By TENAJH SWEETING

Tribune Sports Reporter

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

The intensity levels rose on day two of the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAiSS) Track and Field Championships as the Queen’s College Comets gained some ground in the team standings to take the lead yesterday at the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium.

After trailing by a margin of less than 10 points on day one, the Comets swapped spots with the defending champions St Augustine’s College (SAC) to lead the pack with 699 points.

The Big Red Machine will go into the final day of competition in the second position with a total of 675 points. The Temple Christian School Suns clung to the third spot with a score of 258.50.

On day one, QC head coach Everette Fraser told reporters that he was expecting great things from the school on day two and the athletes delivered to help the Comets push atop the team standings.

“We knew we had to come out and execute and, for the most part, we executed. We still had some things we could’ve cleaned up. Our senior boys got disqualified so that was 20 points.

“Even though we are leading by 24 points I would say we are only leading by four. It is still going to be a dog fight. It’s who wants it and as coaches all we could do is put the kids in the right position to win and succeed and it is up to the kids. If they want it we could get it,” he said.

The Comets did most of their damage in the 100m finals, winning five out of the eight sprints yesterday.

Fraser felt that his athletes performed well.

“I was a little impressed. I still feel like we should have gotten a couple more points. It wasn’t perfect but they still did an excellent job. The kids came out and they performed but like I said, they have to execute,” coach Fraser said.

With the BAISS Track and Field Championship up for grabs, Fraser acknowledged it will be a stiff battle today for bragging rights.

“It is going to be competitive. It is going to be SAC, then it is going to be QC. It is going to go back and forth. They are gonna win some, we are gonna win some. The name of the game is who is gonna win the most.

“I am hoping to win the most. I feel comfortable but it is up to the kids now, it is not up to me anymore, if they want it they gotta fight for it and we will win it,” he said.

SAC head coach Jason Edwards is looking forward to a good showing from the Big Red Machine today. “Today was okay. I thought we should have done better in certain areas but track meets are up and down and you gotta take the wins with the losses. I think Friday will be a much better day for us,” coach Edwards said.

He didn’t mince words when asked about the team’s expectations for day three.

“My expectation is for us to come out here as champions tomorrow and show exactly who we are and the kids know what our expectations are as well,” he said.

ON THE TRACK

The 100m finals were the races to watch yesterday at the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium. The QC Comets prevailed in the U17 girls and boys finals, U15 boys and U20 girls and boys 100m.

Jamiah Nabbie, representing QC, cruised into a win for the U20 girls’ event with a time of 12.25 seconds. Placing second was Windsor School’s Morgan Komolafe with 12.63 seconds. QC’s Rache Pantry was 0.01 seconds behind for third with 12.64 seconds.

Making a return from injury has been rough for Nabbie this season but she was grateful for the win.

“It feels great. It shows that hard work pays off. Coming back from an injury is not always easy but I choose not to give up and maybe coming into next year I might try a new event,” she said.

The CARIFTA gold medallist is hoping that when the time is right she will make the CARIFTA qualifying standard.

“It has been slow progress but progress [nonetheless] so I am satisfied with it. I know when God is ready he will make it happen for me. Hopefully, I can PB in the 100m, if not then so be it. The 200m is my favourite race so I am hoping to dominate in that,” she said.

Johnathan Harris won the U20 boys’ event for QC in 10.84 seconds.

QC newcomer Ishmael Rolle, along with fellow teammate Everette Fraser, took the first two positions in the U17 boys’ 100m finals. Rolle ran a time of 10.86 seconds, just shy of Keanu Pennerman’s meet record of 10.83 seconds established in 2013. Fraser settled for second, stopping the clock at 11.07 seconds. Kion Burrows brought SAC a third-place finish in 11.35 seconds.

The U17 boys’ 100m champion was satisfied with his performance.

“I feel like I could have done better but I am satisfied with what I did so far. As the season progresses, I know I will be able to run faster than what I am running right now but I just want to show everyone what I could do and show everybody else who ain’t from The Bahamas I am still here,” he said.

He added that it felt great to get the win for QC.

K’Leigh Davis outran the field in the U17 girls’ 100m finals with a time of 12.60 seconds. The Big Red Machine’s Khylee Wallace came second in 12.70 seconds and QC’s Shekinah Johnson crossed the line in third.

The Comets, Kingsway Academy and SAC completed the top three in the U15 boys’ division.

Kamron Henfield blitzed competitors with a time of 11.67 seconds for the victory.

Isaiah Wilson trailed behind for second and Jireh Woodside collected a third-place finish.

Charlee Fisher and Shafarri Burrows gave the Big Red Machine two out of three podium spots in the U13 girls’ 100m finals. Fisher notched a time of 13.72 seconds while her teammate clocked 14.49.

Sumayyah Bain placed third for Aquinas College.

The Big Red Machine came up big in the U15 girls’ 100m finals with a first and third position. Brianna Bootle placed first for SAC. Brion Ward got the Comets second place and Khyla Smith secured the third position.

ON THE FIELD

The Comets were also competitive in the field events, hauling away eight victories on day two. They were on top for the U13 and U17 boys shot put, U15 girls and U20 boys javelin, U15 boys and U17 girls triple jump, U17 boys long jump and U20 girls shot put.

Meanwhile, SAC collected wins in the U13 girls’ shot put and long jump, U15 boys and U17 girls discus throw and U20 girls long jump.

This chapter of the BAISS Track and Field Championships will climax today at the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium beginning at 9am.

Will SAC make it their fourth straight track and field title or will QC earn their first title since 2019?