Russell, Thomas added to Team Bahamas

Alonzo Russell and Donald Thomas have been added to Team Bahamas for the Tokyo Olympic Games, both qualifying by world ranking points during the qualifying period for the games.

The two Grand Bahamians join the list of 14, bringing the total number of Bahamian athletes up to 16, for the Olympics that will run from July 23 to August 8, in Tokyo, Japan. There are 14 track and field athletes and two swimmers.

Despite being in a seven-way tie for 80th on World Athletics’ (WA) top performance list for 2021, Russell was able to secure enough ranking points over the course of the qualifying period to make the field of 48 quarter-milers heading to Tokyo. A total of 17 qualified via the men’s 400 meters (m) entry standard of 44.90 seconds, seven more got the nod through universality places, which allows nations without Olympic qualifiers to send athletes to the Olympics, and the final 24 qualified through world rankings.

Russell, 29, was able to average 1,181 points through the meets he competed in during the world rankings period for the men’s 400m from the end of June 2019 to the end of June 2021. His best time during the qualifying period was 45.28 seconds, ran at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) Senior National Championships in 2019. He has a season’s best time of 45.69 seconds.

“We could only imagine how difficult the challenges were for Donald and Alonzo over the last two years, due to the COVID pandemic, and we’re grateful to have them as a part of The Bahamas’ team going to Tokyo,” said Bahamas Olympic Committee (BOC) President Romell Knowles. “This qualifying period was like none other – we have never experienced a pandemic so ruthless. The impact it has had on family and friends, and the chaos it has had in The Bahamas, has been devastating.

“We’re just happy to have these two young men join the team in Tokyo. They have proven that they belong among the best athletes in the world. Both would have performed well this season and both have shown that they could be competitive among the world’s best athletes. These memories of making the Olympic team will last forever. Bahamians from every walk of life will be cheering for Team Bahamas.”

Thomas, 37, was able to average 1,217 points during the world rankings period for that event from the end of June 2019 to the end of June 2021. His best jump during that span was 2.28m (7’ 5-3/4”). Former World Champion Thomas is in an eight-way tie for 27th on the world’s top performance list for 2021.

Out of the 32 jumpers going to Tokyo, a total of 16 qualified via the men’s high jump entry standard of 2.33m (7’ 7-3/4”), and the remaining 16 qualified through world rankings.

“To have these two young men represent The Bahamas at the Olympics, and both be from Grand Bahama, is a remarkable feat,” said Knowles. “Grand Bahama will have something to cheer about. Sports inspires and motivates like none other. It serves as a catalyst to unite our people and unite our country and having these two young men as a part of the team is more reason for people of The Bahamas to rejoice this Independence period. This is a welcomed addition to the team. It’s exciting. I could feel the energy already in Grand Bahama, and certainly in the entire Bahamas.”

Both Russell and Thomas also had respectable performances at the most recent area championships, with Russell finishing sixth in the men’s 400m final at the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Championships in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in 46.26 seconds, in 2018, and Thomas winning a bronze medal in the men’s high jump at those same championships with a clearance of 2.28m.

Russell is making his second straight trip to the Olympics, and Thomas is back for his fourth straight Olympics. 

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