Category Archives: Bahamas

July 8, 2021 -- An American Airlines flight from North Carolina to the Bahamas was delayed overnight this week after several issues, including a group of teenage passengers who refused to wear masks.

Flight 893 was scheduled to leave Charlotte, NC, on Monday to travel to Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas. Instead, the flight left on Tuesday morning, according to NBC News

At first, the flight was delayed for a maintenance issue, the airline told USA Today. During the 2-hour delay on the tarmac, some of the students removed their face masks due to a lack of ventilation and quite unbearable conditions, said Breakaway Beach, a student travel company. The company was hosting a group of 47 high school graduates on a trip from Boston to Nassau.

The passengers then became disruptive to other customers and refused to follow crew member instructions while onboard, American Airlines told NBC News.

Per procedure, the customers involved were asked to exit the aircraft, the airline said in a statement. We expect our customers to comply with our policies when they choose to fly with us, and we take action when that is not the case.

There were other delays, including flight crew time limits and concerns with Tropical Storm Elsa, according to The Washington Post.

When a second plane arrived, the 172 passengers were directed to another gate at the airport, but the tour group wasnt allowed to reboard at that time, the newspaper reported. The captain made the decision after multiple tour group members refused to wear masks, played music with profane lyrics through a speaker, used foul language, and didnt stay in their seats on the plane while waiting on the tarmac.

Breakaway Beach said the entire group was labeled as unruly and disruptive due to the actions of a few of the graduates.

The act of one individual is not the responsibility of others, and the students that were abiding by the rules should not have had to endure this type of treatment, the company said. The group was treated in an improper and overly harsh manner, causing unnecessary stress and aggravation to the travelers and their parents from afar.

But a passenger who sat near the tour group told WSOC-TV 9 in Charlotte, NC, that a large majority of the graduates were being terrible kids by yelling, using foul language, and being obnoxious.

After numerous delays, American Airlines moved the flight to Tuesday morning because the plane would have arrived in the Bahamas after the immigration and customs office closed, USA Today reported.

Ultimately, American Airlines allowed the tour group to board Tuesdays flight after they all agreed to wear face masks and follow crew instructions.

WebMD Health News Brief

NBC News: Flight delayed overnight after passengers refuse to wear masks, American Airlines says.

USA Today: American Airlines flight delayed after teens refuse to wear face masks.

The Washington Post: A group of teens defied mask rules and delayed a flight. They were allowed to fly the next day.

WSOC-TV 9: Students tour group blames airline after mask snafu delays flight to Bahamas.

Read more from the original source:

Flight to Bahamas Delayed Over Face Mask Dispute - WebMD

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Instruction

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Suns star Deandre Ayton has huge impact back home in the Bahamas - AZFamily

Dont let the beauty shots of The Bahamas lull you into a false sense of security: John B, Sarah Cameron and the Pogues are in a lot of danger in the newest footage from Outer Banks Season 2.

John B, we are fugitives in a foreign country, Sarah reminds her boyfriend in the full trailer, which Netflix released Wednesday. She then asks him not to do anything stupid but has she met him?

The approximately two-minute spot opens in familiar territory: Kiara, Pope and JJ mourn John B, whom they believe died in a storm alongside Sarah while trying to escape a (false) murder rap. Meanwhile, as John B says during the video above, hes very much alive but just trying to clear his name so this can all be over.

Eventually, John Bs pals realize hes still among the living the trailer shows the gang reunited, albeit running from some sort of imminent peril. On that front: Sarahs angry/unscrupulous father Ward is hot on their trail, and a new character Limbrey, played by Losts Elizabeth Mitchell, seems a little scary as she makes it clear to Pope that John B is not the only one Ward double-crossed.

And, of course, there are lots of guns, people jumping off boats, explosions and Kiara taking great pleasure in messing with the guys for being scared.

Outer Banks returns for Season 2 on Friday, July 30. Until then, press PLAY onthe trailer above to see what else you can glean about whats ahead, then hit the comments with your thoughts!

The rest is here:

Outer Banks Season 2: The Pogues Take The Bahamas in Explosive New Trailer - TVLine

American Airlines flight. AP

An American Airlines flight had to be canceled Monday after a group of teens refused to wear masks.

