President of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA), Drumeco Archer, sees a bright future ahead for Bahamas’ track and field program with stalwarts Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Steven Gardiner on the backend of their respective remarkable careers.

The Bahamas finished the 2024 Paris Olympics with no medals. The last time that happened was at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea.

Their best hope for a medal, Gardiner, who was the defending Olympic Champion, pulled up injured in his semi-final of the Men’s 400m while Miller-Uibo, Olympic Champion in 2016 and 2021, failed to advance from the heats in the Women’s equivalent.

World Indoor Champion and record holder in the 60m hurdles, Devynne Charlton, finished sixth in the final of the 100m hurdles, the same place she finished three years earlier in Tokyo.

Despite these lean results, Archer, speaking on the latest episode of Out D’ Blocks on the SportsMax TV YouTube Channel, says he is optimistic about the future of the country’s track and field program.

“I am very optimistic about where we are in our program. Yes, I think that when you give a woman a rose, you just can’t stop and that is really the expectation of the world and, no doubt, our local community,” Archer said.

“With an illustrious 10-year span for both Shaunae (Miller-Uibo) and Steven Gardiner, obviously there’s an expectation but I think what we’ve done over the years is have the vision of trying to continue to produce new growth to the program and so I think we have a legion of new rising stars that will replace the likes of Shaunae and Steven,” Archer added.

In addition to her two Olympic titles, Miller-Uibo, 30, also won the World title in 2022 and took silver at both the 2015 and 2017 World Championships.

Gardiner, 29, also won gold at the World Championships in 2019.

Archer noted that he believes that these two stalwarts of Bahamian sprinting still have some more great performances in their future.

 “Let me just say that this is really not the end for them. There’s a lot more in the gas tank. Let me preface by saying I don’t speak for them but I’m optimistic that you just don’t end your career like that so I’m expecting them to return to the big stage and deliver as the world expects them to,” he said.

It was a mixed bag for Caribbean representatives in the Repechage round of the men’s 200m and 400m hurdles and women’s 400m at the Paris Olympic Games, as only two of seven athletes were successful in progressing at the Stade de France on Tuesday.

Of the three Caribbean men in the 200m, only Jamaica’s national champion, Brian Levell, advanced to the semi-final after placing second in heat two in 20.47s, which was good enough for a non-automatic qualifying spot.

Another Jamaican, Andrew Hudson (20.55s), and Bahamian, Ian Kerr (20.60s), placed second and third, respectively, in heat four, but were not quick enough to progress as only the winner from that heat advanced.

In the women’s 400m, Puerto Rico’s Gabby Scott won heat two with a National Record of 50.52s to advance to the semi-finals, while Shaunae Miller-Uibo (53.50s) of the Bahamas was eighth in the same heat.

Earlier, Guyana’s Aliyah Abrams (51.84s) was fifth in heat one and failed to progress.

Meanwhile, Dominican Republic’s Yeral Nunez (53.68s), the lone Caribbean representative in the 400m hurdles, was fifth in his heat and missed out on a spot in the semi-finals.

World Indoor 60m champion and record holder Devynne Charlton officially booked her spot at this summer’s Paris Olympics by claiming her sixth Bahamian 100m hurdles title on day two at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) Senior National Championships at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium in Nassau on Thursday.

The highlight of day two was the women’s 100 meters hurdles final where Charlton was expected to be challenged by the versatile Charisma Taylor and 30-time National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II All-American Denisha Cartwright.

In the end, Charlton comfortably took the win in 12.62 seconds while Taylor was a distant second in 12.94 seconds. Cartwright rounded out the top three with 13.01 seconds.

All three are headed to the Olympic Games from July 26 to August 11 in Paris, France.

Texas Tech sophomore and former World U-20 Champion Antoine Andrews took the men’s 110m hurdles crown with a new personal best 13.34, eclipsing the previous national record 13.35 he shared with Jahmaal Wilson.

Rasheem Brown of the Cayman Islands was second in 13.50 while Otto Laing finished third in 14.03 seconds.

Due to a scheduling conflict, former world and current Olympic Champion Steven Gardiner missed the men’s 400m final last night. It was up to Wendell Miller and Grand Bahamian Alonzo Russell to carry the mantle.

However, they would fall short of the qualifying standard for the Olympics of 45 seconds flat.

Miller won the national title in 45.65 seconds. Russell finished second in 46.06 seconds and Gregory Seymour was third in 47.54 seconds.

The women’s 400m final, featuring former world and current Olympic Champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo and the lady who beat her in the heats Javonya Valcourt, will be ran on Friday.

Over to the field events, Shyrone Kemp pulled off an upset in the men’s long jump, winning that event with a leap of 7.66m. LaQuan Nairn, an 8m-plus jumper, had to settle for second with a jump of 7.58m while Jalen Cadet finished third with a jump of 7.16m.

