SPORTS SECTION E
TUESDAY, JULY 29, 2025
Swim Worlds, Page 5
‘Superman’ Sands new addition to the Wildcats By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
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fter a brief break, Bahamian triple jump superstar Leevan “Superman” Sands will return to the collegiate coaching ranks, teaming up with fellow Bahamian head coach Rolando “Lonnie” Greene as the University of Kentucky Wildcats’ new track and field assistant coach. Sands, the Bahamian national triple jump record holder and the triple Olympic Games, World Championships and Commonwealth Games’ bronze
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As assistant coach of track and field at University of Kentucky medallist, will be primarily responsible for the Wildcats’ horizontal jumps group. In welcoming his fellow Bahamian on board in Lexington, Kentucky, Greene said if Sands wasn’t good, he would not have bothered to bring him in. “If he wasn’t that good, I wouldn’t bring in a coach like that into Kentucky,” Greene said. “Leevan is very good at what he does. I watched him when he was an assistant at Colorado State and while at Florida State. As one of the persons who got him the job, I felt he needed to hone his skills, sharpen his knife before coming to the Power Five as we call the SEC.” With the experience under his belt, Greene said in restructuring his staff, he wanted to get more production out of the horizontal jumps and Sands fit the bill perfectly. “In considering that, I knew he was a youth in high school, junior college, college and at the professional level,” Greene said. “I watched him as he conducted himself in a professional manner. “So when the opportunity presented itself, I jumped all over it. Me and my staff were eager to get him on
ROLANDO GREENE board. He’s a welcomed addition here at Kentucky.” As Sands is welcomed in, taking on his responsibility in August, Kentucky will be saying goodbye to “Golden Girl” Debbie FergusonMcKenzie, an assistant coach who will be departing and returning home to be closer to her family. While Greene opted not to get into FergusonMcKenzie’s departure, he would only indicate that she will be missed, but he’s delighted to have Sands on board. Prior to his move to Lexington, the 43-year-old Sands spent two seasons as an assistant jumps coach at Florida State and two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Northern Colorado. During the 2022
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Jonquel scores 14 points, grabs eight rebounds in 101-99 loss to Sparks By Jonathan Burrows PROMINENT Bahamian WNBA player Jonquel Jones returned to the New York Liberty lineup on July 22 after missing nearly a month due to a recurring right ankle sprain, resulting in an important 98-84 win over the Indiana Fever, where Jones put up a near double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds. With momentum shifting back after the win against the Fever, Jonquel and the Liberty defeated the Phoenix Mercury on July 25 with a score of 89-76, in a game that carried a playoff-like intensity. The reigning MVP Jones, just one week back from injury, delivered a commanding double-double performance with 20 points and 11 rebounds, supplemented by one assist, one block and one steal in 29 minutes of play. New York Liberty’s guard Sabrina Ionescu led the offence with 29 points and eight assists. “We kind of wanted to come out and kind of set the tone and just introduce them to us at full strength. It was an important game
for us,” Jones said in the post-game interview. Her return signalled a restored balance and confidence in the Liberty rotation. But in a tightly contested game on July 26, the Liberty fell 101-99 to the Los Angeles Sparks despite mounting a dramatic comeback. After trailing by as much as 15 points, they closed the gap thanks to Ionescu’s 30 points and Natasha Cloud’s 22. Jones contributed 14 points and eight rebounds as the Liberty fought back in the fourth quarter. Liberty’s power forward, Brianna Stewart, was injured playing just three minutes, just three games after Jones’ return to the lineup, thus adding more to the Liberty’s injury-riddled season. As the Liberty navigates a gruelling back-to-back schedule, Jones’ return from injury brings the complete presence of the defending champions, but the New York Liberty continues its fight to have a fully healthy roster. JONQUEL JONES in action.
37TH ANNUAL JEFF RODGERS BASKETBALL CAMP OPENS AT THE KENDAL ISAACS GYM By Jonathan Burrows YESTERDAY marked the exciting opening of the 37th annual Jeff Rodgers Basketball Camp, hosted once again at the Kendal G.L. Isaacs Gymnasium. At precisely 9am, the gym pulsed with energy as hundreds of athletes - both boys and girls from across The Bahamas - gathered in anticipation to participate in one of the most prominent basketball camps on the island.
The gym was packed to capacity, with eager campers representing islands such as Eleuthera, Abaco, Long Island, Nassau and Andros. Some arrived as early as 7:30am, their faces beaming with excitement as they laced up sneakers and prepared to learn from some of the best basketball athletes in The Bahamas. Basketball icon Jeff Rodgers, who has dedicated
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THE SPORTS CALENDAR TRACK BACK-TO-SCHOOL GIVEAWAY BAHAMIAN world indoor women’s 60 metre hurdles world record holder and double gold medallist Devynne Charlton will be holding a Back-to-School Giveaway on Saturday at the Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium. Charlton, whose Devynne Charlton Barrier Breakers Foundation
July
has reached out to assist Bahamian athletes in providing assistance to come home this weekend to compete in the BAAA Senior Nationals, will be presenting computers, school supplies, school uniforms, books, school shoes and supplements. There’s no specific time for the presentations, but it will be held
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