04242026 SPORTS

SPORTS

Carl

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

CARL “King Flashy” Hield, taking advantage of his training at home for the first time in a long time, said he's eager to return to Cartagena, Colombia, next month to defend one of his three international belts. Hield, who added the World Boxing Council's FECARBOX International Championship title to his collection in February in Pereira, Colombia, will be defending his WBC FECARBOX super welterweight title.

The "ageless wonder" 39-year-old Hield, who is still undefeated at 15-0 as a professional, is also the holder of the National Boxing Association's Latin super welterweight title. Hield, who leaves town on Monday, May 11 for the fight, scheduled for Friday, May 15, thanked God for everything he's done for him, keeping him in the right direction.

"I'm feeling good. It's my first time training at home

Zion clocks lifetime bests

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@ tribunemediaa.net

ZION Campbell posted his lifetime best times in winning the sprint double at the Gary Wilson Invitational in Minneapolis, while Joanna Miller and Ryan Anderson held their own at the GIAA Regional Championships on a busy day for Bahamians.

Campbell, in his senior year at the University of Minnesota, won the men's 100 metres in an impressive time 10.00 seconds to win the final after he came through with the fastest qualifying time of 10.08 in the preliminaries.

Campbell, a former student of Iowa Central Community College, was followed by his team-mate, Wanyae Belle, a junior, who took second place in 10.07. Kevin Arthur, competing unattached, took third in 10.18.

Campbell came back in the 200m where he clocked another personal best of 20.49 for his second victory. Another team-mate, freshman Jayden Green, was second in 20.65 and Luke Schroeder, a senior at UW-La Crosse, was third in 20.78. The meet was held a day before the start of the 116th Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa.

Campbell is now tied with Gout Gout of Australia, who have ran the fourth fastest times this year in the 200m. They trail Botswana's Collen Kebinatshipi, who did 9.89, Max Thomas in 9.90 and Australia's Lachlan Kennedy in 9.96.

Flashy’

preparing for a fight," said Hield. He is working out at Strikers Boxing Club under the supervision of his manager/trainer Ronn Rodgers.

"I'm just staying focused, trying to get my name in the black book so I can get this title shot by the end of the year."

During the mornings, Hield works out with his strength and conditioning coach John Mills at Better Bodies and getting some much needed rest, he's back at it at Strikers Boxing club in the afternoons.

"It's been going good. We have some things," Hield said.

"As an elite boxer, who has boxers looking up to me and following in my footsteps, I'm happy to see some other boxers getting some exposure."

Two other boxers from the Strikers Boxing Club, headed by Ronn Rodgers, will be making their international amateur debut.

Also appearing on the undercard will be welterweight champion Rashield “Raw” Williams.

Rodgers, the manager and trainer for Hield, said the plan is to get at least three more fights this year in the hopes and the bids for a world title fight, possibly here in The Bahamas at the end of the year.

"Carl is looking really good. He stayed active. He got back in the gym about a week after he won the WBC belt.

“So he's in tip-top shape," Rodgers said. "He never really slowed down or took a long break.

"So he's looking pretty good. Just as he did in the WBC fight, he still has that edge, so he's good to go. We worked on his left hand, utilising it a little more and we worked on his alertness, not giving up when you realise that you are winning the fight."

With the support of his wife Irina Chacon Palacios, who was a coach and a Pan American champion in karate, Hield said the plan is simply to go in the ring, put on a display and get his hand raised in victory as he successfully defends his title.

As usual, he will be dedicating the fight to his number one fan, his deceased mother Norman Hield.

He also thanked his sponsors Production Gurus, Rigger242, R&R Sports Management, Strikers Boxing Club and West End Construction and Repairs, for their continued support.

In addition to Hield, Rodgers revealed that heavyweight Amron 'Sandman' Sands is also working out at Strikers Boxing Club.

Sands is making a comeback after suffering a broken left hand in his last fight in Madison Square Garden in 2024.

"We have to take some weight off him, strip him of about 70 pounds so we can get him back in the ring," said Rodgers of Sands, who will be home from Florida training at Strikers Boxing Club for the next few months.

"He's on his way to a world title fight later this year. So we're trying to get him at least two fights this year as tune-ups to get him back on the road."

In the 200m, Campbell follows Wayna McCoy, who has ran the fastest time by a Bahamian this year in 20.17. Gout Gout has the world's leading time of 19.67.

