By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE road to Curacao has been set for 65 athletes who will carry the Bahamian flag at the 2017 CARIFTA Games over the Easter holiday weekend.

After the team was named on Sunday following the final trials at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, the first meeting was held yesterday where the management team laid out the rules and regulations for the trip with both the parents and athletes.

Marvin Darville, the head coach for the team, said he’s satisfied that the message resonated and everybody is on the same page as the biggest junior track and field meet in the Caribbean approaches.

“I feel good about the team. For the most part, I think they have put in a tremendous effort to make it,” he said. “The team that was selected was the strongest possible.”

The strength as indicated by Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ president Rosamunde Carey in making the announcement of the team on Sunday is the under-18 male and female division.

“In the male, we have persons like Adrian Curry and Denvaughn Whymns, who have performed exceptionally well this year, so we are looking for some great things from them,” Darville stressed.

“Devine Parker and Megan Moss are the two who stand out. And so the overall team, our under-20 will definitely have to fight because we know that they are fit for the fight because we have persons like Tavonte Mott and Charisma Taylor, who have been there before and have won medals. So I think we will be ready.”

Now that the team has been selected, Darville said the management team, headed by Mildred Adderley, will be ensuring that all of the athletes’ paperwork is completed and their passports and visas are up to date.

“We don’t want any surprises when we get ready to travel,” Darville pointed out. “We want to make sure that all of these athletes are able to travel.

“Thereafter, we will allow the athletes to remain working out with their coaches because it’s their coaches who got them to this point. We don’t want to change any regiment.”

Once they would have assemble the entire team together, Darville said they will place some emphasis on getting the athletes ready to compete in the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 metre relays, which are normally the highlight of the games.

“Overall, the athletes are familiar with each other, but we just want them to jell so that when we get over there, they know that we are one team representing the Bahamas,” Darville pointed out,

“Hopefully we can come back with the success and the victory.”

Based on the make up of the team, Darville said there are about 20 athletes who will be participsting in the games for the first time, so they are hoping that they will perform as expected.

“The goal is to surpass what we did last year,” said Darville of Team Bahamas that finished second in the medal haul behind Jamaica, but third in the gold rush behind Jamaica and Barbados.

“We won a lot of medals last year, but we need to win gold medals in order to be in fight with countries like Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and Barbados.”

As usual, Team Bahamas will be dressed in their uniforms as they attend the 10:30 am Church Service at Bahamas Harvest, pastored by Mario Moxey. Immediately following the service, they will be feted to lunch.

During their various practice sessions, Darville said they intend to bring in a number of speakers, some of whom competed before, as they inspire the athletes to go out and perform at their best in Curacao.

For the record, the team is comprised of the following:

U-18 Females - Devine Parker, Megan Moss, Doneisha Anderson, Gabrielle Gibson, Amelia Peterson, Lakelle Kinteh, Taylor Walters, Latia Saunders, Jaida Knowles, Kendesha Ingraham, Kenny Culmer, Wendira Moss, Marissa White and Tyler Gray.

U-18 Males - Adrian Curry, Joel Johnson, Denvaughn Whymns, Corey Sherrod, Tyrell Simms, Ryan Bethell, Shaun Miller, Benjamin Clarke, Jalon Dames, Sean Rolle, Michael Angelo Bullard, Jordan Lewis, Bryant Lowe, Trent Deveaux, Shaquiel Higgs, Edward Gayle, Garreth Lewis, Kendrick Major, Oscar Smith and Matthew Thompson.

Under-20 females – Daejha Moss Charisma Taylor, Laquell Harris, Tiffany Hanna, Renee Brown, Sasha Wells, Quanisha Marshall, Gabriella Shannon, Kimona Wilson, Blayre Catalyn, Rashan Darling, Chelsea Smith and D’Ajon Jayawardana.

Under-20 males - Javan Martin, Tavonte Mott, Holland Martin, Kyle Alcine, Jyles Etienne, Branson Rolle, Ramel Poitier, Douvankiylin Rolle, Tamar Greene, Karon Dean, Johnathan Smith, Bradley Dormeus, Michael Stuart, Lavardo Handfield, Alexander Storr, Philip Armbrister and Glenn Knowles.

Management team

Team Manager - Mildred Adderley. Assistant Manager - Clarita Hall.

Head Coach - Marvin Darville. Jumps - Nekeno Demeritte. Throws - Corrington Maycock and Dawn Johnson. Pole Vault - Kenny Moxey. Sprints - Ricky Moxey (Asst. Head Coach), Tamar Bodie and Bernard Rolle. Distance - Ali Rolle.

Chaperones - Fiona Tucker, Ann Bullard, Courtney Wallace and Kendrick Brown.