SPORTS SECTION E
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
National record
NBA FINALS - PAGE 14
Serena Brown takes the spotlight in the discus By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@ tribunemedia.net AFTER a five-year hiatus, Serena Brown continues to turn in some impressive performances as she makes her way back to the international track and field scene. Brown, 27, gave her father Whittington Brown a pre-birthday present with her second winning heave of 200-feet, 11-inches or 61.25 metres in the women's discus at the Oklahoma Throws Series at the Millican Field at Throw Town, Ramona, Oklahoma on Sunday. Her father's birthday was yesterday and Brown sealed the deal against her only other competitor, Romi Griese of Germany, who was second with 158-0 (48.16m). Brown, the three-time Bahamian national champion, improved on her previous national record of 199-10 (60.92m) that she posted at her last Bahamas
Association of Athletic Associations National Track and Field Championships on June 28, 2021. It also placed her 34th on the performance list for 2026 and third in the region behind Jamaica's Samantha Hall, who is currently in eighth place with 217-9 (66.39m) and Cuba's Silinda Morales, who is 18th with 209-5 (63.85m). American Valerie Sion tops the list with 239-10 (73.10m). Still in a celebratory mood as she reflected on her performance, which came on the third of her six throws in the competition, Brown said it still hasn't hit her yet. "I'm just feeling really grateful. It's been a long time. Five years was the last time I competed at home at the Blue Marlins Track Meet where I was one spot out of qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics," Brown recalled. "Then I got injured during the fall and got another injury in the spring. I took about two years off
injury and feeling down and out and everything associated with it.
SERENA BROWN celebrating her latest national record in the discus. because I just needed a break. So I'm back after five years." On April 30 at the Cameron Burrell Invitational in Houston Texas, Brown won her first comeback meet with a distance of (56.60m) on her second attempt. Her
only other legal mark was (53.89) on her first try. Looking back at her performances so far, Brown said only two words come to mind: "Thank God" because "it's been a long time coming and a long road with the
Connecticut retires Jonquel Jones’ No. 35 jersey in pregame ceremony By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer
"When I wasn't training or throwing anymore in those five years, I had a lot of doubt and anxiety. Even going into this meet, I had some doubts. But I read Psalms 45 and 46 and that locked me in to say that I could do it and what was for me, I will do it." Like she did in her first meet in April, Brown said she wanted more, but with the difficulty of throwing in Oklahoma, which is known for its windy conditions, she could only make sure that she didn't get "smacked" in her face. "My first two throws, I kid you not, I got smacked in the face. The second throw made a u-turn in the air and it went back to 46m, so I was just in shock, but I was glad that I got the 61 on the third and the other marks were 57 and some change. So overall, I think it was a
UNCASVILLE, Connecticut (AP) — Jonquel Jones was all smiles as her No. 35 jersey was retired by Connecticut just before the Sun played the New York Liberty last night. Jones, who spent six years with the Sun before coming to New York in 2023, received a standing ovation from the crowd in a pregame ceremony. “I want to say thank you to this organisation for taking a chance on me and bringing me here,” Jones told the crowd. “Thank you to the fans. Even though it's the ”Sunset season" there are a lot of memories here. A lot of winning that happened here. I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart." Jones didn't end up playing in the game as she was a late scratch because of an illness. Connecticut, which is playing its last season in the state before moving to
SEE DISCUS, Page 14
SEE WNBA, Page 14
BBF unveils preliminary roster for FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter jburrows@ tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas Basketball Federation has unveiled a 24-player preliminary roster for the upcoming summer window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers, featuring a blend of NBA talent, experienced national team veterans alongside rising young stars. The roster was announced on the federation’s social media platforms and is
headlined by NBA players Chavano “Buddy” Hield, Deandre Ayton, Eric Gordon, and Valdez "VJ" Edgecombe Jr along with familiar veteran faces, including Jaraun Burrows, Kentwan Smith, Franco Miller Jr, Garvin Clarke Jr and Travis Munnings. Also included are Deyton Albury, Lathaniel Bastian, Domnick Bridgewater, Radshad Davis, Romad Dean, Donovan Freeman, Samuel Hunter, Kai Jones, Fredrick King Jr, Aaron Levarity, Tavario Miller, Isaiah Mobley, Leano Rolle and Valentino Simon.
The announcement comes as The Bahamas looks to rebound from a difficult start to the World Cup qualifying campaign. The last time the senior men’s national team was in action, it dropped both of its opening qualifiers against Canada. Canada defeated The Bahamas in Nassau before completing the sweep in Toronto, leaving the Bahamians searching for their first victory of the qualification cycle. Canada currently sits among the leaders in Group B after opening with those two wins over The Bahamas.
Despite those setbacks, the newly announced preliminary squad shows the depth available to the national programme. The potential combination of Ayton in the paint, Hield on the perimeter and Gordon’s veteran leadership gives The Bahamas one of the most talented groups in the region when its top players are available. The emergence of Edgecombe, one of the country’s brightest young prospects, along with Storr and Mobley, adds another layer of athleticism and scoring ability. Equally important is the veteran
presence throughout the roster. Players such as Burrows, Munnings, Smith and Miller Jr have spent years representing The Bahamas in international competition and provide continuity within the programme. Burrows in particular has become one of the national team’s most dependable leaders, bringing experience, toughness and familiarity with the FIBA game that can help integrate younger players into the system. The roster also reflects the federation’s commitment to
developing future national team talent. Younger players including Freeman, King Jr, Simon, Albury, and Rolle will have an opportunity to compete alongside established professionals as the coaching staff evaluates options ahead of final roster selections. With a mix of NBA experience, seasoned national team veterans and promising young talent, The Bahamas appears positioned to field one of its deepest squads in recent years as it prepares for the next stage of World Cup qualifying.
PONY 14U Caribbean and Latin America Baseball Track and field Championships: Bahamas gets win over Venezuela fraternity mourning death of former sprinter/coach Patricia Elaine Thompson By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
HOME RUN: Team Bahamas got the victory over Venezuela last night in the PONY 14U Caribbean and Latin America Baseball Championships at the Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium. SEE THE FULL STORY ON PAGE 14 Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr
THE Bahamas Track and Field Fraternity has lost another multi-talented pioneer in Patricia Elaine Thompson. Thompson, a former sprinter, coach and Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations' executive, passed away yesterday. Known for her fast start, Thompson was once considered the fastest female at Eastern Secondary. She eventually joined the Pioneers Track Club where she continued to excel on the national stage, along with Gail North, Christine Jones and Althea Rolle. The quartet went on to represent The Bahamas in the women's 4 x 100 metre relay at the 1962 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games where they
finished in fifth place. They set the trail for the success of the ‘Golden Girls’ that followed in 1999-2000. When she was done competing, Thompson ventured into coaching where she helped to make the AF Adderley Tigers and the SC McPherson Sharks both sporting prowess when both the public and private schools competed together. She also became an executive of the BAAA and later went on to serve as either a coach or manager of several teams at various international meets, including the CARIFTA Games and was a chaperone of the Olympic team that competed in Montreal, Canada, in 1976. Condolences continued to pour in for Thompson, who left her mark on the sport of track and field.
SEE DEATH, Page 14