Other passengers said the group, who were on their graduation trip, were being "terrible kids."

The flight, which was headed to the Bahamas, didn't take off until the following morning.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

An American Airlines flight to the Bahamas was canceled, and its passengers were delayed overnight after a group of high school students refused to wear their face masks.

Flight 893 was about to depart from Charlotte, North Carolina, on Monday night when a mechanical issue forced 172 passengers to switch to a different airplane.

As they were waiting to be reboarded, some of the students in the group refused to follow mask instructions from the crew, a spokesperson for American Airlines told Insider.

Read more: Singapore Airlines is betting on the US with new routes despite a COVID surge - here's why the airline is expanding now

"Passengers traveling on American Airlines Flight 893 from Charlotte to Nassau, Bahamas were reported to be noncompliant with the federal mask mandate, became disruptive to other customers, and refused to follow crew member instructions while onboard," the spokesperson said.

According to the Washington Post, some group members were also playing music with "profane" lyrics through a speaker and failing to stay in their seats on the plane.

A fellow passenger identified as Malik Banks told WSOC-TV 9 that around 80 percent of the people in the group - which was seated near him - "were being terrible kids."

Another passenger, Christina Randolph, said: "All they had to do was follow the rules, put the mask on, sit there. No smart-mouth comments. And they couldn't do it," according to WSOC-TV.

Randolph is a nurse who said she doesn't get much time off. "So when you finally get time off, you really want to be somewhere you want to be," she added.

Story continues

Travel company Breakaway Beach, which organized the trip for the students, claimed only one person out of 47 was behaving badly even though American Airlines said 30 of the students were involved in the incident, the Post reported.

"(T)he act of one individual is not the responsibility of others, and the students that were abiding by the rules should not have had to endure this type of treatment," Breakaway Beach president Eugene Winer said in a statement to the Post. "The group was treated in an improper and overly harsh manner, causing unnecessary stress and aggravation to the travelers and their parents from afar."

As a result of the incident, the flight had to be delayed overnight and passengers had to stay in airport hotels.

The teenagers were allowed to board the new flight the following morning after employees in Charlotte confirmed with them that they would comply with the mask policy, according to CNN.

The incident is one of the latest involving passengers refusing to comply with coronavirus safety measures aboard planes.

Since January 2021, the Federal Aviation Administration has received 2,500 reports of unruly behavior by passengers, most of which involve travelers refusing to comply with the federal mask mandate.

The rise in passenger aggression is having a significant effect on flight attendants across the country, who recently told Insider they've been struggling with their mental health.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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An American Airlines flight to the Bahamas had to be canceled after a group of unruly teenagers refused to wear masks - Yahoo News

By Allyson Maynard-Gibson, QC

Majority rule and political independence were achieved without shedding even a drop of blood. I can imagine no circumstance that would allow any of that marvelously daring experience to recur, hence younger generations cannot fully relate to the sometimes wistful, sometimes delightful feelings of achievement, the gratitude, the noble thoughts, the willing sacrifices and the treasured memories of their elders of nearly forgotten days. They were not the experiences of sages, but of everyday men and women on a mission, brought together at the right time, in the right place, to play the right parts, to gain the right results, a great deal of good results. Put on More Speed by Sir Clement Maynard

We stand on the shoulders of those everyday men and women who created a country where people can fully develop their God-given potential and rise to the highest height. Bahamians are Rhodes Scholars, Olympians, Grammy and Oscar award winners, cultural giants, NASA scientists, award-winning computer code writers and so much more.

I recall seeing the Bahamian flag ascend the flagpole and unfurl into the breeze of an independent Bahamas. I do lift up my head every time that I sing the national anthem. You probably do too.

This year, we are still in a pandemic as we celebrate Bahamian independence.

Our legacy is the willing sacrifices of those everyday men and women who were on a mission. As we celebrate our 48th anniversary and approach of the golden anniversary of sovereignty, it is my prayerful hope that, in emerging from the pandemic and always, we shall ever recognize the supremacy of God, and in solemn praise, do all in our power to ensure that no persons life will be frustrated by deprivation and to support the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual.

I thank and salute all the men who signed the Independence Order, especially those still living. On Independence Day 2021, let us remember and never forget that it takes good citizens, everyday people like you and me, to make The Bahamas great.