Nairn has a personal best leap of 8.22m and the qualifying distance for the Olympics is 8.27m.

Anthaya Charlton won the women’s long jump event with a leap of 5.99m. Apryl Adderley was a distant second with a leap of 5.16m. The qualifying distance for the Olympics is 6.86m.

Olympic champions Steven Gardiner and Shaunae Miller-Uibo were the standout names as the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) has officially confirmed its 27-member team for the World Athletics Relays set for May 4 and 5 at the refurbished Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium.

The Bahamas is expected to compete in the Men’s and Women’s 4x100m Relays, the Men’s 4x400m Relay and the Mixed 4x400m Relay.

Newly crowned World Indoor 60m champion and record holder Devynne Charlton was named in a Women’s 4x100m Relay pool which also included Camille Rutherford, Printassia Johnson, Jamiah Nabbie, Shayann Demeritte, Nia Richards, Charisma Taylor and Pedrya Seymour.

The Men’s 4x100m Relay pool consists of Samson Colebrooke, Samalie Farrington, Ian Kerr, Carlos Brown, Deedro Clarke, Blake Bartlett, Jeremiah Adderley and Warren Fraser.

The Men’s 4x400m Relay team includes Gardiner, Alonzo Russell, Wendell Miller, Zion Shepard, Deedro Clarke, Zion Miller, Lhevinne Joseph and Shakeem Hall-Smith. Finally,

The Mixed 4x400m Relay team for The Bahamas will consist of Miller-Ubio, Anthonique Strachan, Lacarthea Cooper, Robynn Rolle-Curry, Steven Gardiner, Alonzo Russell, Wendell Miller and Zion Shepherd.

The Bahamas hosted the World Athletics Relays in 2014, 2015 and 2017.

Two-time Olympic Games 400-metre champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo declared her readiness to compete at next month’s World Athletics World Relays in The Bahamas.

While expressing excitement about competing on home soil, the United States-based Miller-Uibo, who won back-to-back Olympic 400m titles at the 2016 and 2020 Games in Rio and Tokyo, pointed out that her main goal is to represent the country well.

She is hoping to assist the Bahamian mixed relay team to Paris Olympic qualification, at the May 4-5 World Relays to be held at the renovated Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium in Nassau.

“I think we have an amazing team for the mixed relay and I’m hoping we can qualify The Bahamas for the Olympic Games,” Miller-Uibo said.

“It’s wonderful competing here because there’s no other feeling like hearing your home crowd cheer you on. It makes you want to bring your best," she added.

In fact, Miller-Uibo went further to describe The Bahamas as "Paradise", almost as if extending an invitation for sports enthusiasts to come down and enjoy a piece of the island outside of the World Relays action.

"Our people are good-natured, always ready to share a good laugh, and that we are, in my eyes, one of the most beautiful countries in the world. It’s literally paradise," she declared.

Ever the trailblazer, the 29-year-old star is ultra-competitive, determined, and hard to slow down, and these traits are exactly why Bahamians are so proud to have her.

In short, Miller-Uibo is a fierce athlete who won’t be overlooked. Even welcoming her son Maicel last April didn’t halt her charge, as she competed at the Bahamas nationals just 10 weeks after giving birth. 

Along with her two Olympic titles, Miller-Uibo also won gold at the 2022 World Athletics Championships and is the Bahamian national record-holder in the 200m and 400m. She also holds the world 300m best.

But her path to gold was not without setbacks.

“Those watching us never get the full scope of what athletes go through,” Miller-Uibo opined.

“Injuries are one of those things. I’m not only referring to the physical pain but also the mental toughness you need to recover," she noted.

On that note, the vivacious athlete offered a word of advice to up-and-coming Bahamian athletes chasing their own path.

“Always keep God first, choose a sport and event that you love, and always have fun doing it," Miller-Uibo shared.

Trinidad and Tobago's Jaenae De Gannes was named winner of the prestigious Austin Sealey Award after three days of pulsating competition at the 51st edition of the Carifta Games at the Kirani James Athletics in Grenda.

The 17-year-old smashed the girls’ Under-20 long jump record during the morning session of Monday’s final day, and later returned to anchor the twin island republic to a silver medal in the girls’ Under-20 4x400m relay.

Named in honour of Sir Austin Sealy, who started the Carifta Games in 1972, the award is given to the most outstanding athlete of the three-day spectacle.

While there were a number of breathtaking performances, De Gannes topped the pile when she measured 6.50 metres to win gold and establish a new record in the girls’ Under-20 long jump. The effort erased the old mark of 6.48 metres – ironically set in Grenada eight years ago – and positioned her third in the world in the Under-20 category.

She returned later in the evening to partner with Kaori Robley, Saana Frederick and Kaziah Peters to finish second in the girls’ Under-20 4X400m in 3:47.51. The event was won by Jamaica in 3:34.69, with Barbados (3:48.21) in third.

