SPORTS SECTION E
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
42ND HUGH CAMPBELL - E8
Running Eagles clinch 2026 SSAC title BAHAMIAN assistant coach Jamal Wilson, left, and head coach Dominic Demeritte, right.
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net COACH Dominic Demeritte said it was "business as usual" as his Life University Running Eagles clinched the 2026 Southern State Athletic Conference (SSAC) Indoor Championships over the weekend. The Running Eagles, whose coaching staff also includes fellow Bahamian Jamal Wilson as an assistant coach for jumps, captured the men's title, while their ladies were runners-up at the meet in Gainesville, Florida. Life University emerged as the men's champions with 223 points, compared to second place finishers William Carey with 185.50 and the women collected 162 to trail champions William Carey, who posted 241. Demeritte, who has served as the head coach for the Running Eagles since 2021, said it "business as usual.” "It was a great, solid all-around experience. We got contributions from every single individual we took, so I can't ask for more." As the last competitor to win the men's 200m title in a national record of 20.66 at
the World Indoor Championships in 2004 in Budapest, Hungary, before it was discounted, Demeritte said it's important for his athletes to enjoy a good indoor season that will end with the NAIA Nationals because it propels them into outdoors. As they prepare for outdoor season, Demeritte said he's pleased with the development of Essence Sands, who competes in the heptathlon. "They are both performing very well, doing their personal best times, so we're looking forward to them when they get outdoors," said Demeritte, whose record has since been broken by Terrance Jones with 20.21 at the Big 12 Championships on February 24, 2024. He has ran a lifetime best of 20.21 in the 200m outdoors. Demeritte, who is also coaching graduate Printassia Johnson, who is now competing as a professional in the women's 400m, said the success of his Running Eagles is shared with his coaching staff that includes Wilson, who is responsible for the jumps. "He's a great guy, great for kids, great for all of the kids because he's a great motivator and a mentor," Demeritte said. "Coaching is all about the Xs and Os and he fits all two," Demeritte said.
Wilson, a two-time Olympian (2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and 2021 in Tokyo, Japan), said he's pleased to be a member of Demeritte's Running Eagles coaching staff since last year after he spent the previous two years with fellow Bahamian Chris “Fireman” Brown. "It's good synergy. Dominic is my senior, someone who I can look up to and who I can trust as a leader," Wilson said. "I bring a pedigree as someone who understands the sport and how to interact with the athletes, so it's a great environment." As a former athlete, who competed at every level in the men's high jump, including the CARIFTA Games, CAC Games, Pan American Games and Commonwealth Games along with the Olympics, Wilson said the transition was an easy one for him. "I've been in the sport for such a long time and I've gained alot of connections and I've learned a lot already," said Wilson, who left competing as an athlete with a personal best achievement of 7-feet, 7 3/4inches or 2.33 metres as a high jumper. "I've been learning from the start, but right now I can apply everything that I've learned during all these years. Being a
professional athlete was rewarding, but it gets obsolete after a while because it's just you and yourself up there. "But in coaching, you have the ability to apply your experience with multiple athletes, so it's more gratifying as opposed to it being so selfish as an athlete. “It's self discipline. It's a great journey, but I am just getting started." He noted that he has enjoyed his stint at Clayton State, but he's looking forward to another surge in his coaching career at Life University. But he's eager to see what the future holds. Note: Demeritte said he's also been pleased with the performance of his daughter Saga. She is a high school senior - who is expected to come home to compete in The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ trials for the CARIFTA Games that will be held over the Easter holiday weekend in Grenada. Demeritte, who revealed that his daughter is following in his footsteps as a 200m runner, has ran a PR of 23.6. But he noted that she has the potential to run the 400m as well, something that he never did.
Ultimate Champion Sports Academy’s 12U baseball team repeat as champions By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net HEAD coach Clarence “CJ” McKenzie said he was extremely pleased with his Ultimate Champion Sports Academy 12-and-under baseball team. Ultimate Sport returned from Umatilla, Florida, over the weekend where they repeated as the champions of the 12AA Central Florida Slugfest Tournament with a perfect 5-0 win-loss record. "We were dominant in pool play on Saturday, winning 23-1 and 11-1 and had a very close game in the quarterfinals," McKenzie said. "We were down 6-4 with two outs in the bottom of the last inning. "The team was able to fight to win the quarter-final game to advance to the semis where we won 5-1 and then took the final 7-1. We really had some strong pitching throughout the whole tournament. We probably had the best pitching staff out there." He credited Javari Edgecombe, Elisha Thompson and Davon Gibson for getting the job done on the mound in the championship game.
THE Ultimate Champion Sports Academy 12-and-under baseball team returned from Umatilla, Florida, over the weekend where they repeated as the champions of the 12AA Central Florida Slugfest Tournament with a perfect 5-0 win-loss record. The other members of the team were Ayden Curry, Kamelo Bain, Andrew Seymour, TaKayl Butler, Jarrod Clarke Jr, Kyrie Campbell, Jamere Williams, Caleb Munroe and Kendrtick Oliver. McKenzie, who was assisted by Shawn Munroe Jr, Carl Nottage and Recorda McPhee, said
they will now prepare the team for their next tournament March 28-29 at the USSSA Easton Hype Tour Super NIT Tournament at the Space Coast in Viera, Florida, where the top 20 12U teams in Florida will be participating. Here's a brief summary of the games played:The division featured 12 teams
from throughout Florida. Game One - Pool PlayUltimate Champion Sport defeated Studs Natty 23-1 with Javari Edgecombe as the winning pitcher, striking out with six batters. Game Two - Pool PlayUltimate Champion Sport defeated Florida Hardballers 11-1. The winning pitcher was Elisha Thompson.Game
Three - Quarter-finals In come-from-behind fashion, after trailing by two runs in the bottom of the last inning, Ultimate Champion Sport defeated Studs Natty 7-6. The winning pitcher was Elisha Thompson with 11 strikeouts and Javari Edgecombe came through with the game-winning single.
Game Four - Semi-finals Ultimate Champion Sport defeated YC Academy 5-1. Javari Edgecombe was the winning pitcher with six strikeouts. Game Five - FinalsUltimate Champion Sport defeated First Strike 7-1. The winning pitcher was Davon Gibson with eight strikeouts.