While the Drake Relays are being staged in Des Moines, Iowa, this weekend, a number of Bahamians will also be participating in the prestigious Penn Relays in Philadelphia. Among the list in the high school segment are teams from St Augustine's College and Queen's College from New Providence and both Bishop Michael Eldon High and Tabernacle Baptist Academy from Grand Bahama. Meanwhile at the GIAA Region Championships from April 20-22 at the Monroe Area at the George Walton Academy, Joanna Miller and Ryan Anderson held their own for Tallulah Falls.

Miller captured the title in the 400m in 1:00.25 and lowered her school records with her second-place finishes in both the 200m in 25.70 and the 100m in 12.50. She also ran the third leg on the 4 x 400m relay team that included Mary Kate Ball, Gaby Oliver and Masa Ivancevic, who got third in 4:23.95.

Miller claimed her fifth title to her ledger, the second most in the school's history and was named the Region High Point Award winner, which goes to the athlete that had the most points scored in the meet. Anderson also claimed his first two career region titles, winning the 400m in 52.02 and the 800m in 1:59.77 and was third in the 1,600m in 4:40.81.

What is lactic acid - And is it really the enemy?

By DR KENT L BAZARD Sports Medicine Physician

IF you’ve ever pushed hard in a sprint, a swim set, or a high-rep workout, you’ve felt it - that deep burning sensation in your muscles that forces you to slow down or stop. For years, that feeling has been blamed on “lactic acid.”

Athletes and coaches still use the term regularly, often associating it with fatigue and poor performance. The reality, however, is more nuanced. Lactic acid is not the enemy, and understanding what it actually represents can significantly improve how athletes train and perform.

To understand this properly, we have to start with energy. Every movement in the body requires ATP, the primary energy currency. The body has multiple systems to produce ATP, and which one dominates depends on the intensity and duration of activity.

During low to moderate intensity exercise,

aerobic metabolism is the primary system. This process relies on oxygen to break down carbohydrates and fats efficiently, allowing for sustained activity over longer periods. As intensity increases, however, the demand for energy rises rapidly and the aerobic system alone cannot keep up. The body then shifts toward anaerobic metabolism, specifically glycolysis, which produces energy quickly without requiring oxygen.

During this anaerobic process, lactate is produced. What is commonly referred to as “lactic acid” actually exists in the body as lactate and hydrogen ions. It is the accumulation of hydrogen ions that leads to a drop in pH within the muscle, creating a more acidic environment. This increase in acidity interferes with muscle function by affecting enzyme activity, calcium handling, and the ability of muscle fibers to contract effectively. The result is the familiar burning sensation and the reduction in force

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production that athletes experience during high-intensity efforts. Importantly, lactate itself is not harmful. In fact, it plays a useful role in energy management. Lactate can be transported to other tissues, including the heart and liver, where it is used as a fuel source or converted back into glucose. The body is constantly producing and clearing lactate, even at rest. Problems only arise when the rate of production exceeds the body’s ability to clear it, leading to the accumulation of hydrogen ions and the onset of fatigue. This balance between production and clearance is a key factor in performance. The point at which lactate begins to accumulate more rapidly than it can be cleared is often referred to as the lactate threshold. Athletes who can perform at a higher intensity before reaching this threshold are able to sustain effort for longer periods. This is why well-trained endurance athletes can maintain

weekend at the

High Gymnasium with sessions from 10am to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday. A number of high school coaches from the United States of America will be on hand to provide instructions for the boys and girls from grades 9-11 who are expected to participate.

high speeds without experiencing the same level of fatigue as less conditioned individuals. Training plays a central role in improving this system. Aerobic training enhances the body’s ability to utilise oxygen efficiently, reducing reliance on anaerobic pathways at a given intensity.

It also improves lactate clearance through increased mitochondrial density, capillary networks,and enzyme activity.

High-intensity interval training, on the other hand, improves the body’s tolerance to acidic conditions, allowing athletes to continue performing even as hydrogen ions accumulate. Strength and power training further contribute by improving efficiency, meaning the body can perform the same task with less relative effort.

For athletes and coaches, the key takeaway is that lactate production is a normal and necessary part of high-intensity performance. The goal is not to

Interested players are urged to contact coach Denykco Bowles at 242-455-0049. RED-LINE YOUTH

THE Red-Line Athletics Track Club is scheduled to hold its Youth Track Classic on Saturday, May 2-3 at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field

eliminate it, but to manage it effectively.

Structured training that combines aerobic development with high-intensity work allows the body to both delay the onset of fatigue and tolerate it when it occurs.

Other factors also influence how the body responds to high-intensity efforts.