By virtue of winning the Austin Sealy Award, De Gannes joins a long list of outstanding athletes to have won the award, including Usain Bolt, Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Yohan Blake, and Kirani James.

Jehue Gordon and Darrel Brown are among the Trinidad and Tobago athletes to have won the award previously.

Meanwhile, Jamaica topped the medal standings with 83 medals comprising 44 gold, 23 silver and 16 bronze, while the Bahamas ended with 34 – nine gold, 13 silver and 12 bronze. Trinidad and Tobago picked up four gold, 12 silver and 12 bronze to finish the championship with 28 medals overall.

Hosts Grenada were the only other team in double digits with 14 medals, logging one gold, six silver and seven bronze.

Danielle Williams made it two wins from two starts on Sunday since her medal exploits in Budapest after hurdling to a comfortable victory at the ISATF Meeting in Berlin.

The 30-year-old two-time world champion cruised to victory in the 100m hurdles in an easy 12.71. She was well clear of Australia’s Michelle Jenneke, who clocked 12.89 for the runner-up spot. In third was the USA’s Amber Hughes, who crossed the line in 12.98.

The news was not so good for the other Jamaican in the race. Olympic silver medallist Megan Tapper did not complete the event.

However, Williams was not the only Caribbean winner in Berlin on Sunday. Olympic bronze medallist Ronald Levy, who has been making his way back to form after long-term injuries, won the 110m hurdles in 13.45, a season’s best.

Levy got the nod over Just Kwaou-Matthey of France, who was timed in 13.46 in a blanket finish. Italy’s Ndele Simonelli Lorenzo was not far behind in 13.50.

Bahamian star runner Shaune Miller Uibo did not finish her 400m race that was won by Norway’s Henriette Jaeger in a new national record of 51.03.

Meanwhile, Jamaica’s Jonielle Smith was third in the 100m. She ran a time of 11.33 in the race won by the USA’s Jenna Prandini in 11.24 with Belgium’s Rani Rosius finishing just ahead of the Jamaican in 11.32.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo won her first professional race as a mother when she ran a season’s best 51.83 to win a 400m race at the Diamond League meeting in Zurich on Thursday. The 29-year-old two-time Olympic champion, who gave birth to her first child in April, ran in a non-Diamond League event for the first time this season, as she works her way back to competitive fitness.

She just managed to edge Annina Fahr of Switzerland who ran 51.97 for second place. Fahr’s compatriot Julia Niederberger finished third in 51.11.

Reflecting on the season so far, the Bahamian star stated, “It has been a long season, and obviously it would have come in handy for this to be the start of it - I just have to build for next season, and to get the body used to the shock again - and be ready for next season.

“Having become a mother has no comparison [to her greatest athletics achievement]. This is my greatest blessing, and I love that boy so much. I am going to go back into things, and I just want to make him proud. I want to get back up and, hopefully, whatever happens next year, I am doing it for him.”

Defending women’s champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo, five months removed from the birth of her first child, failed to advance to the semi-final round of the 400m at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary on Sunday.

The Bahamian star finished seventh in Heat 3 in 52.65. The 2022 bronze medallist Sada Williams of Barbados won the heat in 50.78 to keep her quest alive for another global medal in the one-lap sprint.

Meanwhile, all three Jamaicans advanced to the semi-final round of the competition. Jamaican champion Nickisha Price comfortably won Heat 4 in 50.38 over Cuba’s Roxana Gomez, who eased to second place in 50.86 and Gabby Scott of Puerto Rico, who was also an automatic qualifier, finishing third in a season’s best time of 51.07.

Candice McLeod was third in the opening heat in 50.37 to earn her place in the semi-final round. That heat was won by medal favourite Natalia Kaczmarek of Poland in an impressive 50.02. Cynthia Bolingo of Belgium ran a season’s best 50.29 to advance.

Charokee Young, meantime, sneaked into the next round as one of the sixth fastest finishers, when she ended up sixth in the sixth and final heat won by gold medal favourite Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic in a smart time of 49.90.

Young struggled to a time of 51.24.

Guyana’s Aliyah Abrahams was not as fortunate. She ran 51.44 to finish fifth in Heat 5 and failed to advance. Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke, who recently signed a professional contract, won the heat in 50.80.

Bahamian defending Olympic and World 400m champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo can add a new title to her already impressive resume.

She is now the proud mother of a new baby boy!

Miller-Uibo and her husband, Estonian decathlete Maicel Uibo, made the announcement of the birth of their son in a joint Instagram post on Tuesday.

“Welcome to the world Maicel Uibo Jr,” the post said.

Miller-Uibo gave birth on April 20^th.