Happy Independence, Bahamas.

Excerpt from:

Op-Ed: The Bahamas' independence everyday men and women on a mission - EyeWitness News

Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield joins Posted Up with Chris Haynes to chat about his offseason regimen and how he is preparing for his 6th year in the league.

Buddy and Chris dive into the trade rumors that seem to swirl around former Oklahoma Sooner standout. Does Hield see himself as a King next season?

As a native Bahamian, Hield also opens up about his Buddy Buckets Program, which elevates young talent from his home country. The guys also opine about finding your role in the league & how the Kings are building chemistry this offseason.

Stay up to date with the latest NBA news and coverage from Yahoo Sports on Twitter @YahooSportsNBA.

Follow Chris @ChrisBHaynes

Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/2Abi8jk or at yahoosports.com/podcasts

Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports Podcast family at https://apple.co/2Abi8jk or at yahoosports.com/podcasts

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Buddy Hield on trade rumors, offseason workouts, growing basketball in the Bahamas - Yahoo Sports

Jacksonville, Fl. The Buresh Bottom Line: Always be prepared!.....First Alert Hurricane Survival Guide... City of Jacksonville Preparedness Guide... Georgia Hurricane Guide.

STAY INFORMED: Get the * FREE * First Alert Weather app

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WATCH The Ins & Outs of Hurricane Season

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A weak upper trough/low pressure area is over the Bahamas drifting west around the Bermuda High. No surface development is expected but there will be an uptick in heavy showers & tstorms for Florida, the Bahamas & nearby areas through Tue.

Dr. Phil Klotzbach, CSU updated his seasonal Atlantic Basin tropical cyclone forecast Thu. & did up the #s a bit. Looks like a busy few months ahead. Always be prepared.

Saharan dust. Dry air - yellow/orange/red/pink - is extensive over the Central & Eastern Atlantic. Such widespread dust is common early in the hurricane season & is indicitive of dry air that can impede the development of tropical cyclones. However, sometimes wanna be waves will just wait until they get to the other side of the plume then try to develop.

2021 names..... Fred is the next name on the Atlantic list (names are picked at random by the World Meteorological Organization... repeat every 6 years... historic storms are retired (Florence & Michael in 18... Dorian in 19 & Laura, Eta & Iota in 20). Last year - 2020 - had a record 30 named storms. The WMO decided beginning in 2021 that the Greek alphabet will be no longer used & instead there will be a supplemental list of names if the first list is exhausted (has only happened twice - 2005 & 2020). More on the history of naming tropical cyclones * here *.

East Atlantic:

Mid & upper level wind shear (enemy of tropical cyclones) analysis (CIMMS). The red lines indicate strong shear which is widespread from the Gulf of Mexico & Caribbean eastward across much of the Atlantic:

Water vapor imagery (dark blue indicates dry air):

Deep oceanic heat content is slowly increasing across the SE Gulf, Caribbean & deep tropical Atlantic:

Sea surface temp. anomalies:

SE U.S. surface map:

Surface analysis centered on the tropical Atlantic:

Surface analysis of the Gulf:

Caribbean:

Atlantic Basin wave forecast for 24, 48 & 72 hours respectively:

Global tropical activity:

Cox Media Group

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Talking the Tropics With Mike: Weak upper trough of low pressure from the Bahamas to Florida - WOKV

The Scripps National Spelling Bee has been a yearly tradition since 1925 except for a break in 2020 during the height of the pandemic.

The bee has returned this year with the finals scheduled to take place tonight at 8 pm at the ESPN Wide World of Sports on the Walt Disney World campus.

Among the 11 finalists is Roy Seligman from the Bahamas who will attempt to bring home the trophy to his country for the first time in the history of the competition.

WMFE spoke with 12-year-old Seligman and his coach Katina Seymour about preparing for the competition starting with Roys favorite word to spell.

Read the full interview below.

Roy:My favorite word is Clypeaster. It means a sand dollar. I like it because I find a lot of sand dollars when Im in the ocean. C-L-Y-P-E-A-S-T-E-R.

Danielle:So Roy, youre representing a distant neighbor of ours here in the Scripps National Bee, the Bahamas. How does it feel to be representing your country for the first time here in Orlando?

