By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE inaugural Bahamas Law Enforcement Co-Operative Credit Union Limited’s Law Enforcement Track and Field Classic on Saturday was termed a tremendous success, not just by the organisers, but the participants as well.

The meet was staged in two sections with the high schools and clubs competing earlier in the day, while the Customs, Immigration, Road Traffic, Royal Bahamas Police and Defence Force and the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services went head-to-head for bragging rights.

Omar Neely, chairman of the board for the Credit Union, said they wanted to spread their message to the law enforcement agencies that they are their friends

and are here to work hand-in-hand with them. “We started our Credit Union in 1985 as a Police Credit Union, but since then, we have opened our doors to all of the law enforcement agencies, including the Prison, Defence, Customs, Immigration, Road Traffic and the Judiciary,” Neely said.

“So, as a result of that, we thought we would have an event to make it known that we are opened to all law enforcement and we invite them to come in the spirit of camaraderie on the track.”

Neely said they were pleased with the turnout in both segments and they hope to build on the event as they prepare to make it an annual one.

While the high schools and clubs competed primarily in relay competition, there were number of exciting battles that were contested during the law enforcement branches, although they were limited to just one competitor in each event.

Janton Gibson, the winner of the men’s 200m, was a former member of the Swift Athletics Track Club and as graduate of CI Gibson Secondary High, said he felt good competing out there again.

“I haven’t raced in a minute,” said Gibson, now in his second year on the Defence Force. “But when I came off the back stretch, I had some catching up to do. I made it happen.”

As he crossed the finish line ahead of his rivals, Gibson made a salute as he “paid his respect to the senior men.”

He said it was good to get an opportunity to compete against his peers in law enforcement.

Philicia Sargent, a 12-year-veteran on the Defence Force, captured the women’s 200m title after a hiatus of almost 20 years from the sport.

“Coming back, it’s a mind thing. We knew that we had one goal and that was to get to the finish line. That was my goal,” she said. “From start to finish, I pushed to get them. I had a pretty good start, but as the race progressed, I had to step it up some more to get the win.”

Trevor Outten, a graduate of CC Sweeting Secondary High and a former member of Swift Athletics, said he was pleased with his performance in winning the men’s 1,500m for the Defence Force.

“I just paced myself and wait until it was time for me to put myself in a position to bring it home,” he said. “It was a tough run, so I had to do my best.”

Mileke Wood, a graduate of CV Bethel Secondary High, who competed for T-Bird Flyers and Bahamas Speed Dynamics, said he was delighted to be the men’s 800m champion.

“I never practiced, so coming out here, I was a bit nervous,” he said. “After they passed me on the first lap, I got a little speed boost, stayed composed and went out there and did what I had to do to win.”

Augustine, a graduate of RM Bailey Secondary High where she was trained by David Ferguson, said she knew she still had something in the tank to win the women’s 800m. “It was great. It was quicker than I expected. The wind on the back stretch was crazy, but just had to fight through it,” she said. “

Perez Burrows, a graduate of St Augustine’s College, captured the title of the fastest man in law enforcement after he took the 100m crown for the Police Force.

“It felt good, even though I had some problems with my hamstring. I was still able to pull through. It was a good race” he said. “The competition was good. They gave me a good run for my money, but I just was able to pull through.”

Helen Johnson, a Grand Bahamian who competed for Fast Track and the Golden Eagles Track Clubs, emerged as the fastest female, winning the 100m.

“It feels good to be back. I’m a little older, but I kept pushing,” said Johnson, who has been on the force for the past two years.