05252016 sports

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SPORTS SECTION E

WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2016

‘A GREAT SUCCESS’

Women’s Football Day, 2E

Stage set for Annual Novice Bodybuilding Championships By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

T

JEFFERY GIBSON

GIBSON ALL SET FOR HIS BIGGEST ‘HURDLE’ BEFORE RIO OLYMPICS Eugene, Oregon – Two athletes who came out of nowhere to earn their first major medals will be surrounded by four multiple medallists in the Prefontaine Classic men’s 400-metre hurdles on Saturday. The race features athletes who collectively are five of the six IAAF Diamond League winners and own at least one individual medal from each Olympics and World Championships for the last decade, as well as eight No. 1 world rankings from Track & Field News. Kenya’s Nicholas Bett and Jeffery Gibson, of the Bahamas, will be the focus of many curious eyes, coming in as the gold and bronze medallists from last summer’s World Championships in Beijing. Before last year, the best each had accomplished was a bronze medal - Bett at the African Championships, Gibson at the Commonwealth Games. Bett, 26, was among the most unlikely of gold medallists. He rocketed out of the blocks in lane 9 and held on for the win, lowering his PR by half a second to 47.79 with the victory. Gibson, 25, was third in Beijing, edging American Kerron Clement by 0.01 seconds. He had already collected gold last summer by winning the Pan-American Games. While Bett will be making his debut on US soil, Gibson has experienced success already at Hayward Field, running PRs twice in the NCAA Championships while at Oral Roberts (2011 regionals and 2013 final, taking 5th). This will undoubtedly be Gibson’s biggest race before the Olympics.

TAMARA SCAVELLA

JOMAR FARQUHARSON

TEREZ NAIRN

GEMO SMITH

NOVICE bodybuilders get in shape for the Annual Novice Bodybuilding Championships at the National Centre for the Performing Arts on Saturday night.

he Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation is getting ready to stage its Annual Novice Bodybuilding Championships at the National Centre for the Performing Arts on Saturday night. The event returns to its rightful place on the calendar after it was staged during the federation’s National Bodybuilding Championships last year. The action kicks off at 7pm and is expected to be jampacked with excitement. “Last year, we didn’t finish the nationals until late the next morning,” said federation president Joel Stubbs. “This year, we decided that we will bring the novice back where it will be staged by itself. “We want to allow the novices and those who have never won the national title before to come back and get their night of fame, accolades and props in their accomplishments. We want to have an overall novice champion prior to them coming to the big league.” During the nationals last year, Stubbs said the more seasoned bodybuilders took the spotlight as they out-shined the novice ones and that discouraged some of the bodybuilders who were looking to stay around the sport. So far, there are about 20 bodybuilders who have confirmed their participation in the nationals. He noted that there are a few who have developed stage fright and have indicated that they may no longer compete this weekend. “We are looking at the possibility of having about 20-25 athletes compete,” Stubbs said. “We expect to have competitors compete in all of the divisions, including men’s physique and men’s bodybuilding.” With the event returning to its rightful place, Stubbs said they have been getting an overwhelming support from the newcomers and all of the gyms have been inquiring about purchasing tickets to come out and cheer on their favourite competitors. “We expect a full capacity of spectators,” Stubbs said. “The venue is expected to have a large crowd of spectators as we try to take the novice championship to the next level. “We want to encourage as many persons to come out and lend their support to these newcomers. They need as much support as possible because it’s not easy to grace the stage. They are going to be some of the bodybuilders who will be stepping up to take over when the more seasoned bodybuilders decide to step down.” Leonardo ‘Nardo’ Dean, who has been working with many of the bodybuilders, said they are looking forward to putting on a grand display of talent when the competitors step on the stage on Saturday night. He said they have gotten a lot of interest from competitors from the various gyms and so they are looking forward to having a wide range of competitors making their presence felt.

COLLEGE OF THE BAHAMAS SPORTS SUMMER CAMP ALL SET FOR JUNE 20 By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net FOR another year, coordinator Sean ‘Bass’ Bastian will provide an avenue for youngsters to get a taste of a college ex-

CAVALIERS VS. RAPTORS GAME 5 @ 8:30PM TONIGHT

perience when they participate in the College of the Bahamas Athletic Department’s Sports Summer Camp. The camp is scheduled to run 9am to 2pm June 20 to July 15. It is designed for boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 13. They will be taking part in basketball, soccer, track and field and swimming. “The camp promotes sportsmanship, leadership and team spirit,” Bastian said. “We have experienced coaching instructors who will be working the camp in the various disciplines.” In addition to sports, the campers will also be engaged in a number of field trips to Galleria Cinemas, Mario’s Bowling & Entertainment Palace and EduCulture Bahamas. “The camp’s real initiative is to have the campers on the campus of COB,” Bastian said. “Hopefully, if they grow up throughout the camp, they will be inspired to be a part of the University of the Bahamas Athletic Programme in the future.

“So we are really excited to have them on campus to have that college field and experience what it’s like to be a part of a college atmosphere right here in the Bahamas.” Since the inception of the camp about a decade ago, Bastian said he has seen a vast improvement in some of the campers as he watches them compete for their respective high schools in the various sporting disciplines. “We expect the campers to really improve on their fundamental skills and be exposed to the coaches in terms of what they have to offer,” Bastian said. “But the mere fact that they have four skills to get involved in, they can share their time to develop their whole motor skills. “Unlike the other camps who only focus on one skill, we do four. So at the end of the camp, your child should be fully developed as they will be allowed to develop in the four sporting disciplines. So I think it’s an excellent sporting camp and something

the parents should aspire to send their children to.” For those campers attending the camp, Bastian advised them to come fully prepared with the following: towels, swim cap and goggles, swim attire, water bottle, slippers for the pool area, sunscreen, sporting attire/sneakers daily, soap or shampoo for pool rinsing and lunch or purchased meal. He also advised the campers not to bring valuable items like electronic games and cell phones. They are also not to be disrespectful to instructors and other campers (no fighting or swearing), no running on the deck, no diving in the pool and they must not wear any jeans, except for when they are attending a field trip. The cost for the camp is $190 for the full month, $165 for three weeks, $135 for two weeks and $110 for one week. For those persons interested, they can contact the College of the Bahamas Athletic Department at 302-4349 or email sean.bastian@cob.edu.bs


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