UB athletics stages time trials ahead of season

The University of the Bahamas (UB) Mingoes track and field team held time trials as the team looks to kick off the season next year.

Runners for the UB Mingoes hit the track at the university in the early morning hours with dew still on the grass track. Mingoes athletes, and a number of athletes trying out for the team, participated in trials at the 250 meters (m), 300m, 350m and 1200m distances.

“This is the beginning, so I’m satisfied at where we are at now,” said UB Athletics Head Coach Ednal Rolle. “I told them it is not necessarily how you start – however, you want to have a good start – but how you improve on where you are now. This time trials is simply to tell them where they are at right now.”

Potential walk-on athletes also participated for an opportunity to qualify for the team.

Rolle said that the team has been training hard and it shows. “We are in a good place right now,” he said. He added that he had some standout performances at the trials.

“We had a great time from Romica Josey in the 300 meters and that was expected because she has been consistent in her training and really pushing hard and hitting the weight room. The most improved today, I think, was Sierra Sears, who didn’t have that great of a season last season but she’s really hitting it hard this time around,” said Rolle.

Rolle pointed out that Kendrick Thompson, who once had the third-best indoors heptathlete mark in the world, had a solid performance in the 350m trial. Thompson scored 5,636 points at the Purdue Gene Edmonds Memorial Invitational in January 2020 and was ranked third in the world at that point.

Freshman sprinter from Queen’s College Paige Stuart also had a strong first showing. “She came in and had the fastest time on the day. It’s a great start for her,” said Rolle.

Rolle remains excited about the 2020-2021 season despite the restrictions in place due to the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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