin Rose, who lost to Sergio Garcia in a playoff in 2017 and forced this one with a clutch 20-foot birdie on the 18th hole for a 6-under 66. He wound up joining Ben Hogan as the only players to lose twice in playoffs at Augusta National.
“My dreams have been made today,” McIlroy said, the Masters green jacket looking like a perfect fit as he spoke at the trophy presentation.
Moments later, speaking to four-year-old daughter Poppy, he told her: “Never give up on your dreams. Never, ever give up on your dreams.”
This was shaping up as another horror show for McIlroy, who in 2011 lost a four-shot lead on the final day with a 43 on the back nine, a highlight reel that now can start collecting dust.
“I didn’t make it easy today,” McIlroy said. He lost a two-shot lead in two holes at the start. He lost a four-shot lead on the back nine in a matter of three holes with shocking misses, one of them a wedge into the tributary of Rae’s Creek on the par-5 13th.
And right when it looked as though he would blow another major, McIlroy delivered two majestic shots when nothing less would do, two birdies that sent him to the 18th hole with a one-shot lead.
That still wasn’t enough. He hit a wedge into the bunker and wound up missing a 5-foot par putt for a 1-over 73 and the first Masters playoff in eight years.
Faced with more failure, McIlroy responded with another booming drive, and
wedge bounced onto the slope of the top shelf with enough spin to trickle down toward the hole, closer and closer, until it stopped 3 feet away.
And when Rose missed from 15 feet, McIlroy finally sealed it.
McIlroy went 11 long years without any major, knowing the Masters green jacket was all that kept him from joining Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen as the only winners of golf’s four professional majors.
“This is my 17th time here, and I started to wonder if it would ever be my time,” he said in Butler Cabin. “I think the last 10 years coming here with the burden of the Grand Slam on my shoulders and trying to achieve that ... there was a lot of pent-up emotion that just came out on that 18th green.”
He raised both arms and let the putter fall behind him, and before long he was on his knees, then his forehead on the 18th green as his chest heaved with emotion.
“Rose was left with a runner-up finish for the second straight time in a major, with not many regrets, especially making the 20-foot putt on the 18th.
“It’s the kind of putt you dream about as a kid, and to have it and hole it, it was a special feeling,” Rose said. “And unfortunately, the playoff, they always end so quickly. If you’re not the guy to hit the great shot or hole the great putt, it’s over.
“But not really anything I could have done more today.”
So ended one of the wildest Sundays at a major that is known for them. McIlroy set a Masters record as the first champion to make four
double bogeys — two in the first round that put him seven shots behind, two in the final round that turned this into a thriller.
U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, who beat McIlroy at Pinehurst No. 2 last June, had the lead after two holes when McIlroy opened with a double bogey. He crashed out with a pair of three-putts and two shots into the water on the back nine, closing with a 75.
Ludvig Aberg, a runnerup in his Masters debut a year ago, suddenly had a share of the lead when McIlroy fell apart on the middle of the back nine. He missed a birdie putt from the fringe to take the lead, then finished bogey-triple bogey. Rose had every reason to believe he threw away his chances on Saturday with a 75 that put him seven shots behind, and then two bogeys on the front nine. Even as he steadied himself, he was four shots back and running out of time. He did his part in a 10-birdie round and that dynamic birdie putt to cap it off. McIlroy helped in a big way. Nothing was more shocking than the 13th. McIlroy played it safe, leaving himself a big target and a lob wedge. He missed his mark by some 20 yards, the ball disappearing into the tributary of Rae’s Creek and leading to double bogey. Rose was on the par-3 16th and hit his tee shot to 4 feet for birdie, and suddenly they were tied. Then, McIlroy hit a weak drive to the right and was blocked by pines. He didn’t reach the green, didn’t make the
par putt and no longer had the lead.
But he was resilient as ever — he’s been like that his entire career. Seemingly in trouble left of the 15th fairway, McIlroy hit 7-iron around the trees and onto the green to 6 feet. He missed the eagle putt — the birdie still helped him regain a share of the lead. Two holes later, facing a semi-blind shot, he drilled 8-iron and chased after it, urging it to “Go! Go! Go! Go!” And it did, barely clearing the bunker and rolling out to 2 feet for birdie and a one-shot lead. Turns out that wasn’t enough, either. He was 5 feet away from victory and badly missed the putt, leaving him more work to do — another chance to fail. Not this time. The 35-year-old from Northern Ireland never wavered in what he came to Augusta National to do. He leaves with a green jacket.
McIlroy and Rose finished at 11-under 277, two shots ahead of former Masters champion Patrick Reed (69).
Scottie Scheffler, trying to win the Masters for the third time in four years, never got anything going this week and still shot 69 to finish fourth.
McIlroy, with his third win this year, now has 40 titles worldwide. This was his 11th try at getting the career Grand Slam — the longest any of the previous players went was three attempts to get the fourth leg.
Next up is the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, where McIlroy has already won four times. Wouldn’t that be grand?
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SCOTTIE Scheffler puts the green jacket on winner, Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, at the Masters golf tournament, Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photos/Ashley Landis)
WINNER RORY MCILROY, of Northern Ireland, holds the trophy at the Masters golf tournament yesterday.
RORY MCILROY, of Northern Ireland, celebrates winning in a playoff against Justin Rose, of England, after the final round the Masters golf tournament. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)