Roy:I feel very proud to have an entire country behind my back.

Danielle:You know, and speaking of Orlando, how have you been spending your time ahead of the Scripps National Spelling Bee Finals? Im guessing lots of drilling, flashcards, something like that.

Roy: Yeah, Ive been practicing and reviewing a lot. But after the finals, Im gonna explore the place.

Danielle:What do you kind of want to see first when you get a chance?

Roy:I want to go to Expedition Everest.

Danielle:How are you feeling going into the competition? Do you have any tips for staying calm under pressure?

Roy:Im feeling nervous. But whenever Im nervous, I just take deep breaths, deep breaths in and out.

Danielle:What does it mean to get to these finals? For you and for your family? I know the last year has been hard with the pandemic.

Roy: Like, Ive put in a lot of hard work. So Im very proud to have gotten this far into the competition.

Danielle: You know, I know that you love to spell but what else do you love? What do you want to be when you grow up for example?

Roy:Some of my hobbies are swimming and playing with Rubiks cubes. Math is my favorite subject. So yeah, I guess theyre kind of connected. Um, Im not sure what Im gonna do when Im when I grow up, Im only 12.

Danielle:Fair point. Fair point. So what would you like? You know, to tell other kids who want to be in your shoes next year? What would you recommend to them? Any tips you can give them?

Roy: Hard work always equals results. I started spelling in 2018. And I just kept working. And now Im right here.

Danielle:Katina, you know, what is it like coaching Roy? And why do you love working with him and his family?

Katina: He is just so, heslike a sponge. He soaks it in. And hes hes definitely very good with application. So we will learn a root, we will learn a language background, the pattern, the etymology. And when were done with that, we are able to just go out and read or look at signs. Look, at I mean a whole list of words and be able to pick out okay, that ones German, that ones Greek, that ones Arabic, that ones Sanskrit. And we are able to do that. And he just blows my mind to apply them in so many ways. So its not about learning every single word. Its like when you know the pattern, then you kind of like know, a big chunk of words that way. And hes really, really great with it. And of course, now he beats me, right? So I love the fact that he can beat me hands down. And he has, I mean, the time of his life, beating me with spelling, but I love it. I love it and love it.

Danielle:What would this mean for you, but also for him and for your country as well, if he wins?

Katina: Its justsuch a joy to see how weve brought good news to our country, just by just making it to this point, and so we want to be you know, the bearer of good news, so to speak. And I think so many people are going to be the better because of it. And then of course itll be a big inspiration to many of our children. Some of them who are have been trying or been you know, on the sidelines looking and wondering if I can do it. I think this will definitely put that you know, nail in it and say listen, yes, I can do it. Somebody else from the Bahamas did it. And so I think this is definitely going to be the inspiration that many people are just waiting on. So for the country, for his family, for myself as a coach who participated in spelling bees in my sixth grade year, and so I have that kind of affinity to it as well. This will be really big for us and exciting for our country.

Go here to see the original:

Roy Seligman Wants to Win Big for the Bahamas in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Orlando, And Then (Like All Spelling and Super Bowl Winners)...

Suns' DeAndre Ayton emerging as one of the NBA's best young big men

Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic breaks down DeAndre Ayton's development and standout play in his first NBA postseason experience.

USA TODAY

MILWAUKEE If only family and friends could engage with NBA players at games the same way they did before the pandemic.

Perhaps then former Los Angeles Lakers player and team broadcaster Mychal Thompson might be here so he could embrace Phoenix Suns third-year center Deandre Ayton before playing the Milwaukee Bucks in Games 3 and 4 of the NBA Finals. After all, Thompson often greeted Ayton before the Suns played the Lakers to further cement their bond as native Bahamians.

"I tell him how proud I am of him and to keep going," Thompson told USA TODAY Sports. "Hes the greatest player weve ever had from the Bahamas."

Ayton and Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield represent the lone current NBA players born in the Bahamas, but Hield has never appeared in the playoffs. Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson, one of Mychals sons, has won three NBA titles and shattered numerous shooting records, but he was born in Los Angeles. Ayton and Mychal Thompson have the strongest connection to the Bahamas.

