SPORTS SECTION E
THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2025
Junior golf, Page 5
Charlton focused on World Outdoors By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net
T
he championship glory continues to pour in for two-time world indoor champion Devynne Charlton since her return home from the 2025 World Indoor Championships hosted in Nanjing, China, last month. The 29-year-old Olympian claimed her second straight gold medal in the women’s 60m hurdles event with a season’s best time of 7.72 seconds. The second consecutive world
indoor championship feat was second to none but her focus will now shift to the outdoor season which is highlighted by 2025 World Athletics Championships slated for September 13-21 in Tokyo, Japan. Despite her success at the indoor level, she admitted that her confidence level is not “as high” going into the outdoor season, but the plan is to address the deficiencies as the season moves along. “[It is] not as high. Looking at the race, the way I kind of lost a little bit of form towards the end of it doesn’t bode well for the
DEVYNNE CHARLTON outdoor race which is 40 more metres and five more hurdles. I think it just shows
that I have more work to do but I think it shows that there is something there to work with, but I definitely just need to go back and put some work in and address my deficiencies. September is a long ways away so I have more than enough time to get it done,” she said. Charlton was just one position shy of a podium spot in her last appearance at the World Athletics Championships two seasons ago in Budapest, Hungary. She posted a time of 12.52 seconds for fourth place in the finals of the women’s 100m hurdles.
Additionally, she clocked a new national record of 12.44 seconds in the first round of the prelims for that event. The Olympian spoke about what she needs to adjust to be in top form leading up to the “big dance.” “I think more of the same thing - just take it one day and one practice session at a time and just keep working towards excellence. The race is longer so it is more of a strength and endurance component so that is gonna be the focus in practice,” the world indoor record holder said.
Prior to this season’s world indoors, Charlton faced some setbacks which included a chipped bone injury she sustained just one meet after the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The gifted hurdler also had to battle through a muscle strain early in the season which derailed some of her progress going into the global meet in March. Although the odds were stacked, Charlton gutted out some of her best performances on the track for the indoor season. She recorded a season’s best
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Bahamians hit the NCAA transfer portal By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net BAHAMIAN collegiate basketball players Rhema Collins and Veronaye
‘BUDDY’ HIELD VS GRIZZLIES – SEE PAGE E3
Charlton are on the move. Both sophomores have decided to test out the waters in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) transfer portal. Collins, who spent the last two seasons with the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) Rebels, took to social media to make her announcement. “I’m incredibly thankful for the experiences and growth I’ve had during my two years at Ole Miss. These years have challenged me in ways I never expected, helping me become a stronger player and person. The memories I’ve made and the lessons I’ve learned will stay with me wherever I go. “After giving it a lot of thought and prayer, I’ve chosen to enter the transfer portal. Thank you to Ole Miss and the Oxford community for your unwavering support throughout this journey,” Collins posted. The 6-foot-2 forward suited up two seasons for Ole Miss, under the tutelage of Grand Bahamian head coach Yolett “Coach Yo” Mcphee-McCuin.
ON THE MOVE: Bahamian collegiate player Rhema Collins, shown here with “Coach Yo”, has entered the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) transfer portal in hopes of finding a new collegiate home. She averaged 2.9 ppg and 46.4 per cent from the field the 2024-25 NCAA basket2.1 rebounds while shooting in 14 games played during ball season.
During her two-year tenure at Ole Miss, she turned in 2.1 ppg and 1.8 rebounds while converting 40.5 per cent of her field goals. Recently, Collins and the Ole Miss Rebels fell to the top seeded UCLA Bruins 76-62 to end their NCAA postseason run in the Sweet 16. Collins is just the second Bahamian since Valerie Nesbitt to suit up for the Lady Rebels with “Coach Yo” at the helm. University of North Alabama sophomore Veronaye Charlton is also in search of greener pastures after playing two seasons with the Lions. In a heartfelt message on social media, Charlton thanked the UNA Lions for their contributions to her collegiate basketball career. “I just wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for the amazing journey I’ve had with the UNA Lions. I’ve grown tremendously, both on and off the court, and I’m so thankful for the friendships,
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GOLDEN GATES CLINCH TITLE WITH 25-5 ROUT OF MACEDONIA THE Bahamas Baptist Sports Federation completed its 2025 softball tournament with Golden Gates regaining the title. Golden Gates, the last team to dominate the previously Baptist Sports Council in 2019 before the federation was introduced last year, clinched the title on Saturday with a 25-5 rout of Macedonia at the Charles W Saunders High School. The victory came after Golden Gates dethroned last year’s champions Jubilee Ministries 21-3 in their sudden death playoff earlier in the day. Macedonia, last year’s runners-up, won over New Bethlehem in the other half of the semifinals. Bahamas National Baptist Convention president Bishop Delton Fernander
DESTIN MOSS, centre, of Golden Gates, won home run king. and executive secretary Rev. Daniel Nottage were on hand to present the awards during the closing ceremony. Special awards were presented to Gary Wright of Macedonia as the batting champion, Thela
THE SPORTS CALENDAR RESURRECTION 10K RUN/5K WALK “Arise and Shine” is the theme for the Resurrection 10K run, 5K walk, bike and breakfast fellowship as they encourage persons to “push your limits, cross the finish for change.”
April
The event, powered by Unity Initiative, is scheduled for Easter Monday, April 21, starting at 5:45am from the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium. The registration is $20 for adults and $10
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Johnson-Stevens of Golden Gates as the best pitcher, Destin Moss, also from Golden Gates, as the home run king and Stephen Duncombe Jr of Jubilee for the sportsmanship award. Third baseman Sherman Ferguson went 5-for-6 with a pair of singles, a double and a home run with seven runs batted in (RBI) to cart off the most valuable player award in the championship game. Golden Gates 25, Macedonia 5 While Ferguson went on an offensive tear, he got a lot of help as Kristin Fulford went 4-for-5 with four runs scored, Kenya Forbes was 3-for-6 with a RBI and four runs scored, Ferron Moss was 3-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored, Thela Stevens was 3-for-5 with two RBI and as many runs scored and Vashawna
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