The Bahamian, set to miss this track & field season, enjoyed a phenomenal 2022 season which saw her win nine out of 10 400m races, including claiming her maiden World Championship title in Eugene in July as well as gold at the NACAC Championships in Nassau in August.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo will not be defending her 400m title at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest in August. She will also not be running the 200m because she is going to be a mommy!

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Shericka Jackson and Shaunae Miller-Uibo have been named among the 10 women nominated for 2022 World Athletics’ Female Athlete of the Year Award.

Bahamas' Shaunae Miller-Uibo put on a show for her hometown fans with a dominant display to win the women’s 400m on day 2 of the NACAC Athletics Championships, in Grand Bahama, on Saturday.

The Olympic and World Champion left very little to doubt as she left the blocks and quickly covered the field by the top of the straight.

World championship bronze medalist Sada Williams of Barbados looked to battle back against Miller-Uibo down the stretch but the Bahamian had enough to pull a few metres clear by the finish line.

Miller-Uibo, who has lost just once in 8 races over the distance this season, stopped the clock in 49.40, her fourth fastest time of the season.  Williams finished second in 49.86, while Jamaica’s Stephenie-Ann Mcpherson was third in 50.36.

In the men’s equivalent, Jamaica’s Christopher Taylor recorded his fastest time over the distance this season after outbattling his opponents down the stretch to stop the clock at 44.63, only his second time below 45 seconds this season.  Another Jamaican Nathon Allen was second in 45.04 with the United States’ Bryce Deadmon third in 45.06.

World championships gold medallist Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Commonwealth champion Sada Williams have both advanced to the final of the 400m of the 2022 NACAC Open Championships that got underway in Freeport, the Bahamas on Friday.

It was yet another world-leading run for Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce at the Meeting Herculis EBS Diamond League in Monaco on Wednesday but this time the field was closer; a lot closer.

The 35-year-old Jamaican ran a meet record of 10.62 for victory but Shericka Jackson ran a lifetime best of 10.71 to take the runner-up spot just ahead of Marie Jose Ta Lou, who ran a personal best and area record 10.72 for third.

Aleia Hobbs of the United States equalled her season-best 10.81 for fourth.

This was the record-extending sixth consecutive final in which the diminutive Jamaican has run faster than 10.70 seconds and the two-time Olympic champion was quite pleased with the performance but hinted that she is planning to take a break after what has been an intense schedule.

“I had now three back-to-back races so I will take some time for recovery and see what I´m able to do with some rest before I come back,” she said.

“I did what I needed to do and we had fun and let the clock do the talking. I cannot be disappointed with the season. To be able to run 10.6 consistently means a lot to me. It is remarkable. It is very hard to keep the speed at this high level.

“I´m in my late 30’s and I think I feel like I have more to give. I look forward to doing my personal best for the rest of the season and run fast.”

The Jamaican speed-queen was not the only Caribbean winner at the meet on the night as Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas raced to a fast 49.28 to win the 400m in commanding fashion over Candice McLeod who ran a season-best 49.89, her first time under 50 seconds for the season. Finishing third was Commonwealth Games champion Sada Williams, who ran 51.10.

Commonwealth Games finalist Rushell Clayton ran a brand new lifetime best of 53.33 to win the 400m hurdles to defeat Commonwealth Games champion Janieve Russell, who ran a season-best 53.52.

Panama’s Gianna Woodruff was third in 54.13.

Natoya Goule rebounded from the disappointment of just missing out on a medal at the Commonwealth Games to run a season-best 1:56.98.

Goule won by five metres ahead Sage Hurta ran a new personal best of 1:57.85. Her compatriot Olivia Baker was third in a season-best 1:58:05.

“I feel extremely proud because I finally dropped the time under 57. I knew it was in me…this is really the track where you can run fast but I am just thankful for the win and the season best,” said Goule who missed out on a medal by 0.01 at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

“I just wanted to ensure I ran a smart race because it was getting fast. I am glad that I finished strong because sometimes when you run 56, you do not have the kick but I still got it today. I was so happy when I crossed the line and saw the time. It would be nice to get a PR this season. I know it is a bit challenging but I take it step by step.”

Hansle Parchment, still recovering from the injury that kept him out of the finals of the 110m hurdles at the 2022 World Championships and the Commonwealth Games ran a season-best 13.08 but finished third to Grant Holloway, who ran a 12.99 season-best for the win.

NCAA champion Trey Cunningham ran 13.03 for second place.

In the field, Shanieka Ricketts jumped 14.91, her second-best mark of the season to be runner-up to Olympic and World Champion Yulimar Rojas, who needed a mark of 15.01 to take the win.

The USA’s Tori Franklin jumped a lifetime best of 14.86 for third place.

Noah Lyles of the USA raced to a meet record 19.46 to win the 200m leaving teen sensation Erriyon Knighton 19.84 and Michael Norman 19.95 floundering in his wake.