"He will be the main sports ambassador in the Bahamas for the next 15 years," Thompson said of Ayton. "He has that kind of potential to represent the Bahamas and carry the flag for the Bahamas in sports for the next 15 years. I expect him to."

Ayton and Thompson are the only Bahamian-born players to play in the NBA Finals. They are also the only Bahamian-born players to be selected No. 1 in the NBA draft. But as Thompson stressed, "I dont compare to him." Thompson, who won two NBA championships in three Finals appearances with the Lakers (1987, 1988, 1991), predicted Ayton will collect more rings than him. Thompson, who had a 12-year NBA career with Portland, San Antonio and the Lakers (1978-1991), predicted Ayton will have a much more substantial rsum than his.

"Hes going to become a multiple-time All-Star," Thompson said. "Hes going to be a Hall-of-Famer. So hes the best basketball player weve ever produced in the islands."

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Thompson considers Ayton to be the NBAs third-best center behind the Philadelphia 76ers Joel Embiid and the Denver Nuggets Nikola Jokic, who won this years regular-season MVP. The 22-year-old Ayton reminds Thompson of San Antonio Spurs center David Robinson, who collected two NBA titles, an NBA Defensive Player of the Year award and 10 All-Star nods during a 14-year career (1989-2003).

"He can run the floor, block shots and has a nice mid-range game like Robinson," Thompson said of Ayton. "He just has everything that David Robinson had at that age. If he keeps progressing and staying hungry and healthy like hes showing, he can get to that level."

Aytons eyes lit up and his smile widened when he learned about Thompsons praise of his current skills and long-term trajectory.

"That's big time," Ayton said. "All I have to do is make sure I put my head down and make sure I keep working. With wins, individual accolades come. I just have to keep working and keep winning."

The Suns and Ayton are heading in that direction.

Phoenix has a 2-0 Finals series lead against Milwaukee entering Game 3 on Sunday after dispatching last years NBA champions (Lakers), the team with this years MVP (Nuggets) and another championship contender (Clippers). Ayton has become one of seven players in NBA history to have 12 double-doubles in their first 17 career playoff games. He also has recorded an NBA playoff record for the highest field-goal percentage through that same sample size (71.1%).

With his native country celebrating its Independence Day on Saturday, Ayton conceded that his current motivations go beyond winning his first NBA championship. It also traces back to how Ayton wants to honor the Bahamas.

"There's a lot of people back home supporting me and watching," Ayton said. "I want to put on a show for them and make sure this thing happens. Every game I'm going, I'm bringing the Bahamas with me."

Thompson saw at an early age that Ayton could inspire his home country.

Thompson first met Ayton as a 12-year-old when he visited the Jeff Rogers celebrity camp in Nassau, Bahamas, when Klay Thompson also attended following his rookie season (2012-13). After marveling at the attention Klay received, Ayton aspired to follow his path. By that point, Mychal did not notice anything particular about Aytons game that suggested stardom. But considering Ayton already stood 6-4, Mychal sensed it would still happen.

"We knew he had a future because of his size and his love of the game," Thompson said. "We knew if he continued to grow, he would have a nice future in basketball."

Thompson predicted correctly. Ayton moved to San Diego to study and play basketball at Balboa City School. He then played two more years at Hillcrest Prep Academy in Phoenix, which led to the University of Arizona giving him a scholarship. He then set a program and Pac-12 record for most double-doubles (25) along with Pac-12 Player of the Year honors. It's no wonder the Suns selected Ayton with the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft.

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USA TODAY Sports NBA reporter Mark Medina explains why Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton are not the next Shaq-Kobe duo and why that's probably a good thing long-term for the Suns.

Sports Seriously, USA TODAY

As Ayton grew in height and stature, Thompson occasionally gave Ayton what he called "words of wisdom."

"The only thing I told him when he was in high school was stay humble and just be willing to listen and work hard," Thompson said. "You could tell that he was eager to play. So I didnt have to give much advice. He had good people advising him already and a good family. He had all the support he needed."

Therefore, Thompson did not become worried with some of the hiccups Ayton experienced once he entered the NBA.

Ayton sparked immediate comparisons to others in his draft class, including Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic and Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young. Though Ayton plays a different position, questions emerged on whether the Suns would have been better off selecting either guard instead. After all, the Suns had failed to make the playoffs since 2010.

