SPORTS SECTION E
MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2026
NY KNICKS - PAGE 3
Valcourt settles for bronze !"#!$%&'#(')!!( *+,-.#(/0123#%4,201 !"#$!!"%#&'!$()*)+',-()# AN impressive pair of third-place finishes enabled Javonya Valcourt to cap off her senior year at the University of Tennessee at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Outdoor Track and Field Championships. On the final day of competition at the historic Hayward Field at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon, Valcourt came back out in lane nine to run a lifetime-best of 50.16 seconds for third place in the women's 400 metres. Her performance came two days after Bahamian national record holder Keyshawn Strachan shook off the disappointment of the past two seasons by clinching second place in the men's discus on Wednesday's opening day of the championship that was alternated with the men’s and women’s competition over the four days. After the race, Valcourt said it was an "amazing feeling," considering she worked hard all season and was able to finally put together a race like she did on the biggest stage that meant so much to her. "Running in lane nine was definitely challenging because you can't really see anyone around you, so you have to trust yourself and trust the race plan," Valcourt said. "My focus was on getting out well, staying relaxed down the backstretch, and then being aggressive coming off the final curve. I just wanted to execute the race." Valcourt, 21, produced the Lady Volunteers' best result in the quarter-mile at the championships since
2004 with her time being ranked second in programme history and second fastest in-season performance ever recorded by a Lady Vol over 400m. Jamaica's Dejanea Oakley, a senior transfer from Texas to Georgia, won the event in a personal best of 48.79 for the championship lead and both a meet and championship record. American Madison Whyte, a junior at the University of South Carolina, came in second in her personal best of 48.97. "This performance gives me a lot of confidence moving forward. The collegiate season is now over, so I'm not completely sure what my postseason schedule will look like," Valcourt said. "It depends on which team I'm selected for, but right now my focus is on competing at the Bahamas National Championships next week and continuing to build on this momentum." Valcount ended up lowering her fourth best time of 50.26 from May 30 on the all-Bahamian list behind national record holder Shaunae Miller-Uibo (48.36), Tonique Williams (49.07) and Christine Amertil (50.09). Valcourt, running 50.75 for the sixth fastest qualifying time in the semifinals of the 400m on Thursday, competed with three other Bahamians in the marquee one-mile race. Abaco native Quincy Penn, a junior at Florida, was one spot shy of advancing to the final when she placed 10th overall in 51.33. Lacarthea Cooper, a senior at Texas A&M, was 17th in 51.65 and Collinique Farrigton, a senior at Texas Tech, was 20th in 51.96.
SEE NCAA, Page 2
BGF names junior national team !"#!$%&'#(')!!( *+,-.#(/0123#%4,201 !"#$!!"%#&'!$()*)+',-()# THE Bahamas Golf Federation's Junior Division will be returning nine players from last year's second place squad as they seek to capture the 48th Annual Caribbean Junior Golf Championships title this year. The championship is scheduled for June 28 to July 3 at the Playa Dorada Golf Club in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Gina Gonzalez-Rolle, in announcing the team on Saturday at the Ocean Golf Club on Paradise
Island, said it features some of the country’s brightest young golfing talents, who have worked tirelessly to earn the opportunity to compete against the best junior golfers from across the Caribbean. The Bahamas will be competing against nine other countries and will be coached by Keno Turnquest, assisted by Frederick Taylor with the following players: Boys 18 & under - Aidan Gorospe, Kerrington Rolle and Luke Grimes. Girls 18 & under - Maddison Carroll and Chemari Pratt.
SEE GOLF, Page 2
Jonquel Jones and Liberty clinch spot in Commissioner’s Cup finals !"#56)7#8%9&!%$7# :;#!<3=-2><??#@1,2-1 NEW YORK (AP) — Breanna Stewart had 14 points, 12 rebounds and a career-high seven blocks to help the New York Liberty beat the Washington Mystics 86-64 yesterday and clinch a spot in the Commissioner's Cup championship game. Jonquel Jones scored 17 of her 20 points in the second half to lead the Liberty (10-4), who have won seven straight games.
The Liberty have made the finals of the mid-season tournament three times, winning once and losing once. Now, New York must wait to find out its finals opponent and whether or not it will host the title game. That will come down to whether the Liberty or the Western Conference representative has a better overall record. The game marked the return of Sabrina Ionescu, who missed the last seven
SEE WNBA, Page 2