SPORTS SECTION E
MONDAY, JULY 21, 2025
British Open, Page 5
Gardiner ‘back on track’ with victory
‘GOLDEN GIRL’ DEBBIE FERGUSONMCKENZIE HONOURED
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
Wins 400 metres in 45.68 seconds
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
At the PVA HP Meet, Gardiner pulled away from the field to easily take the tape unchallenged in his winning time of 45.68 seconds in his specialty in the men’s 400 metres. The 29-year-old Bahamian national record holder at 43.48 was well ahead of the second place finisher Jarrett Gentles, who got second in 46.33. The time was well off the qualifying time of 44.85 for the 2025 World Championships scheduled for Tokyo, Japan, from September 13-21. But it was a good sign heading into the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ 2025 National Championships, set for August 1-3 at the Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium. Going into the meet, Gardiner has the fastest time this year by a Bahamian. The second best time of a Bahamian is by Wendell Miller, who ran 45.67 on February 22 in Kingston, Jamaica, where he has been training for the last few years. In the last race on July 12 at the 2025 Ed Murphey Track Classic in Memphis, Tennessee, Gardiner stopped running heading into the final two 200m. He didn’t finish as 17-year-old American Quincy Wilson won, lowering his world under-18 record to 44.10.
‘GOLDEN girl’ Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie was overwhelmed by the recognition she got this past week on her return home. Ferguson-McKenzie, who is preparing to transit back home for good, said she was thrilled to know that the Member of Parliament for Bain & Grants Town, Wayde Watson and organiser Sean Bastian decided to remember her for her contributions by naming her as the honouree for their fourth annual Summer Games. “I’m always grateful to be honoured while I’m alive,” said Ferguson-McKenzie as she attended the completion of the basketball tournament on the court at the Southern Recreational Grounds. “But it’s important for the next generation to be able to do what could be done if they put in the hard work to be successful.” The 49-year-old highly decorated FergusonMcKenzie, who has won individual and relay medals at every level of competition from the CAC Youth Championships and CARIFTA Games to the World Championships and the Olympics, said she was glad that she could spend the time home with her husband Adrian and mother Elka. Watson said they couldn’t have selected a better choice than FergusonMcKenzie to honour this year. They presented her with a plaque during the
A
fter stopping and not completing in his previous meet, Bahamian Olympic and world champion Steven Gardiner got back on track with a victory over the weekend.
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SPEEDY IS BACK: Bahamian Olympic and world champion Steven Gardiner pulled away from the field to easily take the tape unchallenged in his 400 metres specialty at the PVA HP Meet.
HONOUR - See Page E3
YOUR SPIKE ON’ Pastors top Politicians ‘GET VOLLEYBALL TOURNEY in ‘Peace on da Street’ CHAMPIONS CROWNED Basketball Classic By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
By Jonathan Burrows IN a spirited battle of faith and governance, the annual “Peace on da Streets” Basketball Classic Pastors vs Politicians game lit up the Kendal G.L. Isaacs Gymnasium yesterday evening, drawing a lively crowd and showcasing a blend of competition, camaraderie and community unity. From the tip-off, the energy of the game was unmatched but, by halftime, the Pastors had stormed to an eight-point lead with a score of 21-13, utilising their speed and unselfish ball movement. “Well, the reality is that we wanted to see what their game plan was in the first half. We know that they are bigger than us, so we really were just feeling them out in the first half and using our speed to our advantage and ensuring that we get the right passes,” said Pastor Delvone Duncombe on their lead at the half. The Politician team seemed to be out of place and out of rhythm as they fell behind at halftime. “We are playing their game right now, and that
is not how we play. Those guys are in better shape than we are, and we are trying to keep up with them. We are not playing smart and to our strengths right now, we need more ball movement and to stop putting our heads down and driving to the basket,” said Member of Senate Bacchus Rolle. The Politicians, however, were not about to go down without a fight. Spearheaded by Bacchus Rolle and Leandro Lightbourne, the team chipped away at the deficit in the second half with an aggressive zone defence and timely buckets. In the final minutes, the Politicians had clawed their way into a lead by a single point, flipping the narrative on what looked like a blowout in the first half. The Pastors responded with poise. A clutch andone basket and the free throw by Pastor Don Clarke put the Pastors back on top. With the score at 40-39 and time ticking away, MP Clay Sweeting had a chance to tie or put the Politicians up one point but missed a pair of crucial
THE Alpha Phi Alpha and the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated secured bragging rights as the old and new champions of the “Get Your Spike On” Volleyball Tournament. The one-day event was held at the DW Davis Gymnasium on Saturday. The tournament was hosted by the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
Incorporated for sorority teams in New Providence. Jayde Knowles, one of the coordinators, said this year’s event turned out to be the best they’ve enjoyed since they started the volleyball tournament. “All of the fraternities participated, which was a first for us,” she said. “We were very pleased with the turnout but, next year, we have to find a venue that is much cooler because it was very hot here, in
VOLLEY - See Page E3
THE SPORTS CALENDAR
UNDER THE RIM: The Pastors beat The Politicians 42-39 last night at the Kendal G.L. Isaacs Gymnasium in the hghlight of the annual ‘Peace on da Streets’ Basketball Classic. Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr free throws, sealing the win for the Pastors with an ending score of 42-39. “It was a hard-fought battle,” said Pastor Dave Burrows, head coach of the Pastors’ team.
“Our guys stayed composed in the final minutes, and they handled it well and closed it out,” Burrows said.
PEACE - See Page E3
SPECIAL OLYMPICS RAFFLE GRILL FUN DAY SPECIAL Olympics Bahamas is scheduled to hold their annual raffle grill fun day fundraiser on Saturday, August 16 from 11:30am to 6pm at the Stapledon School Grounds on Dolphin Drive. Dinners will include chicken, steak, fish, hot dogs, burgers, pastries
July
and soft drinks. Domino’s, Connect 4 and basketball games will be played during the day. Interested persons are urged to call 426-0233, 477-0304 or 359-3558 for information on ticket purchases. BOXING FUNDRAISER THE Boxing Federation of the Bahamas is planning to host a souse
JULY - See Page E2