Ayton also sparked questions about his consistent production and commitment. Though the Suns have always praised Ayton for his play and attitude, they conceded he still faced a learning curve with how he trained on the practice court, weight room and film room. Ayton faced a 25-game suspension to open the 2019-20 season for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug program after testing positive for a diuretic.

"Hes a great kid. I wasnt worried about him at all," Thompson said. "Hes got such a good strong family structure behind him and such good coaches around him. So I knew he was going to be fine."

Thompson often resisted peppering him with too much feedback. He credited Suns guards Chris Paul and Devin Booker for both demanding and encouraging Ayton to elevate his game. He praised Suns coach Monty Williams for empowering Ayton with constructive feedback, some of which was recently captured in the Suns Game 2 win over the Buck.

Yet, Thompson argued that more could be done to bring out the best in Ayton.

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SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports' NBA Roundtable breaks down the NBA Finals between the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks and one big key for each team in the series.

SportsPulse, USA TODAY

"Sometimes he gets ignored too much, and the Suns dont tap into his fuel that he has in the paint," Thompson said. "This guy is unstoppable in the paint as he has been showing. So they got to treat him like hes a hyper giant star."

They did so when Ayton threw down a game-winning lob off an inbounds pass with 0.7 seconds left in a Game 2 win over the Clippers. Thompson likened that play to when former Chicago Bulls forward Toni Kukoc and former Lakers guard Derek Fisher made winning shots in playoff games off inbounds passes with little time left on the clock. Otherwise, Ayton still has cemented career-lows this season in points (14.6) and shot attempts (10.5) because of the teams depth.

"They have such a dynamic backcourt and outside shooters that sometimes you can fall in love with the 3 and not realize the weapon that you have in the paint," Thompson said. "Its a delicate balance that the Suns need to concentrate on. Deandre is so skilled in the paint with his jump hook and his turnaround shots."

Despite the bullishness on Aytons potential, even Thompson has his limits.

He conceded uncertainty on whether Ayton could supplant Embiid and Jokic soon as the NBAs best center.

"Embiid and Jokic are pretty special, but Deandre can push them," Thompson said. "He can push them for that honor. From now on, he should be no worse than the third-best center going forward for the next few years with a chance to get on that second or first team."

He also sounded skeptical on whether Aytons career would end with comparisons to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Hakeem Olajuwon or Shaquille ONeal.

"I hope so, but those are lofty levels," Thompson said. "Youre talking about five of the greatest ever there. But hes going to be a Hall-of-Famer. No question about it. How great he wants to be is up to him on how hungry he wants to be and how hard he wants to work."

Ayton has wanted to work hard partly to make Thompson proud.

"He's been holding it down for me, supporting me all the way to here," Ayton said. "Hes keeping me in high spirits."

Meanwhile, Thompson sounded in high spirits when talking about Ayton and the influence he has had on him.

"For him to even acknowledge me and know who I am is very flattering," Thompson said. "Its a huge accomplishment. Hes already exceeded anything Ive ever done at this age. At 22, I was in college trying to figure out the next test I was going to have. To see him at 22? Hes two wins away from an NBA championship and is one of the main reasons why. He has far exceeded anything that Ive ever done and will have ever done in basketball."

Follow USA TODAY NBA writer Mark Medina on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Sign up for USA TODAY's various subscription deals.

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NBA Finals: How Suns Deandre Ayton and former player Mychal Thompson share special bond as native Bahamians - USA TODAY

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ON the strength of a meet record-breaking performance from Nathaniel Zervos and double gold medal feats by Camille Rutherford, Tarajh Hudson and Wanya McCoy, the Bahamas finished third at the North American, Central American and Caribbeans Under-18 to Under-23 Championships.

The three-day meet held from Friday to Sunday in San Jos, Costa Rica, featuring 19 countries, but minus the United States, Canada and Mexico, saw the Bahamas secure a total of 42 medals, inclusive of 17 gold, 18 silver and seven bronze.

In similar fashion to the CARIFTA Games, which many of the athletes would have participated in had it not been cancelled because of COVID-19, Jamaica collected 39 gold, 18 silver and 10 bronze for a total of 67 medals for the victory. Host Costa Rica was second with 19 gold, 20 silver and 23 bronze for their total of 62.

