The Bahamas is well represented in the distance events

Going into the Splice & Connect/Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) CARIFTA Trials at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium over the weekend, there was just one qualifier for The Bahamas for the CARIFTA Games in the middle and long distance events. Coming out of the three-day trials, there will be good representation for The Bahamas in that area, heading into the 52nd CARIFTA Games over the Easter holiday weekend in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago.

Erin Barr was the sole distance event qualifier for The Bahamas prior to the trials, running 5:01.60 in the under-20 girls 1500 meters (m) at the Grand Bahama Secondary Schools Athletic Association (GBSSAA) Island Sports Track and Field Meet in Freeport, Grand Bahama, at the beginning of March.

She came to the trials and validated that performance, running 5:00.33 to set a new season’s best time and once again go under the qualifying time of 5:02.60.

In addition to Barr, Arcady Thompson and A’Karee Roberts qualified in their respective 800m events and Ross Martin booked his ticket to Trinidad in the under-20 boys 1500m.

Jade Knowles went under the time of the average fourth place standard in the region in the under-17 girls 800m, which is like qualifying through a ‘B’ standard for The Bahamas for the CARIFTA Games. She will likely run the 1500m event in Trinidad as well.

Thompson ran 1:58.33 to go under the standard of 1:59.82 in the under-17 boys 800m. Roberts followed suit, running 2:15 to go under the standard of 2:16.38 in the under-20 girls 800m. Kyden Thurston just missed the standard of 4:13.72 in the under-17 boys 1500m, running 4:16.85, but, like Knowles, was named to the CARIFTA team for going under the average fourth place standard in the region.

Martin was chasing the standard of 4:06.91 all season long in the under-20 boys 1500m, and he finally got under it at the trials, qualifying in 4:05.17. He will likely run the under-20 boys 5000m in Trinidad as well.

That gives The Bahamas six athletes in the middle and long distance events for the 52nd CARIFTA Games in Trinidad & Tobago.

Barr said she feels confident going into CARIFTA. She said she feels herself getting better at exactly the right time.

“This feels awesome. I’ve been training all year for this moment,” she said. “I always knew it was possible, and now I’m here. I’m looking forward to the competition. I know I have a lot more work to do, but I’m focused. I’m, looking to bring home a medal — I’ll try my hardest and hopefully get a PR (personal best result) as well.”

Barr, a 17-year-old 12th grader at Tabernacle Baptist Academy in Freeport, was looking to qualify in the 800m as well, but just came up a bit short in that event. In the 1500m, Barr has a personal best time of 4:54.09, done for the bronze medal at the 2023 CARIFTA Games which was held at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium in Nassau, The Bahamas. Since then she has gone under five minutes just once, but she says she feels confident in her ability to produce when it matters most. She likes her chanced going into Trinidad.

Martin, a 17-year-old 12th grader at Temple Christian School, is back on the CARIFTA team after getting his feet wet in St. George’s, Grenada, last year. He will be running the under-20 boys 1500m in Trinidad and likely the 5000m as well. Martin ran a season’s and personal best time of 4:05.17 in the under-20 boys 1500m at the trials.

“I feel great. It was getting a bit discouraging, but I’m glad I hung in there, got the qualifying mark, and now I’m going to CARIFTA,” he said. “I’m just grateful for the support from my family and coaches. I’m looking to bring a medal back for sure.”

With representation in the middle and long distance events in each division, the outlook is certainly promising for The Bahamas for the 52nd CARIFTA Games. The junior regional track and field meet is rapidly approaching, set for the Easter holiday weekend, April 19-21, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago. The Bahamas’ 78-member team will leave for Trinidad next week Thursday and will return to The Bahamas on Tuesday April 22.