By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

FROM track and field to rugby, Grand Bahamian native Carlene 'Carly' Johnson continues to make strides on the international sporting scene.

The former CARIFTA sprinter, now a member of the Bahamas Rugby Union women's national team, has been selected to represent the Bahamas as a part of the Phoenix Sevens - the United States of America's top Cup team that will play in the Emirates Airlines Dubai Sevens Invitational.

As a versatile player, Johnson will be playing the wing position at the tournament in Dubai November 26 to December 3.

Kevin Salabie, the head coach of the Bahamas women's national rugby 7s team, was able to negotiate the trip for Johnson during the national team trip to Mexico and Barbados where he interacted with Phoenix head coach Eyal Hakim.

Although Hakim was looking for three Bahamians to make the team, Salabia said after he reviewed a tape that was produced by the BRU, Johnson was selected.

"She came out to practice and she performed up to standard on every criteria that they were looking for her to perform with the Phoenix team," Salabia said. "I think this is going to be a good thing for her. I think it will be a good experience for her because Carly has been putting in the work for the last four years, non-stop."

Johnson, an April 1 birthday girl who is 27 years old, said at first she thought it might have been a joke, similar to what they try to pull on her each year. "I was really shocked and I thought it was really unreal," Johnson said. "I thought my coaches were just telling me I made it so I can just come out to practice. "At first I really didn't believe it until he started showing me messages and stuff like that. I was 'wow, this is such a great opportunity to represent my country.' I'm really excited."

At the age of five, Johnson began running track and she went on to represent Bishop Michael Eldon School and was on the CARIFTA team for seven years as a sprinter and thrower.

Now working as a professional certified lifeguard in Lyford Cay, Johnson said she spent the majority of her time training and staying fit.

As she's done on the Bahamas national team, Johnson said it's her goal to stand out when she heads to Dubai. "I want to let them see what the Bahamas is capable of doing in rugby," she said. "They know about us in track and field and some of the other sports, but I want to shine for rugby. "I heard it's a desert. It's my only concern. But I'm excited about going. I am looking forward to going there and making the Bahamas very proud."

A graduate of Taylor University where she was named All American in her first year, Johnson played flag football for eight years, leading her team to the championship from 2015-17 and was voted the Most Valuable Player in 2016.

Having just played rugby over the past four years, Johnson has travelled to represent the Bahamas in tournaments in Miami, Trinidad & Tobago, Mexico and Barbados.

The Phoenix 7s is a team comprising of players from Miami and Gainesville, Florida and Nashville, Tennessee and includes Canada star Magali Harvey.

Under Hakim, who was coaching at Florida Atlantic University and within the Florida High Performance Programme, Phoenix qualified second in the Southern USA to advance to the Club 7s National Championship where they made the finals of the bowl and is now ranked at No. 10 in the USA.