Blue Chip Athletics is gearing up for its second throwers meet of the season, set for this Saturday at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium.
Track enthusiasts could only hope it’s as successful as the first with seven athletes unofficially qualifying for the 2021 CARIFTA Games, but meet organizer and Blue Chip Athletics head coach Corrington Maycock said that is unlikely at this stage of training for the respective athletes. Overall, he expects about 20-25 athletes to take part in the three-hour meet. Athletes can register at the stadium on Saturday morning prior to the start of the event at a cost of $10 per athlete. The one-day meet will run from 9 a.m. to noon.
“Well, a lot of these athletes are just coming out of the weight room and they are not as fresh as they were coming into the season. Their muscles are sore, so the expectation is not for them to go out there and have massive personal best throws. It’s all about being fully prepared for CARIFTA. We’re trying to get the throwers on the right track – push them as much as possible and have them peak at the right time,” said Maycock.
The postponed CARIFTA Games is now set for July 2-4, still at the Bermuda National Sports Centre in Hamilton, Bermuda.
Despite the uncertainty of the event, due to the presence of COVID-19, organizers are moving full steam ahead with the planning of the junior regional event. Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ (BAAA) President Drumeco Archer said it is still their intention for The Bahamas to take part in the games.
If that comes to fruition, given the results so far, it looks like the country will be significantly strengthened in the throws. Calea Jackson, Tarajh Hudson, Rhema Otabor, Carnitra Mackey, Kamera Strachan, Kaden Cartwright and Keyshawn Strachan all surpassed CARIFTA qualifying standards in their first meet of the season. All are from Blue Chip Athletics. Hudson, Otabor and Keyshawn Strachan are former CARIFTA medalists. Otabor and Strachan in particular are reigning CARIFTA Champions.
Otabor was brilliant as she threw 47.15 meters (m) – 158’ 8-1/4” in the under-20 girls javelin at the first Blue Chip Athletics throwers meet of the season, easily surpassing the CARIFTA qualifying mark of 38.39m (125’ 11-1/2”). Strachan threw 64.45m (211’ 5-1/4”) in the under-20 boys javelin at the first Blue Chip Athletics throwers meet of the season, and then improved on that with a massive personal best of 66.77m (222’ 4”) at the T-Bird Flyers Track and Field Meet earlier this month. He easily surpassed the
CARIFTA qualifying mark of 60.94m (199’ 11-1/4”) on both occasions.
Maycock said he is looking for 11 of the 12 throwers in his club to surpass the qualifying standards for CARIFTA at some point during the season, but he’s just taking it one day one time, looking for them to continue to progress.
“Really and truly, we are looking to other kids to step up and complement the other throwers who have already qualified,” said Maycock. “This meet is all about discovering those kids who possess untapped talent. We’re looking at the future, looking to get more kids involved – the more, the better.”
The event will cater to under-15, under-17 and under-20 athletes as well athletes competing in the open division. They will compete in the shot put, discus and javelin events, and there will be running time only for each event.
So, as to conform to health standards and COVID-19 protocols, as with each of the track and field meets this season, there will be no fans in the stands. The meet is certified by the BAAA, and results will count toward the remainder of the season.
BAAA President Archer said they are gradually returning to a state of normalcy and is hopeful that at some point this season, they will be able to accommodate spectators at the local athletics meets.
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source https://thenassauguardian.com/another-blue-chip-throwers-meet-set-for-this-saturday/
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