The Bahamas 35-member team, along with producing some impressive individual performances, fared fairly well in five relay events, wrapping up a gold and four silver medal performances.

The talented under-20 boys 4 x 100m team of Antoine Andrews, Wayna McCoy, Demetrius Rolle and Terrance Jones was the most successful, winning the race in 41.68 seconds. Costa Rica was second.

The surprise came with the makeup of the under-23 mixed 4 x 400m relay team of Sasha Wells, Shaun Miller, Charisma Taylor and Kyle Alcine that emerged with the silver in 3:41.69. Jamaica claimed the gold in 3:20/71.

In the under-18 mixed 4 x 400m relay, the team of Shimar Bain, Lacarthea Cooper, Javonya Walcourt and Shamar Smith clocked 3:27.73 for the silver behind Jamaicas winning time of 3:25.27.

The under-18 boys 4 x 100m relay team of Adam Musgrove, Shamar Smith, Shimar Bain and Mateo Smith got second in 42.10 seconds behind Jamaica, who ran 4-0.60 for a new meet record, replacing the previous mark of 41.17 set by another Jamaican team in 2019.

And Shavantae Roberts, Lacarthera Cooper. Javonya Walcourt and Paige Archer also got second in the girls under-18 4 x 100m relay in 47.27. Jamaica won in 45.49.

Individually, heres a look at the performances from the Bahamian contingent at the NACAC Championships:

Under-23 boys division

In a spectacular showdown in the high jump saw Shaun Miller clinch the gold with 7-feet, 3-inches or 2.21 metres with Kyle Alcine the silver with 7-0 1/2 (2.15m). Byron Villalobos of Costa Rica got the bronze with 6-4 3/4 (1.95m).

National javelin record holder Keyshawn Strachan was second in his specialty with a toss of 236-7 (72.13m) on his second attempt. He also has tosses of 222-5 (67.81m) on his first, 215-5 (65.67m) on his third, passed his fourth, 223-0 (67.99m) on his fifth and 234-3 (71.41m) on his sixth.

Trinidad & Tobagos Tyriq Hosford won the gold with 239-8 (73.06m) on his fifth attempt.

Under-23 girls division

Charisma Taylor had an all-out battle, but prevailed in the triple jump with 43-4 1/2 (13.22m). Mikeisha Welcome of St Vincent & the Grenadines was second with 43-2 1/4 (13.16m), Both ladies posted their winning marks on their first attempt.

It worked in Taylors favor as she struggled the rest of the way with scratches on her second and sixth attempts. She did 42-9 1/2 (13.04m) on her third, passed her fourth and 42-8 3/4 (13.02m) on her fifth. Welcome had two good jumps with 43-1 (13.13m) on her second and 42-11 3/4 (13.10m) on her last try.

Taylor and Sasha Wells, however, came through with the silver and bronze in the 100m hurdles in times of 13.88 and 13.94 as they trailed Jamaica in the 100m hurdles.

Denisha Cartwright claimed the bronze in the 100m in 11.91 with Grenada and St Kitts & Nevis getting gold and silver.

On the field, Acacia Astwood won the silver in the discus with 120-8 (36.78m) on her fifth toss. The Cayman Islands won the gold and Costa Rica came through with the bronze.

Under-20 boys division

Tarajh Hudson powered through to a pair of gold medal performances on the field to top some great performances on the track. He took the shot put with his heave of 52-2 1/4 (15.93m) on his fifth attempt and tossed the discus 172-1 (52.45m) on his fourth heave.

It was fun to get an international; meet after a long season, Hudson said. I was more happy with my shot put performance because it was a bit more competitive and there were moments in the competition when I wasnt in first place.

The discus was good. There were some things technically that I could have done better and coach (Corrington Maycock) and I plan to correct those issues as soon as possible, But just to compete and win was a good day for me.

Terrance Jones won the 100m in 10.47 with Grenada and Costa Rica getting the silver and bronze.

But in the 200m, Wayna McCoy pulled off the victory in 21.17 for the gold, followed by Jones in 21.18 for the silver.

McCoy also doubled up as he won the gold in the 400m in 48.34. St Vincent & the Grenadines got second and third respectively.

