The Bermuda National Athletics Association [BNAA] is ramping up fund-raising efforts for this year’s CARIFTA Games, which already has seen seven of the Island’s top young athletes attain qualifying standards.
This year’s event is scheduled to take place in Grenada, the southernmost Windward Island situated in the eastern Caribbean Sea, from March 30 to April 1 at the Kirani James Athletic Stadium.
To aid in the offsetting of costs for sending a local contingent, the BNAA is inviting partrons to register and compete in the Second Annual CARIFTA Fundraising Golf Tournament, which will take place at Belmont Hills Golf Course on February 24, with all proceeds to directly support the athletes’ expenses.
The tournament will involve golf teams of four playing under captain’s choice format, with prizes for longest drive and closest to the hole, free lunch available, along with other giveaways and attractions on offer. BNAA is seeking sponsors for each tee, sponsorship donations start at $500. The entry fee for teams is $500, while corporate teams can enter and sponsor a tee for $800.
Interested parties can submit their interest to take part or simply contribute funding by emailing details to athleticsbda@gmail.com or contact Freddie Evans at 735-0980.
Of the event BNAA president Freddie Evans said: “We are very humbled and excited by the support of the local golf courses and the greater golf community.
“Everyone is believes in supporting Bermuda’s athletes.”
Meanwhile, among those having already qualified for the region’s premier international athletics competition involving juniors are Jaeda Grant in the 1500 metres, after recently clocking 4:57.72 at the latest Bermuda National Athletics Association track meet., along with Norre Robinson, who was timed in an impressive 10.79 in the 100 metres.
Also achieving required standards were male athletes Cameron Adkins (3000m) 9:48.16 and Jake Brislane (5000m) 16:13.67, joining Kallan Richardson who posted a converted qualifying time in a four-mile race of 15:57.0 to qualify.
Overseas based athlete Elise Dickinson 58:14 also met the qualifying standard in the 400 metres, while Miles Outerbridge also joined the ranks of the qualified posting a 22:40 in the 200 metres.
Other notable performances came from Amaris Munya, who was agonizingly close to meeting the qualifying standard in the 400 metres, posting a time 1:00.43 just two seconds away from the standard (58:14). Munya followed that performance with a 2:24.73 in the 800 metres just a second outside of the standard (2:23.00).
Lashee Jones was similarly just outside of the qualifying time of 25.25 in the 200 metres, posting a time of 26.41.
Overseas based athletes whose early season performances bode well for CARIFTA eligibility include, Arima Turner, Zenji Washington, Dalen Scott, Simeon Hayward, Denver tucker and Shayla Cann. “We have some veteran’s who have won medals in previous years,” said Evans, with regard to the athletes that have qualified and the potential for Bermuda assembled a strong contingent with medal potential. “For example Jake Brislane, Jaeda Grant, and the U 17 women’s 4 x 100m team their return augurs well for our potential medal count.
“Additionally, others who I expect to return to the CARIFTA squad and be very competitive are Simon Hayward, Seer Carey, Jake Smith, Tajari Rodgers, Pria Wilson and J’Naz Richards.”
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