Proper nutrition ensures that energy systems are functioning optimally, particularly through adequate carbohydrate intake, which fuels glycolysis. Hydration supports circulation and metabolic processes, aiding in the transport and clearance of byproducts. Poor fueling or dehydration can accelerate fatigue and reduce performance capacity.

Pacing and technique are equally important. Athletes who start too aggressively often exceed their ability to manage lactate accumulation early, leading to a rapid decline in performance.

Efficient movement patterns reduce unnecessary energy expenditure,

helping delay the transition to heavy reliance on anaerobic metabolism. The burning sensation associated with high-intensity exercise is not a sign that something is wrong. It is a sign that the body is working at a high level and approaching its physiological limits. Understanding this allows athletes to train more effectively and approach performance with greater confidence. Ultimately, performance is not just about how much effort an athlete can produce, but how well they can manage that effort over time.

Stadium. The event is open to athletes from the under-7 to under-15 divisions for boys and girls.

To register, persons can log onto www.CoochORegistration.com

THE Bahamas Baptist Sports Federation Softball Classic, which was scheduled for this weekend, has been postponed until the weekend of July 17-18 at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex. The BBSF, instead, will not host its next event until the Volleyball Classic is staged at the CI Gibson Gymnasium over the weekend of June 19-20. Stay tuned.

Strikers Boxing Club takes advantage of invitation to work with Anatol Rodgers High School students

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@ tribunemedia.net

AS a prelude to their Summer Boxing Camp, the Strikers Boxing Club took advantage of an invitation to work with some of the students at the Anatol Rodgers High School.

In accepting the invitation from Anatol Rodgers' guidance counsellor Jihan Knowles, Ronn Rodgers,

the founder and head coach of the Strikers Boxing Club, took triple crown winner Carl “King Flashy” Hield and heavyweight contender Amron “Sandman” Sands to participate in the session on Wednesday. "They were there to show and to demonstrate to the kids that boxing can be another avenue out of their current situation and environment," Rodgers explained to Tribune Sports. "They have gotten

to travel the world as they made their careers."

Rodgers is currently working with Hield in preparation for his defence of his WBC FEDE belt in Cartagena, Colombia, next weekend, while Sands is working on his comeback after he suffered a broken left hand in the second round of his last fight at Madison Square Garden in 2024.  "The issue in the schools is the violence between the

Heavyweight contender Okolie tests positive for doping, Paris fight with Yoka cancelled

LONDON (AP) — Heavyweight title contender Lawrence Okolie failed a drugs test ahead of his fight scheduled Saturday against former Olympic champion Tony Yoka.

The bout’s promoter Queensberry announced the positive test Tuesday without giving further details about the case, and later cancelled the entire show in Paris.

Okolie wrote in a social media post: “I will of course be fully cooperating with all relevant authorities and I’m confident any investigation will clear my name.”

The 33-year-old British boxer faces a ban of up to four years unless he can prove he was not to blame for the positive doping test. Okolie is a former world champion at cruiserweight who moved up to heavyweight. He is the No. 1-ranked contender by the WBC whose belt is held by Oleksandr Usyk. “I truly hope sense prevails,” Okolie wrote Tuesday.

“Before anyone starts imagining the worst, following my bicep injury last year, I sustained an elbow injury on the same arm

during this camp. I had a treatment on it and now we are here.”

Queensberry said Okolie was tested by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) ahead of the Paris show at Porte de La Chapelle. Okolie’s intended opponent Yoka took the super-heavyweight gold medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Yoka served a one-year ban imposed by the French anti-doping agency in 2018 for failing to give a doping sample three times in a oneyear period.

kids and the conflict resolutions that are not working," Rodgers said. "They resort to throwing hands and whatever else they can throw.

"So they wanted me to come there and give a presentation on the sport or the discipline of boxing and to promote the Strikers Boxing Club's Summer Youth Camp."

The Youth Camp is scheduled for July and August, according to

Rodgers, and will be open to boxers from all ages from eight to 21 years of age. Interested persons can sign up at the Strikers Boxing Gym at the Mother Gibson Plaza on Boyd Road.

Rodgers indicated that the camp will be held at the Gem Plaza Park on Nassau Street opposite Commonwealth Bank during three weeks in July while the final camp will be staged

at Anatol Rodgers during three weeks in August. "We will have two sessions each morning and another in the evening, depending on the amount of kids that we have attending," Rodgers said. Rodgers said at the end of the camp, the Strikers Boxing Club will hold a national tournament for all of the competitors who graduate from the camp just before school opens in September.

‘Wemby’

will travel with Spurs to Portland but his Game 3 status remains uncertain

April 21, 2026.