Antoine Andrews won the gold in the 110m hurdles in 14.27 over Alton Roker, who did 15.26 for the silver.

And Caden Cartwright got the bronze in the discus with a heave of 126-9 (38.65m) on his sixth and final attempt. Jamaica and Costa Rica got the gold and silver.

Under-20 girls division

Camille Rutherford emerged as the queen of the female sprints with her double dose of victories. After winning the gold in the 100m in 11.36, she came and picked up her second victory in the 200m in 23.42.

Trinidad & Tobagos Leah Bertrand got the silver and Antigua & Barbudas Joella Lloyd got the bronze in a photo finish in the 100m in 11.70, while in the 200m, Lloyd clinched the silver in 23.55 and Aliyah Francis of Jamaica took the bronze in 24.32.

In another impressive performance, Jasmine Knowles won the gold in the 800m in 2:15.15, well ahead of Costa Ricas Maria Chaves, who finished in 2:30.82.

Carnitre Mackey was the lone competitor in the discus, winning with 41-2 (12.56m).

And in the javelin, Rhema Otabor and Mackey got gold and silver with 180-7 (55.06m) and 132-2 (40.30m) as they were the only two competitors in the competition as well.

Under-18 boys division

The big story in this division came from the duo of Nathaniel Zervos and Kaden Cartwright that captured the gold and silver in the javelin with Zervos inking his name in the record books.

Zervos threw 222-11 (67.96m) for the gold, erasing Keyshawn Strachans previous meet record of 205-8 (62.70m) from 2019, while Kaden Cartwright did 189-6 (57.76m) for second. The Cayman Islands got the bronze.

Otto Laing got sandwiched in between a pair of Jamaicans for the silver in the 110m in 13.82.

Shimar Bain got silver in the 400m hurdles in 53.39, while Lavardo Deveaux was fourth in 59.11. Jamaicas Roshawn Clarke won the gold in a meet record of 512.95/

Bain got the bronze in the 200m in 21.65 with Shamar Smith fifth in 22.06. Jamaica took gold and silver.

Shamar Smith had to settle for the bronze in the 400m in 49.83 behind a 1-2 punch from Jamaica.

Mateo Smith (10.77) and Adam Musgrove (10.97) got fourth and fifth in the 100m.

In the long jump, Mateo Smith was fourth with 23-0 (7.01m) on his second leap and Zachery Evans was fifth with 22-11 1/4 (6.99m) on his sixth and final attempt. St Vincent & the Grenadines got the gold with Jamaica securing silver and bronze.

Brandon Hutchinson got fourth with 46-11 (14.30m) on his fourth try and Stephan Farquharson was fifth with 44-10 1/4 (13.67m) in his second attempt in the triple jump. Jamaica got gold and silver and El Salvador picked up the bronze.

It was unfortunate, but Farquharson didnt clear a mark in the high jump as Jamaica got gold and silver and Panama came out with the bronze.

Under-18 girls division

Kasha Neilly won the silver in 1:05.26 in the 400m hurdles as Alliah Baker of Jamaica established a new meet record in 1:03.36, erasing the previous time of 1:04.57 by Mexicos Maria Jose Romero in 2019.

Lacarthea Cooper, preparing to head to Tokyo, Japan for the womens 4 x 400m relay pool, won the bronze in the 200m in 24.09 with Paige Archer coming in fourth in 24.69. Jamaica won the gold and Guatemala came up with the silver.

The Bahamas swept the top two spots in the 400m, but it was Javonya Walcourt coming out on top with the gold in 56.15 over Cooper, who did 56.53. Jamaica got the bronze in 57.43.

Savantae Roberts (11.90) and Paige Archer (12.39) were fourth and fifth in the 100m. Jamaica got gold and silver with Guatemala picking up the bronze.

Celea Jackson got the bronze in the under-18 girls discus with her toss of 134-7 (41.03m) on her third attempt. Anna Marie Oriaki was fourth with 126-11 (38.68m) on her fourth try. Jamaica took the top two spots.

And in the shot put, Jackson was fifth with 38-11 1/2 (11.87m) and Oriaki was sixth with 38-8 1/4 (11.79m). Jamaica won the gold and silver and the British Virgin Islands got the bronze.

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NACAC: Bahamas finishes third overall - Bahamas Tribune