By RAUL DOMINGUEZ Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO (AP)

— Victor Wembanyama will travel with the San Antonio Spurs to Portland for games this weekend while continuing to complete the steps mandated by the league's concussion protocol.

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson stopped short yesterday of saying Wembanyama will play in Game 3. Wembanyama is “progressing,” Johnson said, but his status against the Trail Blazers remains uncertain.

“He looks good,” Johnson said, noting that the Spurs hadn't even started discussions on when Wembanyama can play again.

Wembanyama was at the team's practice facility for a second consecutive day yesterday, walking around in a black hoodie and gray sweatpants. He even got a few shots up, teammate Julian Champagnie said.

“He was only around for a little bit this morning,” Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox said Thursday. “Obviously,

we just want him to be healthy.”

Wembanyama — the league's first-ever unanimous Defensive Player of the Year and one of three finalists for the Most Valuable Player award — suffered a concussion in the Spurs' Game 2 loss to

Portland on Tuesday night, leaving the game in the second quarter. Game 3 of the series — tied at a game apiece — is tonight in Portland, followed by Game 4 there on Sunday. The Spurs were scheduled to fly to Portland yesterday afternoon.

There are very specific steps that players have to clear before being removed from the league's concussion protocol. Players begin the return-to-play process with light exertion — such as riding a stationary bike, jogging, agility work and non-contact basketball

drills — and each step is followed by another neurological examination.

Wembanyama's results will also be compared to his baseline neurological evaluation — which players undergo prior to each season — before doctors permit him to move

forward in the return-toplay plan.

“It's pretty straightforward,” Johnson said.

“Obviously, we hope he'll be back at some point. But we'll allow the protocol to play out. And again, there's nothing more important than his health.”

Any extended absence by Wembanyama would be a massive blow to San Antonio, which finished with the league’s second-best record behind the versatile 7-foot-4 centre from France. They were 12-6 in the regular season without Wembanyama.

Wembanyama averaged 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and a leaguebest 3.1 blocks per game this season. He was also with his teammates on Wednesday evening, when they all donned cowboy hats and surprised teammate Keldon Johnson after he was announced as the league's Sixth Man of the Year. “We know that he's chomping at the bit to get back on the court and be with his guys,” Johnson said.

Pistons beat Magic 98-83 to even first-round series

By The Associated Press

DETROIT (AP) —

Cade Cunningham had 27 points, 11 assists and six rebounds to lead the topseeded Detroit Pistons to a 98-83 win over the eighthseeded Orlando Magic on Wednesday night, evening their first-round series and ending the longest home losing streak in NBA playoff history.

The Pistons had lost 11 straight home postseason games, a drought that started in 2008. Game 3 is Saturday in Orlando.

Detroit dominated the third quarter, turning a tie game into a rout by outscoring the Magic 38-16 in the period with six players scoring at least five points.

After Cunningham scored a career playoff-high 39 points in Game 1 and didn’t get much help, the All-Star guard had plenty of support, with five teammates scoring in double figures.

Jalen Suggs scored 19 points and Paolo Banchero had 18 for the Magic. They combined to miss 14 of 25

shots as the team shot 33% and was held to a season low in points.

Detroit’s Tobias Harris scored 16 points, Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson had 11 each, and Duncan Robertson and Isaiah Stewart each scored 10. Robinson made three much-needed 3-pointers for a team that struggles with outside shooting.

Orlando’s Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane had 12 points apiece and Wendell Carter Jr. was limited to three points on 1-of-6 shooting after he scored 17 in the opener.

THUNDER 120, PHOENIX 107

OKLAHOMA CITY

(AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 37 points and nine assists, and Oklahoma City defeated Phoenix to take a 2-0 lead in their firstround Western Conference playoff series.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points in the series-opening win on Sunday, going 5 for 18 from the field. He bounced back in Game 2 with 13-for-25 shooting after being presented the NBA Clutch

Player of the Year trophy before the game.

Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams each added 19 points for Oklahoma City, though Williams left the game in the third quarter with a left hamstring injury and did not return. Williams, an All-Star in 2024-25, missed 30 games this season with a right hamstring injury after missing the first 19 games of the season following surgery on his right wrist. Five higher-seeded teams had lost home games in the first week of the playoffs before Wednesday, including the top three seeds in the Eastern Conference, Detroit, Boston and New York, and the No. 2 and 3 seeds in the West, San Antonio and Denver. Oklahoma City avoided that fate by shooting 47.3% from the field and forcing 21 turnovers.

Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 30 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Devin Booker scored 22 points and Jalen Green added 21 for Phoenix, which will host Game 3 on Saturday.

It’s Arsenal-Lyon and Bayern-Barcelona in Women’s Champions League semifinals

By CIARÁN FAHEY AP Sports Writer

BERLIN (AP) — Trophy-holder Arsenal faces eight-time champion Lyon and Barcelona is bidding to reach the Women’s Champions League final for the sixth straight year.

Bayern Munich is the only semifinalist that hasn’t appeared in a final.

But it seems only a matter of time before it does after the German powerhouse wrapped up a fourth successive Bundesliga title on Wednesday. They had an almost flawless domestic campaign.

Bayern hosts Barcelona on Saturday in the first leg of their semifinal.

And the team will hope to make amends after the Catalan club romped to a 7-1 win in their last meeting in the league phase.

• Here is a closer look at this weekend’s semifinal first legs:

Bayern-Barcelona on Saturday

Barcelona is on a quest to win its fourth title after losing the final to Arsenal last year. The team’s form looks ominous for Bayern after losing just once across all competitions this season, a league defeat in November at Real Sociedad.

Barcelona reached the semifinals after a 12-2 aggregate win over old rival Real Madrid, while also beating Madrid 3-0 away between the quarterfinal legs.

Barcelona has 10 more goals, 32 in total, than any other team, and has conceded five, the fewest. Ewa Pajor has scored seven and Alexia Putellas has chipped in five while setting up another seven.

Barcelona has also won its last 19 two-legged ties in the competition.

Arsenal-Lyon on Sunday This is a repeat of last year’s semifinal and another reunion of teams that met

in the opening round, where Lyon rallied to win 2-1 in London.

The French champion has won on each of its five previous visits.

Last season, Arsenal rallied to beat Lyon 4-1 away in the second leg of their semifinal after losing the first leg 2-1.

Lyon’s Melchie Dumornay and Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey scored in both legs of that tie.

Lyon’s 1-0 defeat at Wolfsburg in the quarterfinals was its first loss of the season. It bounced back in the second leg to win in extra time 4-0.

Arsenal’s form has been mixed. It prevailed over Chelsea by a 3-2 aggregate but lost the second leg 1-0 and followed with a 2-0 loss at home to Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup last weekend.

The return matches will be in May. The final will be in Oslo on May 23.

WEATHER REPORT

Raiders pin their hopes on Heisman winner

Mendoza with No. 1 pick in the NFL draft

By MARK ANDERSON AP Sports Writer

HENDERSON, Nev.

(AP) — The Las Vegas Raiders hope they have finally landed their franchise quarterback, taking Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza with the first overall selection last night in the NFL draft. The Raiders will count on Mendoza to help turn around a franchise that owns three Lombardi Trophies but hasn't won a

playoff game since appearing in the Super Bowl in the 2002 season.

But the Raiders have made it clear they won't rush Mendoza, and in fact signed veteran Kirk Cousins, who likely will be the starting quarterback entering the season. There will be enough pressure on Mendoza and the organisation to validate using the top pick on a player who wasn't prominently on most teams' radar a year ago, even though Las

Vegas' selection has been telegraphed for several months.

Mendoza, who stunningly led Indiana to its first national championship, did not attend the draft in Pittsburgh, opting to watch with family and friends in Miami. The Raiders' last No. 1 overall pick is remembered as one of the major busts in NFL draft history. LSU's JaMarcus Russell went first overall in 2007, lasting just three seasons while going 7-18.

Was Mendoza, a capable quarterback during his two years as the starter at Cal, a one-year wonder at Indiana and beneficiary of a QB-friendly system? Or did coach Curt Cignetti unlock something in Mendoza that will translate to the NFL? The truth also could be somewhere in the middle. That will be revealed eventually, but the Raiders have something new — hope.

Klint Kubiak is the fifth full-time head coach since

the club moved to Las Vegas in 2020, and it's been a similar revolving door with quarterbacks.

But the Raiders also hadn't built up the rest of the roster to give whichever quarterback was taking snaps a fair chance to succeed. That appears to be changing.

Second-year general manager John Spytek took advantage of having enough salary-cap space by committing nearly $300 million

to eight players, including three-time Pro Bowl centre Tyler Linderbaum and wide receiver Jalen Nailor.

The Raiders also bring back tight end Brock Bowers, running back Ashton Jeanty and left tackle Kolton Miller to give Cousins and Mendoza help.

But Mendoza has to do his part, too.

The Raiders entered the opening night of the draft on the clock. Now it's the quarterback who quickly faces a ticking clock.